Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Meili Tian Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P.R. China Author-Name: Na Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P.R. China Author-Name: Ge Su Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P.R. China Author-Name: Baoming Shi Author-Name: Anshan Shan Title: Effects of dietary L-carnitine and fat type on the performance, milk composition and immunoglobulin in sows, and immunological variables of sows and piglets during late gestation and lactation Abstract: An experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (n = 12 sows/treatment) was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal dietary supplementation with 2 different L-carnitine levels (0 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) and 2 fat types (3.5% soybean oil and 3.5% fish oil) from day 107 of gestation until weaning (day 21) on performance, milk composition and immunoglobulin, and on the immunological variables of sows and piglets. Blood and milk samples of sows were obtained on days 0 (farrowing), 14, and 21 of lactation. One 21-day-old piglet per litter was selected for the collection of plasma. The average piglet weaning weight and the average daily gain (ADG) were significantly influenced by supplementation with 100 mg/kg of L-carnitine (P < 0.05). Furthermore, fish oil (FO) treatment exhibited an increasing trend in average piglet weaning weight and ADG over soybean oil (SO) treatment (P < 0.1). The concentrations of fat, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) were increased in colostrums and milk by day 21 by supplementation with 100 mg/kg of L-carnitine (P < 0.05). Supplementation with 100 mg/kg of L-carnitine enhanced the IgG and IgA concentration in the plasma of sows and piglets (P < 0.05). Additionally, the concentrations of IgG and IgA were improved in colostrums by the addition of FO (P < 0.05). The FO treatment also advanced the IgA concentration in the plasma of sows and the IgG concentration in the plasma of piglets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of 100 mg/kg L-carnitine improved the weight of piglets at weaning, ADG, IgG, and IgA levels in colostrums, and IgG and IgA concentration in the plasma of sows and piglets (P < 0.05). The concentrations of IgG and IgA were significantly increased in colostrums by supplementation with 3.5% FO (P < 0.05). Overall, no significant difference was observed between L-carnitine and FO or SO treatment in immunological variables in this study. Keywords: fish oil, immunoglobulin, colostrum, performance, sow, soybean oil Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 185-194 Volume: 62 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/55/2016-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/55/2016-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201705-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:5:id:55-2016-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Radovan Doležel Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Cindy Chambert Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Darja Musilová Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Svatopluk Čech Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Tomáš Páleník Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: CEVA Animal Health Slovakia s.r.o., Bratislava, Slovak Republic Title: Induction of accessory corpus luteum by gonadorelin in relation to the time of treatment and the follicle size in inseminated cows Abstract: This study evaluated the occurrence of two corpora lutea (CL) and the pregnancy rate in cows treated with gonadorelin on days 5, 6 or 7 after insemination in relation to the day of treatment and the size of the largest follicle on the ovaries at the time of treatment. Cows bearing one CL on days 5 (n = 40), 6 (n = 48), and 7 (n = 47) after insemination with defined size of the largest follicle on the ovaries (small ≤ 9 mm, n = 34; medium 10-14 mm, n = 59; large 15-20 mm, n = 42) were included in the study. Gonadorelin was administered after examination (day 0) and ultrasonographic examination was repeated on days 14, 28, and around day 90. The occurrence of 2 CL vs 1 CL was higher in pregnant cows on day 14 as well as on day 28 (86 vs 14% and 82.5 vs 14%, n = 57). Pregnancy rates on day 28 and around day 90 were higher in cows bearing 2 CL (n = 57) vs cows bearing 1 CL (n = 54) (82.5 vs 18.5% and 79.0 vs 18.5%, P < 0.001). The occurrence of 2 CL on day 28 was higher in cows treated on day 5 compared to cows treated on day 6 or 7 after insemination (60.0 vs 33.3 or 36.2%, P < 0.05). No significant differences in the number of CL and pregnancy rate were found in relation to follicle size at the time of treatment. Our results showed the higher efficiency of accessory CL induction by gonadorelin administration in cows treated on day 5 vs those treated on day 6 or 7 post insemination, however efficiency of the treatment was not influenced by the size of the largest follicle on the ovaries. Keywords: gonadotropin releasing hormone, corpora lutea, pregnancy rate, day of treatment, follicle Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 195-200 Volume: 62 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/46/2016-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/46/2016-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201705-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:5:id:46-2016-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Barbara Niwińska Author-Name: Marcin Andrzejewski Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland Title: Effects of selenium supplement forms on the diet-cow-calf transfer of selenium in Simmental cattle Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of diet-cow-calf transfer of selenium (Se) depending on the forms of Se-supplement given to cows of Simmental breed during the last trimester of pregnancy and the first week of lactation. On day 195 of pregnancy the cows were randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups (n = 6), and the newborn calves belonged to the same group as their mothers (n = 6). The cows in the control group received diet without Se-supplement, while the supplemented groups received Se in equivalent doses in a powder form (Se-unprotected) or in a protected form (Se-protected) of sodium selenite or in organic compounds (Se-yeast), the calves received colostrum and milk from their mothers. The data about feed and Se intake, colostrum and milk daily production, Se concentration in colostrum, milk, and cows and calves blood serum were recorded. The diet-cow Se transfer efficiency was estimated as the following ratios: the concentration of Se in cows' serum after parturition/daily Se intake during prepartum; Se secretion in colostrum/daily Se intake during prepartum; and Se secretion in milk at 7 days of lactation/daily Se intake. The ratios were higher (P ≤ 0.02) in the Se-yeast group than in the other supplemented groups, in the Se-unprotected and Se-protected groups the ratios were similar (P > 0.05). The cow-calf Se transfer efficiency estimated as calves' serum concentration after birth/cows' serum concentration after parturition was similar (P > 0.05) in all experimental groups. The results showed that the form of Se supplement modulated the Se transfer from the diet to cows; Se was transferred more efficiently from the Se-yeast than from sodium selenite. The form of Se supplement did not affect the cow-calf Se transfer efficiency. Keywords: Se-supplement, cows, newborn calves, selenium transfer efficiency Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 201-210 Volume: 62 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/86/2016-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/86/2016-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201705-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:5:id:86-2016-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Martin Ptáček Author-Name: Jaromír Ducháček 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: Luděk Stádník 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: Milena Fantová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Effects of age and nutritional status at mating on the reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep kept under permanent outdoor management system Abstract: This study examined the variability of reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep (a commercial flock, n = 316 ewes) with regard to the dams' age or the nutritional status of sheep at mating under a year-round outdoor management. Data were collected across a 3-year monitoring period (totally 655 observations). The fixed effects of dam's age (dams grouped as: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 years and older), ewe's live weight (LW; ewes grouped as: < 72 kg; 72-83 kg; > 83 kg), and backfat thickness at mating (BT; ewes grouped as: < 7.9 mm; 7.9-10.5 mm; > 10.5 mm) were evaluated. The dam's age influenced reproductive and productive traits such that 2- and 6-year and older ewes reached the lowest values. Ewes with LW > 83 kg had significantly higher lambing rate (11.8%) compared to those with LW < 72 kg. The group of ewes with LW < 72 kg gave birth to a significantly lower number of live lambs in litter (-8.9%) in comparison with LW < 83 kg group. An increase (9.9%; P < 0.01) of total litter weight at birth or an increase (12.5%; P < 0.05) of total litter weight at 100 days of age were detected in LW > 83 kg group compared to LW < 72 kg group. BT > 10.5 mm ewes had by 8.9% lower lambing rate (P < 0.05), by 6.8% lower litter size (P < 0.05), by 14.5% lower number of live lambs in litter (P < 0.01), and by 8.6% lower total litter weight at birth compared to BT < 7.9 mm ewes. A significantly lower total litter weight at 100 days of age (-10.8%) and a significantly lower total litter gain from birth to 100 days of age (-11.5%) were detected in BT > 10.5 mm ewes in comparison to BT 7.9-10.5 mm ewes. Keywords: live weight, backfat thickness, body condition score, lamb Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 211-218 Volume: 62 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/63/2016-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/63/2016-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201705-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:5:id:63-2016-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ran Di Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Qiu-Yue Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Fang Xie Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Wen-Ping Hu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiang-Yu Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiao-Han Cao Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Zhang-Yuan Pan Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Guo-Hong Chen Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Ming-Xing Chu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Title: Evaluation of genetic diversity and population structure of five Chinese indigenous donkey breeds using microsatellite markers Abstract: China had the largest population of raising donkeys in the world, however the number of Chinese indigenous donkey decreased dramatically due to the increase of agriculture mechanization in the last century. The species has still been important in China because of its edible and medical value, therefore the survey on its genetic diversity in China is necessary for its conservation and utilization. In this study, 15 microsatellite markers were used to evaluate genetic diversity and population structure of five Chinese indigenous donkey breeds. The mean values of expected heterozygosity, allelic richness, and total number of alleles for all the tested Chinese donkeys were 0.70, 6.04, and 6.28 respectively, suggesting that the genetic diversity of Chinese indigenous donkeys is rich. The Bayesian analysis and principal component analysis plot yielded the same clustering result, which revealed that Guanzhong donkey was the most differentiated breed in all detected samples, and Jinnan (JN) and Guangling (GL) were genetically closed together. Additionally, our results indicated that the heterozygote deficit was severe in two Chinese indigenous donkey breeds (GL and JN), and it warned us that animal conservation activities on this species should be considered carefully in near future. Keywords: donkey, genetic richness, genetic differentiation, heterozygote deficit Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 219-225 Volume: 62 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/9/2016-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/9/2016-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201705-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:5:id:9-2016-CJAS