Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hongyuan Mei Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, P.R. China Author-Name: Chengying Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, P.R. China Author-Name: Qing Xie Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, P.R. China Author-Name: Yang Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, P.R. China Author-Name: Xianmei Luo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, P.R. China Author-Name: Hanwei Jiao Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, P.R. China Author-Name: Ling Gan Title: Effects of γ-aminobutyric acid on aggressive behaviour, jejunum villus morphology, serum biochemical indicators and hippocampal neuropeptide mRNA levels in piglets at weaning with mixing Abstract: The effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on weanling piglets after mixing stress were investigated and the underlying molecular mechanism was analyzed. Sixty weaning piglets were randomly assigned to either the control group (weaning and mixing with a 3 : 3 sex ratio) or the GABA supplement group (30 mg GABA/kg body weight/day + weaning and mixing with a 3 : 3 sex ratio). Aggressive behaviours have been recorded for 2 days and the number of lesions for 3 days. The diarrhea rate on day 6 post-weaning and mixing was analyzed. Serum biochemical indicators, antioxidant variables, jejunum villus morphology and mRNA levels of stress-related neuropeptide genes of the hippocampus were investigated. The GABA addition decreased serum adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations (P < 0.05), aggressive behaviours of weaned piglets 5 h after mixing (P < 0.05), lesion scores over the entire 3-day period (P < 0.01) and diarrhea rate (P < 0.01) and improved jejunum villus integrity. Serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentration (P < 0.05) and total superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.01) were increased in the GABA supplement group, whereas serum malondialdehyde concentration had a decreasing tendency (0.05 < P < 0.1), and glutathione peroxidase activity had an increasing tendency (0.05 < P < 0.1). The GABA treatment group had increased mRNA levels of NPY (P < 0.05) and peptide YY (PYY) (P < 0.05) in the hippocampus, which may contribute to insights into the regulatory mechanism of GABA in weaning and mixing stress. The addition of GABA is beneficial to reduce weaning and mixing stress in piglets, and NPY and PYY may mediate the process. Keywords: weaning and mixing stress, aggression, oxidation resistance, villus integrity, growth, neuropeptide Y Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 151-159 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/33/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/33/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201904-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:4:id:33-2018-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Bryan Irvine Lopez Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea Author-Name: Vanessa Viterbo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muńoz, Republic of the Philippines Author-Name: Choul Won Song Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea Author-Name: Kang Seok Seo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea Title: Estimation of genetic parameters and accuracy of genomic prediction for production traits in Duroc pigs Abstract: Abstract: Genetic parameters and accuracy of genomic prediction for production traits in a Duroc population were estimated. Data were on 24 828 purebred Duroc pigs born in 2000-2016. After quality control procedures, 30 263 single nucleotide polymorphism markers and 560 animals remained that were used to predict the genomic breeding values of individuals. Accuracies of predicted breeding values for average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BF), loin muscle area (LMA), lean percentage (LP) and age at 90 kg (D90) between pedigree-based and single-step methods were compared. Analyses were carried out with a multivariate animal model to estimate genetic parameters for production traits while univariate analyses were performed to predict the genomic breeding values of individuals. Heritability estimates from pedigree analysis were moderate to high. Heritability estimates and standard error for ADG, BF, LMA, LP and D90 were 0.35 ± 0.01, 0.35 ± 0.11, 0.24 ± 0.04, 0.42 ± 0.11 and 0.37 ± 0.03, respectively. Genetic correlations of ADG with BF and LP were low and negative. Genetic correlations of LMA with ADG, BF, LP and D90 were -0.37, -0.27, 0.48 and 0.31, respectively. High correlations were observed between ADG and D90 (-0.98), and also between BF and LP (-0.93). Accuracies of genomic breeding values for ADG, BF, LMA, LP and D90 were 0.30, 0.33, 0.38, 0.40 and 0.28, respectively. Corresponding accuracies using pedigree-based method were 0.29, 0.32, 0.38, 0.39 and 0.27, respectively. The results showed that the single-step method did not show significant advantage compared to the pedigree-based method. Keywords: genetic improvement, genomic breeding value, production traits, swine Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 160-165 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/150/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/150/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201904-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:4:id:150-2018-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Tomáš Němeček Author-Name: Eva 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: Darina Chodová 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 sex on growth, biochemical and haematological parameters of blood, carcass value and meat quality in nutrias (Myocastor coypus) Abstract: Sex differences in growth, blood indicators, carcass values and meat quality in nutrias were evaluated. In the fattening experiment, 136 nutrias of both sexes (1 : 1 ratio) were fattened until 8 months of age. At the end of the experiment, 18 males and 18 females with average weights were selected for the determination of biochemical indicators, carcass value and meat quality. The growth of males was significantly higher than in females; the differences were 12% at three months of age and increased to 24% at eight months of age. The effect of sex on the biochemical indicators of blood was observed in total protein (P ≤ 0.029), albumin (P ≤ 0.012), urea (P ≤ 0.019) and cholesterol (P ≤ 0.026), with higher values in males. In the case of haematology examination, the significantly higher values in males were in the number of erythrocytes (5.10 × 1012/l) and in the haematocrit value (55.8%). Dressing out percentage was higher in males (P ≤ 0.039), and other parameters of carcass value were not affected by sex. For the meat physical properties, only lightness (P ≤ 0.019) was higher in males. In the case of the chemical composition of meat, ether extract (P ≤ 0.033) and energetic value (P ≤ 0.024) were lower in females. The results of this study show high differences in the growth of male and female nutrias, whereas carcass composition, physical meat quality and meat chemical composition are less affected by nutria sex. Keywords: nutria, live weight, carcass composition, total protein, blood characteristics Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 166-173 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/193/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/193/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201904-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:4:id:193-2018-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jianping Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Lin Lin Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Bin Li Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Feike Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Luoyang Xintai Agro-pastoral Technology Co., Ltd, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Ning Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Title: Dietary Artemisia vulgaris meal improved growth performance, gut microbes, and immunity of growing Rex rabbits Abstract: Artemisia vulgaris (A. vulgaris) is an edible plant showing antioxidant and antibacterial effects, but its effect as a feed additive or forage source on the herbivore growth and health is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of A. vulgaris meal supplementation on the growth performance, gut microbes, and immune function in rabbits. A total of 120 growing Rex rabbits were randomly allocated into 4 treatments with 6 replicates per 5 rabbits each. There were four experimental diets containing A. vulgaris meal at doses of 0, 3.0, 6.0 or 9.0%, respectively. The experiment lasted for 70 days. The results showed that diets supplemented with A. vulgaris meal improved the rabbits' feed intake, body weight gain, and decreased feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Linear and quadratic responses were found between the growth parameters and the herbal meal doses (P ≤ 0.002). A. vulgaris meal also improved gut microbe populations by increasing Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, and decreasing E. coli, C. perfringens, Salmonella, and Gram-negative bacteria (P < 0.05), and linear and quadratic dose-dependent advantages were exhibited for these microbes (P ≤ 0.013). Furthermore, blood levels of IgA, IgM, and lymphocytes of bursale, thymus, CD4 and CD8 were increased by the treatments containing A. vulgaris meal (P < 0.05), and linear dose-dependent effect was found on these immune indexes (P < 0.001). Diet supplemented with A. vulgaris meal is effective in improving growth, gut microbes, and immunity of Rex rabbits. Keywords: Bifidobacteria, immunoglobulins, Lactobacilli, lymphocytes, opportunistic pathogens Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 174-179 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/162/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/162/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201904-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:4:id:162-2018-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sangwook Kim Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea Author-Name: Byeonghwi Lim Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea Author-Name: Kwansuk Kim Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea Author-Name: Kyoungtag Do Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea Title: QTL fine mapping for intramuscular fat and fatty acid composition using high-density SNP chip array on SSC12 in Korean native pig × Yorkshire F2 population Abstract: Intramuscular fat (IMF) and fatty acid composition are characteristics that are used as important indicators of evaluating high quality pork and contribute to the economic benefits of the pig farming industry. In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) fine mapping of chromosome 12 was performed in a population of F2 intercross between Yorkshire (YS) and Korean native pigs (KNPs) by adopting combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium method using high-density SNP chips. QTLs for IMF (H3GA0034813 to H3GA0034965) and oleic acid (C18:1) (ASGA0054380 to ALGA0066299) were located at 120 cM (54.112-57.610 kb) and 85 cM (36.097-38.601 kb), respectively, within chromosome 12 (Sscrofa11.1 genomic reference). In addition, 31 candidate genes present within the IMF QTL region and 28 candidate genes existing within C18:1 QTL region were chosen. In order to understand the function of these candidate genes at the molecular level, these candidate genes were functionally categorized by studying gene ontology and analyzing network and pathway. Among the 59 candidate genes within the region of IMF QTL and C18:1 QTL, five (MYH1, MYH2, MYH4, ACACA, and RPS6KB1) directly interacting candidate genes were found. Furthermore, the RPS6KB1 gene was assumed to be an important candidate gene that is involved in leptin and insulin signaling pathway and participates in controlling adipogenic differentiation, fat deposition, and fatty acid composition, which is related to obesity of pigs. Keywords: meat quality, LDLA, mapping, chromosome 12, pig Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 180-188 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/50/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/50/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201904-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:4:id:50-2018-CJAS