Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Michaela Kulišťáková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Eva Sobotková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Radek Filipčík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Analysis of the mare breeding population of Haflinger breed in the Czech Republic Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyse the conformation traits and body dimensions of Haflinger mares registered in the Czech Republic studbook. The study focused on the effects of age at studbook entry, year of birth, proportion of Arabian genes, and country of origin on various parameters. Data were collected from 825 mares, including scores obtained during the studbook entry evaluation and body measurements such as withers height measured with a stick (WHS), withers height measured with a tape (WHT), chest girth (CG), and cannon bone circumference (CBC). Based on these data, the bone index (BI) and body massiveness index (MI) were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using multifactor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe's post-hoc testing method. The results showed that the age at studbook entry significantly affected conformation scores, chest girth, cannon bone circumference, and both indices (MI, BI). Mares aged 3-4 years had significantly higher conformation scores compared to mares aged 5-6 years (P = 0.001) and mares aged 7 years and older (P = 0.000). Mares aged 5-6 years and those aged 7 years and older showed higher CG values (P = 0.002, P = 0.000) and CBC values (P = 0.010, P = 0.001). Furthermore, the year of birth had a highly significant impact on all variables studied. The withers height of mares born between 2011 and 2020 was, on average, 3.49 cm higher (144.84 cm) than that of mares born between 1987 and 2000 (141.35 cm) (P < 0.000). Regarding CG, a statistically significant increase was observed in mares born in 1987-2000 and 2001-2010, with chest girth increasing from 180.45 cm to 183.76 cm (P = 0.016). However, a subsequent decrease to 179.91 cm was noted in mares born between 2011 and 2020 (P = 0.002). The influence of the proportion of Arabian genes was significant for WHS, where mares with a higher proportion of Arabian genes (>1.56%) showed lower WHS (141.74 cm) compared to mares with a lower proportion (143.86 cm) or no Arabian genes (143.01 cm). While ANOVA demonstrated a significant effect of Arabian genes on CBC, Scheffe's post-hoc test did not confirm this finding. No statistically significant differences were observed in other body dimensions based on the proportion of Arabian genes. The influence of the country of origin was statistically significant for all variables except WHS and WHT. Regarding the conformation scores, mares from the Czech Republic scored lower (6.98) than Austrian mares (7.22, P = 0.000). Additionally, CG was significantly lower in Austrian mares (178.58 cm) compared to Czech mares (182.54 cm, P = 0.000). Austrian mares also had significantly lower MI (P = 0.000) and BI (P = 0.040), with Austrian indices at 124.71/13.31 and Czech indices at 127.77/13.41. Based on this empirical evaluation of the current and original population of Haflingers in the Czech Republic, the connections and influence of individual factors during breeding are revealed. The results of our analysis have built an objective scientific basis and they allow the breeding organisation to determine the further breeding process. Keywords: Arabian genes, body dimensions, body indices, bone circumference, chest girth, withers height Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 83-92 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/8/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/8/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202503-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:3:id:8-2025-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mei Jin Author-Workplace-Name: Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, P.R. China Author-Name: Weiyu Fan Author-Workplace-Name: Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, P.R. China Author-Name: Jinxu Xu Author-Workplace-Name: Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, P.R. China Title: LGALS3 promotes the proliferation of Liaoning Cashmere goat skin fibroblasts by regulating the expression of PIEZO1 Abstract: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a role in the reconstruction of hair follicles and in the formation and growth of cashmere fibres. One cashmere growth-associated lncRNA was successfully screened out at the early stage in the laboratory, which was named LncRNA MTC. In this study, the binding of galectin 3 (LGALS3) to LncRNA MTC was examined through RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) in skin fibroblasts of Liaoning Cashmere goats. The pLenti-LGALS3-His-IRES-EGFP lentiviral overexpression vector was built, and the result of CCK8 indicated that the overexpression of LGALS3 significantly enhanced the viability of skin fibroblasts (P < 0.05). A total of 15 proteins interacting with LGALS3 were identified through co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) combined mass spectrometry, which were primarily rich in ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, PI3K-AKT, and other signalling pathways. Moreover, PIEZO1 refers to a mechanically sensitive ion channel protein that is capable of regulating the cell proliferation. As revealed by qPCR results, overexpression of LGALS3 significantly upregulated the expression of PIEZO1, which was effectively interfered by siRNA. The result of CCK8 indicated that siPIEZO1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, whereas overexpression of LGALS3 protected cells from the suppression of siPIEZO1 (P < 0.01). This study revealed that LGALS3 is capable of stimulating the proliferation of skin fibroblasts by regulating PIEZO1. The effect of LGALS3 on the proliferation of skin fibroblasts from the protein interaction was explored, and this study is expected to lay a certain scientific basis for the research on the hair follicle development mechanism of Liaoning Cashmere goats. Keywords: co-immunoprecipitation, lentiviral overexpression vector, LncRNA MTC, RNA immunoprecipitation, siRNA Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 102-112 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/72/2024-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/72/2024-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202503-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:3:id:72-2024-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Aizhan Makhanbetova Author-Workplace-Name: Meat Sheep Breeding Department, Kazakh Research Institute of Livestock and Fodder Production, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan Author-Name: Filipp Georgijevič Savvulidi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sceinces (CULS) Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Martin Ptáček Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sceinces (CULS) Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Lucie Langerová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sceinces (CULS) Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Beybit Kulataev Author-Workplace-Name: Meat Sheep Breeding Department, Kazakh Research Institute of Livestock and Fodder Production, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan Author-Name: Nurlan Malmakov Author-Workplace-Name: Meat Sheep Breeding Department, Kazakh Research Institute of Livestock and Fodder Production, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan Title: Association between conventional semen variables and sperm freezability in rams Abstract: Assessments of routine ejaculated samples were used to evaluate the conventional semen variables (sperm motility, semen volume, sperm concentration) as initial decision-making criteria to freeze or not to freeze. However, the association of these attributes to the cryotolerance of ram sperm has not been adequately studied yet. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse if the semen volume, sperm motility and concentration can be used to predict post-thaw ram sperm motility. Additionally, in the present study we tested if the order of ejaculate sampling (first versus second, within a single collection session) and the breed of rams influenced cryopreservation outcomes. Keywords: breed, cryopreservation, ejaculate volume, order of ejaculate collection, sperm concentration, spermatozoa motility Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 93-101 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/185/2024-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/185/2024-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202503-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:3:id:185-2024-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Yawen Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Bo Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Ziwei Li Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Fengxiang Hou Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Yan Zhao Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Junjie Jin Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Bin Song Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Wenjie Gu Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China Title: Whole-genome resequencing data reveal the genetic diversity of local chickens in southern Zhejiang and surrounding areas in China Abstract: China's local chicken breeds, especially those in the Zhejiang Province, are rich in genetic diversity owing to environmental heterogeneity and complex ecosystems. Distinctive local breeds have emerged through long-term natural selection and domestication. We investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of local chickens in southern Zhejiang and surrounding areas using whole-genome resequencing of 129 chickens from seven populations. A total of 1.8 terabytes of raw data was obtained, and 4 802 728 single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected. The Xianju chicken population exhibited the highest genetic diversity, while Yandang Partridge chickens were genetically distant from other chicken breeds. This study provides valuable information for conserving poultry genetic diversity and informs about breeding programmes of local Chinese chicken breeds. Keywords: breeding, Chinese native chicken breeds, population structure, single nucleotide polymorphism Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 113-120 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/186/2024-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/186/2024-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202503-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:3:id:186-2024-CJAS