Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Suchý Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Straková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: I. Herzig Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Selenium in poultry nutrition: a review Abstract: Selenium has been known for two centuries and its biological activities have been studied for nearly a hundred years, however the problem of Se deficit has still been persisting both in humans and animals. The cause of Se deficit in animals may be low Se level in soil. This mainly applies to cattle and sheep with their direct link to soil via roughage. The risk of Se deficit in pigs and poultry is lower due to lower dependence on soil Se level in the region and Se fortification in feed mixes. The present research focuses on the effects of Se on meat and egg quality, antioxidant activity of Se, effects on fatty acid levels, activity of glutathione-peroxidase, or the effect of Se on the immune system. Ensuring natural Se supply in human nutrition by food of animal origin, mainly poultry meat and eggs (the "functional foods"), is another area to which extensive attention has recently been paid. Keywords: fatty acid, antioxidant, immunity, meat, egg, functional food Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 495-503 Volume: 59 Issue: 11 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7730-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7730-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201411-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:11:id:7730-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Jarquin Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico Author-Name: A. Roldan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico Author-Name: L. Zarco Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico Author-Name: J. Berruecos Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico Author-Name: J. Valencia Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico Title: Effect of stage of the estrous cycle at the time of initial exposure to rams on the ovarian activity of Pelibuey ewes Abstract: Forty non-lactating, cyclic adult Pelibuey ewes were randomly divided into six groups. Estrus was synchronized within each group using intravaginal sponges and prostaglandin F2α injection at the time of the sponge removal. The sponges were inserted and removed on different dates in each group, but all the groups except the control one were first exposed to rams on the same date (July 17th), so that at the time of the first exposure the ewes were either on day 0 (group D0; n = 7), 3 (group D3; n = 7), 8 (group D8; n = 7), 12 (group D12; n = 7) or 14 (group D14; n = 7) of their synchronized estrous cycle. Thereafter the ewes of these groups remained continuously exposed to the males until all the females showed estrus. The ewes in the control group (CG; n = 5) remained isolated from all the males, except for 5-minute periods at the time of estrus detection, which was carried out three times a day. Progesterone concentrations were determined in plasma samples taken daily from two days before the initial exposure to the males until the onset of the next estrus. There were no differences in estrous cycle length between the groups exposed to rams and the control group (P > 0.05). The interval from the assumed onset of the estrous cycle (48 h after sponge removal) until the occurrence of luteolysis was not different between the control group and any of the groups exposed to the males. The interval from luteolysis to estrus was not modified by exposure to the males (P > 0.05). Estrus duration was shorter (P < 0.06) in the control group than in group D3. It is concluded that the exposure of cyclic Pelibuey ewes to males does not advance the time of luteolysis and does not affect the length of the estrous cycle. Therefore, the male effect does not synchronize the next estrus of cyclic Pelibuey ewes. Keywords: male effect, cyclic ewes, breeding season, African sheep Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 504-510 Volume: 59 Issue: 11 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7731-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7731-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201411-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:11:id:7731-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Tummaruk Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand Author-Name: S. Kesdangsakonwut Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand Title: Uterine size in replacement gilts associated with age, body weight, growth rate, and reproductive status Abstract: The objective of the present study was to determine the association between the uterine size and age, body weight, growth rate, and reproductive status in Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred gilts. Genital organs from 310 gilts (302.6 ± 2.9 days of age, 145.2 ± 1.2 kg body weight) were examined. The gilts were classified into two groups according to reproductive status: non-cyclic (n = 86) and cyclic (n = 224). The uterine weight in non-cyclic gilts was lower than that in cyclic ones (128 ± 8.1 and 694 ± 17.9 g, P < 0.001). Likewise, the length of the uterus in non-cyclic gilts was shorter than that in cyclic gilts (123 ± 2.9 and 252 ± 4.6 cm, P < 0.001). The weight of the uteri correlated with the body weight (r = 0.48, P < 0.001) and growth rate (r = 0.33, P < 0.001) of the gilts but not with their age (P > 0.05). For every 10 kg increase in the body weight of the gilts, an increase of 67 g in uterine weight (P < 0.001) and 21 cm in uterine length (P < 0.001) was observed. Keywords: pig, reproduction, puberty, uterus Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 511-518 Volume: 59 Issue: 11 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7732-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7732-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201411-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:11:id:7732-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Ivanković Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: S. Paprika Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: J. Ramljak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: P. Dovč Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Domžale, Slovenia Author-Name: M. Konjačić Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Title: Mitochondrial DNA-based genetic evaluation of autochthonous cattle breeds in Croatia Abstract: Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of three Croatian autochthonous cattle breeds was analyzed using a sequence of the mtDNA D-loop region. Among Busha, Istrian, and Slavonian Syrmian Podolian cattle 146 unrelated animals were tested. The sequencing of 780 base pairs of the mtDNA D-loop region revealed 39 polymorphic sites representing 28 different haplotypes. The highest numbers of haplotypes were observed in the Busha population and the lowest in the population of Slavonian Syrmian Podolian cattle, while the highest level of sequence diversity within a population was observed in the Istrian cattle. Our results indicate a high level of mtDNA diversity in the populations of Busha and Istrian cattle and a low level of preserved diversity in the population of Slavonian Syrmian Podolian cattle. The sequence analysis showed substantial subdivision between the breeds (FST = 0.1434), and a large fraction of variation within the breeds. Although the dominant haplotypes are classified as the T3 haplogroup, some of the haplotypes are classified as the rarer T2 and T5 haplogroups. Genetic information based on mtDNA typing has a great importance for the future conservation management and preservation of genetic diversity in autochthonous cattle breeds. Keywords: mtDNA, genetic diversity, Bos taurus, phylogeny, conservation Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 519-528 Volume: 59 Issue: 11 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7733-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7733-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201411-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:11:id:7733-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: X.-Z. Wu Author-Workplace-Name: Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Special Wild Economic Animals and Plants, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Special Wild Economic Animals and Plants, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin, P.R. China Author-Name: H.-T. Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Special Wild Economic Animals and Plants, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin, P.R. China Author-Name: Z.-Y. Yue Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Special Wild Economic Animals and Plants, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin, P.R. China Author-Name: X.-H. Gao Author-Workplace-Name: Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: F.-H. Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Special Wild Economic Animals and Plants, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Lab for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Jilin, P.R. China Author-Name: X. Xing Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Special Wild Economic Animals and Plants, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin, P.R. China Title: Effects of dietary copper supplementation on nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical indices, and growth rate of young female mink (Neovison vison) Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether nutrient digestibility and growth performance of mink were affected by different dietary copper levels. Ninety-six 60-day-old healthy female minks were randomly assigned to 8 treatment groups with 12 animals in each group and fed a diet supplemented with either 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256 mg/kg copper as CuSO4 × 5H2O, respectively. Our data showed that body weight and average daily gain increased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) as Cu increased in the diet, the highest body weight and average daily gain were seen in the Cu32 group. Feed : gain ratio responded in a linear (P = 0.0025) fashion with increasing level of Cu, the lowest feed : gain ratio was seen in the Cu64 group. Digestibility of ether extract responded in a linear (P = 0.0190) fashion with increasing level of Cu. There were no differences in apparent digestibility of dry matter, CP, and gross energy among groups (P > 0.05). N retention linearly (P = 0.0363) responded to increasing levels of Cu. Glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase increased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) as Cu increased in the diet; the highest glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase were seen in the Cu256 group. Total protein of the minks was similar among the treatments, however, albumin in serum responded in a linear (P = 0.0370) and quadratic (P = 0.0049) fashion with increasing level of Cu. The activity of ceruloplasmin responded in a linear (P = 0.0001) and quadratic (P = 0.0203) fashion with increasing level of Cu. The activity of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase responded in a linear (P = 0.0010) fashion with increasing level of Cu. Our results indicate that supplemental Cu plays an important role in the growth performance of mink, helping young female mink digest and efficiently utilize added dietary fat. Keywords: minks, copper sulfate, fat digestibility, growth performance, serum traits Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 529-537 Volume: 59 Issue: 11 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7734-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7734-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201411-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:11:id:7734-CJAS