Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: I. Szczerbal Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland Author-Name: B. Kociucka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland Author-Name: J. Nowacka-Woszuk Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland Author-Name: Z. Lach Author-Workplace-Name: Dairy Cattle Breeding Centre, Osieciny, Poland Author-Name: J.M. Jaskowski Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Veterinary Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland Author-Name: M. Switonski Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland Title: A high incidence of leukocyte chimerism (60,XX/60,XY) in single born heifers culled due to underdevelopment of internal reproductive tracts Abstract: Freemartinism, a primary disorder of sex development (DSD) in cattle, is associated with leukocyte chimerism (60,XX/60,XY). The diagnosis of DSD is easy if it is known that a heifer with abnormally developed reproductive tracts originates from a heterosexual twin birth, but it is not so obvious in the case of single born calves. In the present study twelve DSD heifers which were single born (singletons) and culled due to the abnormal development of internal genitalia were studied using cytogenetic and molecular techniques. Among the heifers 7 appeared to be chimeric (60,XX/60,XY and the presence of the genes residing in the Y chromosome: SRY and AMELY) and 5 had a normal female karyotype (60,XX and a lack of the Y-linked genes). In addition, milk productivity was analyzed in relation to the incidence of twinning at a local Dairy Cattle Breeding Centre, from which 8 studied singletons (6 chimeric and 2 with a normal female karyotype) originated. It was found that in the years 2005-2013 an upward trend for average milk yield (from 9700 kg in 2005 to 11 500 kg in 2013) was associated with the increase of twin births (from 1.5% in 2005 to 5.9% in 2013). Our study showed that approximately 60% of single born heifers with abnormally developed internal genitalia were freemartins (a male co-twin died during pregnancy), while DSD etiology of the other cases (60,XX and a lack of the Y-linked genes) remains unknown. It cannot be excluded that some of these heifers represent a testicular/ovotesticular DSD (60,XX and SRY-negative). In conclusion, our study suggests that the occurrence of freemartins and other DSD in single born heifers seems to be an underestimated problem in cattle breeding. Keywords: cattle, disorders of sex development, freemartinism, twinning, intersexuality, milk yield Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 445-449 Volume: 59 Issue: 10 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7707-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7707-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201410-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:10:id:7707-CJAS 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 Author-Name: W. Khattab Author-Workplace-Name: Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University Moshtohor Tukh, Qalubia, Egypt Title: Essential oils effect on rumen fermentation and biohydrogenation under in vitro conditions Abstract: The effects of adding essential oils (EO) at different levels (125, 250, 500 mg/l) on rumen fermentation and biohydrogenation were examined in a rumen batch culture study. Treatments were: control without EO (CON), control with anise oil (ANO), cedar wood oil (CWO), cinnamon oil (CNO), eucalyptus oil (EUO), and tea tree oil (TEO). Essential oils, each dissolved in 1 ml of ethanol, were added to the culture flask containing 40 ml of buffer solution, 2 ml of reduction solution, 10 ml of rumen fluid, 25 mg of soybean oil, and 0.5 g of the diet. After 24 h of incubation in a water batch at 39°C, three samples were collected from each flask and analyzed for ammonia-N, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and fatty acids (FA). Expect for CNO, the proportions of acetate, propionate, and acetate to propionate ratios were not affected (P > 0.05) by EO addition. Addition of CWO, CNO, and TEO reduced total VFA concentrations (P < 0.05) regardless of dose level. The ammonia-N concentration was greater in cultures incubated with EO regardless of dose level. Compared with the CON, the concentrations of C18:0 and trans C18:1 were reduced (P < 0.05) with EO addition regardless of dose level. Compared with the CON, the concentration of linoleic acid was greater (P < 0.05) when EO were added at 500 mg/l. EO tested in this study had no effects on VFA profile but significantly reduced the formation of biohydrogenation products (C18:0 and trans C18:1). Keywords: batch culture, trans fatty acids, rumen Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 450-459 Volume: 59 Issue: 10 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7708-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7708-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201410-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:10:id:7708-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Hanczakowska Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland Author-Name: B. Niwińska Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland Author-Name: E.R. Grela Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition and Bromatology, University of Live Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland Author-Name: K. Węglarzy Author-Workplace-Name: Experimental Station of the National Research Institute of Animal Production Grodziec Slaski Ltd., Swietoszowka, Poland Author-Name: K. Okoń Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pathomorphology, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland Title: Effect of dietary glutamine, glucose and/or sodium butyrate on piglet growth, intestinal environment, subsequent fattener performance, and meat quality Abstract: The effect of feed supplementing with glutamine, glucose and/or sodium butyrate was estimated on 156 piglets. The after-effect of supplements on fattener performance, carcass traits, and meat quality was examined. Piglets were allocated to 5 groups and fed standard feed mixture alone (control - C) or supplemented with 10 g of l-glutamine, or 10 g of glucose, or 3 g of sodium butyrate per kg of diet or all of these compounds (groups GT, GC, SB, and GT+GC+SB, respectively). Six piglets from each group were slaughtered at 63 days of age, their intestines were prepared and their parts measured. Digesta from ileum and caecum was taken for analysis. Its acidity and volatile fatty acids content were evaluated. Morphological structure of duodenal and ileal epithelium was estimated. After 84 days of age 20 animals from each group were fed the standard mixture. After 100 days of fattening 8 pigs from each group were slaughtered, pH of meat was measured, and samples of the longissimus muscle were taken for analysis. Body weight gains of piglets fed diets supplemented with SB or all supplements were higher than those of controls. All supplements given together increased total intestinal weight and length. Epithelial villi in jejunum were the highest in piglets receiving all supplements. Their height in the duodenum ranged from 296 to 347 µm and in the jejunum they were higher: 336 - 424 μm. After 100 days of fattening body weight of all experimental animals was higher than that of control. There was no significant difference in carcass and meat quality. Sodium butyrate added to the diet improved piglet performance probably due to changes in intestine development and in intestinal epithelium structure. This positive effect was enhanced to some extent by the addition of glutamine or glucose. Keywords: piglet feeding, piglet performance, intestinal structure, volatile fatty acids, carcass traits Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 460-470 Volume: 59 Issue: 10 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7709-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7709-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201410-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:10:id:7709-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B. Sun Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Guangdong Enterprise Lab of Healthy Animal Husbandry and Environment Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: J. Ma Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Guangdong Enterprise Lab of Healthy Animal Husbandry and Environment Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: J. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: L. Su Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Q. Xie Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Guangdong Enterprise Lab of Healthy Animal Husbandry and Environment Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. Bi Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Title: Lycopene regulates production performance, antioxidant capacity, and biochemical parameters in breeding hens Abstract: Lycopene is a carotenoid present in vegetables and ripe fruit and has been proved to be the most potent antioxidant among various common carotenoids. This study assessed the effects of lycopene on performance production, tissue lycopene content, antioxidant capacity, and biochemical parameters in 720 Xing-hua breeding hens. Rice-soybean diets were supplemented with different lycopene levels: 0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg. Lycopene supplementation significantly increased fertilization rates in hens. Serum and egg lycopene contents and the Roche Yolk Colour Fan score increased with lycopene supplementation through day 7. In the liver, lycopene supplementation significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG). Additionally, lycopene supplementation increased serum SOD, serum T-AOC, serum glutathione peroxidase, and serum GSH/GSSG. Lycopene addition significantly decreased total cholesterol and increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triiodothyroxine. It also improved fertilization rates, antioxidant capacity, and metabolism in breeding hens. Keywords: carotenoid, fertilization rates, oxidative stability, biochemical index, hens Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 471-479 Volume: 59 Issue: 10 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7710-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7710-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201410-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:10:id:7710-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Dobrzański Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environment Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland Author-Name: A. Filistowicz Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland Author-Name: P. Przysiecki Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agriculture, National Higher Vocational School, Leszno, Poland Author-Name: A. Filistowicz Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agriculture, National Higher Vocational School, Leszno, Poland Author-Name: S. Nowicki Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Small Mammals Breeding and Animal Raw Materials, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland Author-Name: K. Walkowiak Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland Author-Name: K. Czyż Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland Title: Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) and silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in rural and urbanized region Abstract: Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of silver and arctic foxes farmed in typically rural and urbanized regions (Wielkopolskie Voivodship, Poland) was assessed. Hair and skin samples were collected and analyzed for total Hg content using atomic absorption spectrometry. Hairs and skin of foxes farmed in the rural region accumulated higher amount of Hg compared to animals from the urbanized one. Species effect (lower Hg concentration in V. lagopus) was noted, females having higher accumulation compared with males. The highest Hg content was observed in hairs of V. vulpes females in the rural region (0.207 mg/kg on average), and in skin of V. lagopus females (0.0082 mg/kg on average). Highly significant correlation (r = 0.796) was noted between Hg content in skin and hairs of farm foxes. The present study confirms the previous finding that non-invasively collected hair samples are a good tool applicable in evaluating heavy metal load of different environments. Keywords: farm, Canidae, hair coat, environment, mercury level, Poland Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 480-487 Volume: 59 Issue: 10 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7711-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7711-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201410-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:10:id:7711-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Mikešová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: H. Härtlová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, 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 Author-Name: E. Chmelíková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Hůlková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: R. Rajmon Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Effect of evening primrose oil on biochemical parameters of thoroughbred horses under maximal training conditions Abstract: The antioxidative effect of evening primrose oil (EPO) administration on the oxidative stress of race horses during their regular training period was determined. The eight-week experiment was performed on ten clinically healthy thoroughbred horses. All the horses were enrolled in a regular training program. Eight weeks before the experiment, the horses were fed a diet which remained the same for the following eight weeks, only supplemented with 150 ml EPO (blood samplings 3 times). Total antioxidant reactivity (TAS), thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), uric acid (UA) levels, activities of muscle enzymes - aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), and parameters of fatty acid metabolism such as triacylglycerols (TAG) and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were determined. Average values of TAS after supplementation with EPO rose gradually and were detected at significantly higher levels (P ≤ 0.05) in the sixth week in comparison with the control. The concentration of malondialdehyde, measured as TBARS, decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) compared with the untreated control. The activities of AST and CK fluctuated, but no disturbance was demonstrated in muscle homeostasis. The present results indicate that the total antioxidant activity of the thoroughbred horses fed a diet supplemented with EPO was higher, and it helped stabilize the permeability of the muscle cell membranes in the horses at full workload. Keywords: horse training program, oxidative stress, tissue damage, antioxidative effect Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 488-493 Volume: 59 Issue: 10 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7712-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7712-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201410-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:10:id:7712-CJAS