Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Francesco Vizzarri Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy Author-Name: Marisa Palazzo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy Author-Name: Donato Casamassima Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy Author-Name: Lubomir Ondruska Author-Workplace-Name: National Agricultural and Food Centre, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Martin Massanyi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Filip Tirpak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Grzegorz Formicki Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University, Krakow, Poland Author-Name: Agnieszka Gren Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University, Krakow, Poland Author-Name: Peter Massanyi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University, Krakow, Poland Title: Lippia citriodora (verbascoside) extract supplementation: Effect on rabbit semen quality in vivo and in vitro Abstract: Verbascoside, the main component of Lippia citriodora extract, is one of the most powerful free radical scavengers exhibiting a wide biological activity. In in vivo study 20 adult New Zealand white rabbit bucks were divided into two homogeneous groups, one control (CON) and one verbascoside-supplemented (0.1%) in feed mixture (EXP) and later in vitro effects of verbascoside on the motility aspects of rabbit spermatozoa were analysed. The spermatozoa concentration, ejaculate volume, spermatozoa motility, progressive motility, distance parameters, velocity parameters and type of spermatozoa movement were negatively affected by Lippia citriodora leaves extract after the first 4 weeks of dietary treatment, till the end of experiment (8 weeks). Four weeks after the suspension of feed additive supplementation, all spermatozoa traits values returned to the normality, and in line with CON group. For in vitro findings, ejaculates from 10 male New Zealand white bucks were collected using an artificial vagina. Then it was diluted in physiological saline solution containing different concentrations of verbascoside at the concentration of 0, 0.0024, 0.0219, 0.157, 120.0 mg/ml (Ctrl, VB1, VB2, VB3, VB4 groups, respectively), using a dilution ratio of 1 : 4. The obtained data proved that verbascoside at the concentration of 0.0024 and 0.0219 mg/ml had no adverse effect on spermatozoa. Additionally, we found that verbascoside at higher concentrations (0.157 and 120.0 mg/ml) significantly altered all the motility parameters analysed in the experiment. In conclusion a possible negative effect of verbascoside supplementation into feed mixture (0.1%) on semen quality parameters in rabbit bucks as well as in vitro can be stated, obviously considering that target organs of antioxidant activities of phenylpropanoid glycosides are various. In addition it has to be emphasized that the extract showed a reversible action, since the semen traits of treated animals returned to the normality after the dietary administration period. Keywords: feed additive, Verbenaceae, rabbit, spermatozoa, motility Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 1-10 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/35/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/35/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201901-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:1:id:35-2018-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Carmen L. Manuelian Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy Author-Name: Mauro Penasa Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy Author-Name: Giulio Visentin Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy Author-Workplace-Name: Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Frisona Italiana, Cremona, Italy Author-Name: Anna Benedet Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy Author-Name: Martino Cassandro Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy Author-Name: Massimo De Marchi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy Title: Multi-breed herd approach to detect breed differences in composition and fatty acid profile of cow milk Abstract: The objective of the present study was to estimate the effect of breed on milk fatty acid (FA) composition of dairy (Brown Swiss, Holstein-Friesian, and Jersey) and dual-purpose cows (Simmental and Alpine Grey) in multi-breed herds. Information on individual milk samples was collected during routine cow milk testing between 2011 and 2014, and consisted of 285 606 observations from 17 445 cows in 617 herds. Fixed effects included in the mixed model were breed, parity, stage of lactation and the interaction between parity and stage of lactation, and random effects were cow, herd-test-date and residual. Contrast estimates for the studied traits were used to compare specific sets of breeds. Holstein-Friesian produced more milk than the other cattle breeds, with the greatest trans FA and C18:1 and the lowest C18:0 content. Comparison between the specialised dairy vs the dual-purpose breeds highlighted significant differences for all traits except for polyunsaturated FA and trans FA content. Specialised dairy breeds had greater milk saturated FA, short-chain FA, medium-chain FA, C14:0 and C16:0 content, and dual-purpose breeds produced milk with greater content of monounsaturated FA, long-chain FA, C18:0 and C18:1. Results demonstrated that, although specialised dairy produced more milk than dual-purpose breeds, milk FA profile of the latter was more favourable from a human nutrition point of view. Keywords: dairy specialised breed, dual-purpose breed, mid-infrared spectroscopy, phenotyping Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 11-16 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/18/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/18/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201901-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:1:id:18-2018-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Michaela Englmaierová Author-Name: Miloš Skřivan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition Physiology and Animal Product Quality, Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: Tomáš Vít Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition Physiology and Animal Product Quality, Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: Alfalfa meal as a source of carotenoids in combination with ascorbic acid in the diet of laying hens Abstract: The purpose of the experiment was to determine how the addition of dehydrated alfalfa (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) into the diet of hens influences the performance characteristics and egg quality characterised by physical parameters, yolk carotenoid content, and the oxidative stability of yolks. Two hundred and forty Hisex Brown hens were divided into 6 treatment groups according to the level of DA (0 and 40 g/kg) and concentration of AA (0, 100, and 200 mg/kg) in the diet. Hen-day egg production and egg mass production were reduced by the supplement of DA (P < 0.001) and AA (P = 0.017). The addition of DA itself increased the feed intake per egg (P < 0.001) and the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.001). The heaviest eggs (P < 0.001) were laid by hens fed a diet with 100 mg/kg of AA (67.6 g). The AA supplement improved egg content quality, i.e., Haugh units (P < 0.001), albumen index (P < 0.001), and yolk index (P < 0.001), whereas the addition of DA increased values of yolk colour (P < 0.001) and had a negative effect on shell quality. The interaction of DA and AA was detected in the zeaxanthin concentration in the yolks (P = 0.002). The highest concentration was found in eggs from hens fed a diet with a DA supplement and 100 or 200 mg/kg of AA (17.33 or 17.25 mg/kg dry matter of yolk). In addition, 40 g/kg of DA significantly increased the concentration of other carotenoids, lutein (P < 0.001) and β-carotene (P < 0.001) in the yolks and increased the oxidative stability of fresh eggs (P < 0.001). The results suggest that adding DA in the amount of 40 g/kg to the hen diet provides a good source of carotenoids and, in combination with AA, a better deposition of carotenoids in egg yolks. On the other hand, DA deteriorates performance and shell quality. Keywords: antioxidants, dehydrated alfalfa, feed intake, physical parameters of egg quality, vitamins Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 17-25 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/116/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/116/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201901-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:1:id:116-2018-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammad Ghelichkhan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA Author-Name: Hamid Amanlou Author-Workplace-Name: University of Zanjan, Department of Animal Science, Zanjan, Iran Author-Name: Ehsan Mahjoubi Author-Workplace-Name: University of Zanjan, Department of Animal Science, Zanjan, Iran Author-Name: Robert A. Patton Author-Workplace-Name: Nittany Dairy Nutrition Inc., Mifflinburg, USA Title: Solvent-extracted soybean meal top-dressed on a fresh cow diet increased milk production, but not milk components, and decreased plasma non-esterified fatty acids Abstract: Post-ruminally infused casein has increased milk and milk protein yield in post-partum cows. We theorised top dressing (TD) higher amounts of soybean meal (SBM) might mimic these effects. Fifty-one multiparous Holstein cows 1 day after calving were assigned to 3 dietary treatments: a base total mixed ration (CON) with 196 g/kg crude protein and 329 g/kg neutral detergent fibre; 17 cows TD with l kg of SBM (SBM1); and 17 cows TD with 2 kg of SBM (SBM2) for 30 days. Milk and milk components were measured at days 9, 18, and 27. Rumen and urine samples were collected on day 27; blood samples were obtained on day 30. Statistical inference was by JMP software (Version 10.0.2, 2012) with production variables analysed as a repeated measures design. Cows fed SBM increased milk yield (P = 0.02; 35.4, 36.6, and 42.6 kg/day for CON, SBM1, and SBM2, respectively). Yield of milk true protein was not different among treatments. Cows fed SBM had lower serum non esterified fatty acids concentrations at day 30 (1.35, 1.13, and 0.59 mM/l; P < 0.01). We conclude that SBM TD beginning immediately after calving may increase milk yield rapidly and decrease dependence on fatty acids for energy. Keywords: post-partum cows, NEFA, lactose yield, milk yield Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 26-40 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/26/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/26/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201901-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:1:id:26-2018-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Barbora Hofmanová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Luboš Vostrý Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Hana Vostrá-Vydrová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: Adéla Dokoupilová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ivan Majzlík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Estimation of genetic and non-genetic effects influencing coat colour in black horses Abstract: The aims of this study are the quantitative characterisation of the coat colour in the black variety of the Old Kladruber Horse breed, the estimation of the coat colour genetic parameters, and the determination of the factors that influence coat colour intensity. A total of 252 horses aged 1-24 years were included in the study. The colour parameters were taken using a Konica Minolta spectrophotometer CM-2500d at four different body parts during the summer and winter seasons, resulting in 1748 phenotypic records. The possible effects of sex, season, housing system, age and body part on the spectrophotometric parameters were analysed. The results confirmed that the intensity of the black coat colour can be influenced by a number of factors (sex, season, housing system, and age). The mares showed more red and yellow colour compared to the stallions. In the winter season, the horses had a lighter colour with a lower proportion of reddish-brown hairs. Horses kept outdoors, especially in the summer months, had a lighter colour with a higher proportion of red and yellow. Although the age was statistically significant, no specific trend was observed. The differences in colour found between body parts (neck, shoulder, belly, and croup) are in line with current knowledge - reddish fading in the blacks primarily occurs in the belly region. The estimated heritability values suggest possible multifactorial inheritance, especially with regards to the reddish tinge in hairs (h2 = 0.20 to 0.29 according to body part). Keywords: heritability, Old Kladruber, pigmentation, spectrophotometry, variability Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 41-48 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/136/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/136/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201901-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:1:id:136-2018-CJAS