Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Vojtěch Pešan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Zuzana Rečková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Martin Hošek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Radek Filipčík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Katarina Soušková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Tomáš Kopec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Martina Pešanová Tesařová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Evaluation of crystallisation structures of cervical mucus in Zwartbles sheep with previous oestrus synchronisation Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the individual types of crystallisation structures of cervical mucus (arborisation phenomenon) in sheep and changes in the types of these structures during oestrus. A total of 80 ewes aged between two and eight years were included in the study. Oestrus synchronisation was performed using intravaginal sponges, and samples of cervical mucus were collected 55-57 h after the removal of intravaginal sponges and subsequently evaluated. The crystallisation structures of the cervical mucus of sheep exhibit the same sequence during oestrus as in cattle. The most frequently occurring types of crystallisation in the observed sheep included twig-shaped (33.33%), twig-shaped-clubmosses (24.00%) and clubmosses (14.67%). The least common type was fern frond crystallisation (1.33%). A statistically significant difference was found between the representation of individual types of crystallisation (P < 0.01). As with cattle, it is possible to use the evaluation of the crystallisation of cervical mucus to determine the optimum time for insemination, especially in groups of animals with previous synchronisation/induction of oestrus. Establishing the correct time for insemination or natural mating with a ram makes it possible to optimise breeding management and improve pregnancy rates, which are crucial in breeding these seasonally polyoestrous animals. Based on the results, it can be stated that insemination should take place 57+ h after the removal of intravaginal sponges and the application of hormonal treatments for oestrus induction and synchronisation (equine chorionic gonadotropin). Keywords: arborization, detection, reproduction of sheep Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 383-390 Volume: 68 Issue: 9 Year: 2023 DOI: 10.17221/4/2023-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4/2023-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202309-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:68:y:2023:i:9:id:4-2023-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Milan Večeřa Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Stanislav Navrátil Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Tomáš Kopec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Daniel Falta Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Gustav Chládek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Francois Stefanus Lategan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Changes in the behaviour of Czech Fleckvieh dairy cows during the day under optimal ambient temperature conditions in the barn Abstract: In the experimental section of the barn (which made up 25% of the barn), 103 cubicles in free stall barn were selected in three rows, housing 98 dairy cows of Czech Fleckvieh cattle. Monitoring was done for one calendar year, once a week. From this period, 16 days with temperatures from 0.5-15.0 °C were selected for quantification. Observations were continuously recorded at 10:00 am (one hour after the coming of the last cow from the milking parlour), at hourly intervals until 7:00 pm. Ten observations were carried out every day of the monitoring period. In total, 15 680 individual observations were recorded. The microclimatic parameters (temperature, relative humidity) were monitored within the barns continuously at 15-minute intervals using three data logger sensors. Changes in the proportion of lying to standing dairy cows were observed during the day. A steady trend of a reduced ratio of lying dairy cows during the day (from 70% to 40%) in favour of standing dairy cows was observed. The optimal value of the cow comfort index - CCI (85%) was not reached in any monitored part of the day. The number of dairy cows lying on their left sides increased from 50.4% to 56%, especially after feeding (at 4:00 pm). Differences were found in the proportion of lying and standing cows (P < 0.05) at an optimal microclimate during the day. A significant preference for the left side when lying down was also found. Keywords: lying, standing, laterality, cow comfort index, microclimate Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 365-371 Volume: 68 Issue: 9 Year: 2023 DOI: 10.17221/23/2023-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/23/2023-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202309-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:68:y:2023:i:9:id:23-2023-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ajmal Wali Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Sheikh Zayed University, Khost, Afghanistan Author-Name: Naoki Nishino Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan Title: In vitro assessment of the relationships between the digestion of different types of rice straw and bacterial community in the rumen Abstract: The aims of this study were to examine bacterial communities in relation to the rumen digestion of rice straw and to understand how concentrate supplements affect gut bacteria involving the digestion of a rice straw-based diet. The substrates were rice straw (RS) alone (experiment 1) and RS with 25% concentrates (barley and kidney beans) (experiment 2). The genomic DNA was collected to determine bacterial diversity by conducting denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). V6-V8 region group-specific (Clostridium and Bacteroides) primers were employed in the analyses. The DGGE band pattern was subjected to cluster analysis to demonstrate the similarity and difference between dietary treatments and solid-liquid fractions. Fibre digestibility, gas production, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration were increased with incubation time. The differences between solid and liquid fractions were great in total bacteria, Clostridium, and Bacteroides communities. Clostridium and Bacteroides communities appeared unaffected by incubation time, whereas great differences existed between solid and liquid fractions throughout incubations (experiment 1). Barley and kidney bean supplements increased gas production and lowered rumen fluid pH, whereas changes in VFA concentration were significant only for kidney bean supplement. The Clostridium, and Bacteroides groups were affected by barley and kidney beans in the liquid fraction. However, the solid fraction was stable (experiment 2). These results indicate a rigid and stable community structure of Clostridium and Bacteroides groups involved in the digestion of rice straw-based diets in the rumen. Distinctive differences between solid and liquid fractions were described; hence, separate analyses of two fractions may greatly help understand the relationship between fermentation patterns and microbial communities in the rumen. Keywords: Clostridium, Bacteroides, PCR, dgge, solid-liquid, concentrates Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 372-382 Volume: 68 Issue: 9 Year: 2023 DOI: 10.17221/193/2022-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/193/2022-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202309-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:68:y:2023:i:9:id:193-2022-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jing Liang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Baolong Du Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Minyan Wan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Yapeng Zhao Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Defu Tang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Title: Gly-Leu instead of Gly promoted the proliferation and protein synthesis of chicken intestinal epithelial cells Abstract: Amino acids have positive regulatory effects on the function of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC), but in the field of animal nutrition, research on the regulatory effects of amino acids on IEC is still in the initial stages. This study aims to explore the effects of Gly, Gly-Gly, and Gly-Leu on IEC proliferation and their possible mechanisms. Chicken small intestinal epithelial cells were separated using the tissue block method, and other miscellaneous cells were removed for digestion and passage culture. The IEC were cultured in the medium containing 20 nmol/l Gly, Gly-Gly and Gly-Leu for 24 h, and the expression of enterokinase and cytokeratin in cells, the growth curve and activity of IEC, cell cycle, differentially expressed genes, mRNA expression, and protein expression levels of p-mTOR and p-S6K1 in IEC were detected. Enterokinase and cytokeratin were expressed specifically in IEC. The results of growth curve and MTT revealed that the cell viability of IEC was significantly increased after treatment with Gly, Gly-Gly and Gly-Leu. The cell cycle results showed that compared with the control group, Gly, Gly-Gly and Gly-Leu intervention could increase the proportion of IEC in G1 phase, and the proportion in S phase of IEC was decreased. Transcriptome sequencing showed that compared with the control group, there were 54, 28 and 30 differential genes in Gly group, Gly-Gly group and Gly-Leu group, respectively. These genes were mainly enriched in nitric oxide synthesis and protein kinase B signalling, PI3K signal and cellular amino acid biosynthesis and transport signal pathways. RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of PCYT2, SPP1, EMC6, GRIA2 and PKD2 were consistent with the sequencing results. Western blot results showed that compared with the control group, the protein expression of p-mTOR and p-S6K1 in Gly group, Gly-Gly group and Gly-Leu group was significantly increased. Gly-Leu can promote the protein synthesis in IEC by activating protein synthesis of mTOR signalling pathway in chicken IEC. Keywords: small peptide, animal nutrition, protein expression, signal pathway Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 391-398 Volume: 68 Issue: 9 Year: 2023 DOI: 10.17221/213/2022-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/213/2022-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202309-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:68:y:2023:i:9:id:213-2022-CJAS