Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Georg Terler Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Livestock Research, Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Irdning-Donnersbachtal, Austria Author-Name: Manuel Winter Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Organic Farming and Farm Animal Biodiversity, Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Irdning-Donnersbachtal, Austria Author-Name: Michael Mandl Author-Workplace-Name: tbw research GmbH, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: Joseph Sweeney Author-Workplace-Name: School of Biosystem Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Author-Name: Andreas Steinwidder Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Organic Farming and Farm Animal Biodiversity, Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Irdning-Donnersbachtal, Austria Title: Effect of biochar or biochar and urea supplementation on feed intake, milk yield, feed conversion and methane production of dairy cows Abstract: Feed additives belong to a number of climate change mitigation strategies being sought to reduce methane emissions in ruminants. In this study, the effect of biochar or biochar and urea supplementation on dairy cow performance and methane production was assessed. Eighteen cows were used in a 3 × 3 latin square design with three feeding groups: control with no supplementation (CO), biochar supplementation (BC, 200 g/day) and biochar and urea supplementation (BC + U, 200 g/day biochar and 90 g/day urea). All cows were fed a forage mixture ad libitum and 5 kg of concentrates per day on average. Methane emissions were measured in respiration chambers. Biochar as well as biochar and urea supplementation did not affect total dry matter, energy and utilisable protein intake. However, lignin intake was higher in the BC group and crude protein intake was higher in the BC + U group compared to the CO group. Supplementation of feed additives did not affect milk production and milk composition, except for the higher milk urea content in the BC + U group. Feed conversion, diet digestibility and methane production were not affected by feeding strategy. In conclusion, biochar supplementation does not reduce methane emissions, but it does not negatively affect dairy cow performance. Keywords: feed additives, methane reduction, digestibility, cattle, efficiency Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 245-254 Volume: 68 Issue: 6 Year: 2023 DOI: 10.17221/38/2023-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/38/2023-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202306-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:68:y:2023:i:6:id:38-2023-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Amine Boudaoud Author-Workplace-Name: LESPA, Department of Veterinary sciences, Institute of Veterinary and Agronomic Sciences, University of Batna 1, Batna, Algeria Title: Timed artificial insemination protocols in dairy cattle: Functioning, shortcomings, and improvements Abstract: Oestrus detection is currently at the top of the factors limiting the success of artificial insemination in dairy herds. This limitation becomes more pronounced as milk production increases because of higher metabolic clearance rates of steroid hormones leading to low circulating oestradiol concentration near oestrus. The standard OvSynch has overcome this problem by enabling fixed-time artificial insemination, for it synchronises follicular wave emergence, luteolysis, and ovulation. However, it did not improve fertility compared to cycles with spontaneous ovulation, which motivated the development of "fertility programs". These later are nothing but improved OvSynch protocol. This article explains what went wrong with the original OvSynch protocol, discusses the improvements made by "fertility programs", and highlights the advantages and limits of the newly tested molecules. Keywords: OvSynch protocol, fertility program, dairy herd, synchronised ovulation Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 231-244 Volume: 68 Issue: 6 Year: 2023 DOI: 10.17221/208/2022-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/208/2022-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202306-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:68:y:2023:i:6:id:208-2022-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Xixi Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Xinxin Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Yi Lv Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Wenfeng Ma Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Regulation and Health, Anhui, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiaohong Wu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Wenrui Zhen Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Furong Zhao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China Title: Effects of dietary protease supplementation on behaviour, slaughter performance, meat quality and immune organ indices of broilers Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of protease supplementation on the behaviour, slaughter performance, meat quality, and immune organ indices of broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly allocated to four treatments, with six replicates per treatment and 10 broilers per replicate. Chickens were fed corn-soybean meal basal diets supplemented with 0, 4, 8, and 12 IU/g of protease. Compared with 0 IU/g of protease supplementation, 12 IU/g of protease increased the average and minimum time of feeding and drinking behaviour (P < 0.05); increased the average, maximum, and minimum time of preening behaviour (P < 0.05); and decreased feeding, walking, and stretching frequency (P < 0.05). pH24h of breast and thigh muscles had improved (P < 0.05). The shear force of the breast muscle and the cooking loss of the thigh muscle had decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with 0 IU/g of protease, 4 IU/g of protease increased the average and minimum time of lying behaviour (P < 0.05) and decreased stretching, scratching, and aggressive frequency (P < 0.05). The shear force of the thigh muscle and spleen index had enhanced (P < 0.05). Protease can be used as an additive in a broiler diet for production. Keywords: enzyme, normal and abnormal behaviour, carcass traits, meat characteristics, immunity, poultry Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 255-265 Volume: 68 Issue: 6 Year: 2023 DOI: 10.17221/178/2022-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/178/2022-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202306-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:68:y:2023:i:6:id:178-2022-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Esra Gürsoy Author-Workplace-Name: Ağri İbrahim Çeçen University, Celal Oruç Vocational School of Animal Husbandry, Ağri, Türkiye Author-Name: Gürkan Sezmiş Author-Workplace-Name: Yozgat Bozok University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Zootechnics Department of Animal Nutrition, Yozgat, Türkiye Author-Name: Ali Kaya Author-Workplace-Name: Atatürk University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Erzurum, Türkiye Title: Effect of urea and molasses supplementation on in vitro digestibility, feed quality of mixed forage silages Abstract: This study aims to investigate using different ratios of urea-molasses in silage of food in vitro fermentation, feed value and quality production in feed. After being withered a little, the fodder plant was fragmented into 2-3 cm long pieces. 0, 2 and 4% molasses and 0, 0.5 and 1% urea were added. The treatment groups were UM1 (control), UM2, UM3, UM4, UM5, UM6, UM7, UM8 and UM9 supplemented with 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1.5, 1.5, 1.5% urea and 0, 2, 4, 0, 2, 4, 0, 2, 4% molasses respectively, and a total of 54 silage samples, 9 × 6 parallel, were prepared, vacuumed in ready-made silage bags, and stored at 25 ± 2 °C for 60 days. After the silages were opened, pH, nutrient contents, Fleig scores (FS), in vitro digestibility parameters, energy contents, feed value and feed quality were determined, then the data were subjected to analysis of variance. The effects of urea and molasses additives added to the mixed forage plant silage on all parameters were found to be significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The crude protein (CP) increased its application by UM7. Cell wall component (insoluble fibre in acid detergent (ADF) and neutral detergent insoluble fibre NDF) reduced its application by UM9. All these applications increased the FS. The addition of molasses increased the in vitro gas production, while the addition of urea decreased the production. True organic matter digestibility increased with the addition of molasses. As a result, it was concluded that UM9 application in silages would be appropriate for increasing feed value and feed quality, and the UM3 application in silage would be appropriate for improving true organic matter digestibility (TOMD). Keywords: in vitro digestibility, molasses, urea, feed quality, feed value Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 266-276 Volume: 68 Issue: 6 Year: 2023 DOI: 10.17221/212/2022-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/212/2022-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202306-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:68:y:2023:i:6:id:212-2022-CJAS