Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ji-Shun Tang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, P.R. China Author-Name: Wen-Ping Hu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Ran Di Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiang-Yu Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiao-Sheng Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Tianjin Institute of Animal Sciences, Tianjin, P.R. China Author-Name: Jin-Long Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Tianjin Institute of Animal Sciences, Tianjin, P.R. China Author-Name: Qiu-Yue Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Ming-Xing Chu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Title: Expression analysis of BMPR1B, BMP15, and GDF9 in prolific and non-prolific sheep breeds during the follicular phase Abstract: To elucidate how expression characteristics of BMPR1B, BMP15, and GDF9 are associated with sheep reproduction, tissue-specific mRNA expression of these genes in Small Tail Han (STH) ewes (a polytocous breed) and Sunite (SNT) ewes (a monotocous breed) in the follicular phase were investigated using transcription profiling and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression levels of the three genes were all highest in ovaries of the two sheep breeds, and BMPR1B and GDF9 expression in the ovarian tissue was significantly higher in STH sheep compared with SNT sheep (P < 0.01), whereas BMP15 expression in pituitary, ovarian, oviduct, and uterine tissues was significantly lower in STH sheep compared with SNT sheep (P < 0.01). This study revealed that BMPR1B, BMP15, and GDF9 may play important roles in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, especially in the ovary, which may affect sheep prolificacy. BMPR1B and GDF9 expression might increase litter size, whereas BMP15 expression may decrease litter size. These results provide preliminary information regarding molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying sheep prolificacy. Keywords: tissue, candidate gene, transcription profiling, qPCR, prolificacy Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 439-447 Volume: 64 Issue: 11 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/101/2018-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/101/2018-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201911-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:11:id:101-2018-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Stefano Cecchini Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy Author-Name: Michele Rossetti Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy Author-Name: Anna Rocchina Caputo Author-Workplace-Name: Independent Agronomist, Baragiano, Italy Author-Name: Alfonso Bavoso Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy Title: Effect of dietary inclusion of a commercial polyherbal formulation on some physiological and immune parameters in healthy and stressed hens Abstract: The effects of the dietary inclusion of a polyherbal formulation based on three powdered herbs (W. somnifera, T. cordifolia, O. sanctum) on some physiological and immune parameters were studied in healthy and stressed laying hens. The effects of the dietary polyherbal formulation were also compared with those of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) supplement, nowadays considered one of the most potent immunostimulant substances widely used as a food supplement.Experimental data did not show any positive effects, or very low ones, on the assessed parameters in healthy hens as a consequence of the two dietary supplementations. On the contrary, the dietary inclusion of the polyherbal mixture or AA partially counteracted the adverse effects in hens subjected to a moderate and transient dexamethasone-induced stress, when ameliorating effects on natural IgM antibody level, specific antibody response, total immunoglobulin content, respiratory burst activity and total antioxidant capacity were shown. The obtained results justify the ethnomedical use of this polyherbal mixture in stressed laying hens in which faster recovery has been demonstrated, whereas healthy specimens did not seem to substantially benefit from the dietary integration, neither with the polyherbal product nor with AA. Thus, the presence of nutraceutical compounds in several herbal plants exerting no side-effects might be useful for exploring them as an alternative to allopathic substances for preventive or therapeutic purposes in poultry. Keywords: dietary supplement, immunity, laying hens, physiology, stress Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 448-458 Volume: 64 Issue: 11 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/189/2019-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/189/2019-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201911-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:11:id:189-2019-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jörn Rethmeier Author-Workplace-Name: Institut für Tierzucht und Tierhaltung, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany Author-Name: Michael Wenzlau Author-Workplace-Name: Alta Deutschland GmbH, Uelzen, Germany Author-Name: Martin Wagner Author-Workplace-Name: Alta Deutschland GmbH, Uelzen, Germany Author-Name: Steffi Wiedemann Author-Workplace-Name: Institut für Tierzucht und Tierhaltung, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany Author-Name: Lisa Bachmann Author-Workplace-Name: Leibniz-Institut für Nutztierbiologie, Dummerstorf, Germany Title: Fertility parameters in German dairy herds: Associations with milk yield and herd size Abstract: Fertility in dairy cows has decreased over the last fifty years while milk production per cow has increased. Furthermore, dairy herds become larger resulting in fewer employees per cow, which might also influence reproductive performance. To elucidate the situation in Germany, selected parameters (conception rate, service rate, pregnancy rate, days to first insemination and days open) were studied using data on 148 herds. For statistical analysis the herds were categorized concerning milk yield: (1) < 30 kg, (2) 30‒35 kg, and (3) > 35 kg/cow/day as well as concerning herd size: (1) < 200, (2) 200‒400, (3) 400‒1000 and (4) > 1000 milking cows. There was no difference in conception rate among herds. That means on dairy farms of larger size or with high milk yield the chance of an inseminated cow to become pregnant is the same as in small herds or in herds with low milk yield. Small herds (< 200 cows) had lower pregnancy rates than larger herds (200-400 cows). The pregnancy rate in herds with different milk yield was not statistically different. Though there was a trend that dairy farms with higher milk yield (> 30 kg) had higher pregnancy rates. The statistical differences and trends of pregnancy rates are due to higher service rate in larger herds as well as in herds with high milk yield. Therefore, service rate is the key factor for high reproductive performance on dairy farms. Poor fertility is not associated with high milk yield on herd basis or large herd size but may represent inappropriate farm management. Keywords: conception rate, service rate, pregnancy rate Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 459-464 Volume: 64 Issue: 11 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/206/2019-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/206/2019-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201911-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:11:id:206-2019-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ke Ding Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Qingrong Jiang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Jianping Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Ning Liu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, 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 Title: Effect of tetramethylpyrazine on growth performance, Campylobacter jejuni carriage and endogenous antimicrobial peptides in rabbits Abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) supplementation on growth performance, Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) carriage and antimicrobial peptides in the epithelial tissue of caecum and skin in rabbits. Five treatments included control and C. jejuni challenge with the addition of TMP at 0, 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of diet. The trial lasted for 35 days and C. jejuni challenge occurred on first day of feeding trial. The results showed that C. jejuni challenge worsened (P < 0.05) feed intake, body weight gain and feed efficiency, whereas TMP supplementation partially compensated (P < 0.05) growth performance. C. jejuni populations in the caecal content and on the skin were decreased (P < 0.05) in the treatments containing TMP. The mRNA levels of antimicrobial peptides, including defensin neutrophil peptide 4, macrophage cationic peptide 2, galectin 3 and cathelicidin were also decreased (P < 0.05) by C. jejuni challenge while they were increased (P < 0.05) with supplemental TMP. Linear and quadratic trends (P ≤ 0.012) of the three doses of TMP were found in growth performance, linear trends (P ≤ 0.049) in C. jejuni carriage, and linear and quadratic trends (P ≤ 0.012) in galectin 3. The results suggest that TMP can partially protect from C. jejuni infection by decreasing C. jejuni carriage and activating epithelial antimicrobial peptides. Keywords: body weight gain, caecum, feed intake, gene expression, skin Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 465-471 Volume: 64 Issue: 11 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/138/2019-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/138/2019-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201911-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:64:y:2019:i:11:id:138-2019-CJAS