Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jan Vařeka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ludmila Zavadilová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animal, Institute of Animal Science Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Matúš Gašparík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Miloslava Štípková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Cattle Breeding, Institute of Animal Science Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Luboš Vostrý Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Relationships among clinical mastitis test-day records, somatic cell counts, and linear udder conformation traits in Czech dairy cows Abstract: This study evaluated test-day records of clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell count, and nine udder conformation traits. Somatic cell count was log-transformed into somatic cell score (SCS) in 10 periods, each 30 days long and overall, for the first lactation. CM is a complex disease closely connected with somatic cell count. The optimum udder conformation traits significantly affect dairy cattle health. The CM binary trait was monitored in seven periods throughout lactation, each 50 days long, and for the whole lactation. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the risk of CM. The model included a fixed effect of herd-year-season, age at first calving, and a fixed effect of the linear type traits of the random effect of the animal. The phenotypic correlations for udder conformation traits, CM, and SCS ranged from -0.13 to 0.69 and standard errors were 0.01-0.99. The highest CM incidence and SCS were observed for the medial ligament scores 1-2: convex base of the udder. According to the logistic regression assessment, the medial ligament scores 1-2: convex base of the udder and the CM incidence to 50 days in milk reported a 3.79 times higher probability of the CM incidence at the reference level (extremely deep medial ligament) at the same stage of the lactation. CM incidence and SCS significantly decreased with decreasing udder depth. Udder depth below the hock was associated with the highest risk of CM. For udder depth and the whole lactation, the CM ODDS ratio was 1.00-2.56, CM least squares means were 0.18-0.44, and SCS least squares means were 3.20-4.10. Our study confirmed that the start of lactation is critical for the onset of CM, and somatic cell count is manifested throughout lactation. The effect of the udder conformation is then observable in somatic cell count and CM during the whole lactation. Keywords: dairy farming, Holstein, phenotypic relationship, udder health Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 130-138 Volume: 70 Issue: 4 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/12/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/12/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202504-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:4:id:12-2025-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Xin Hao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, P.R. China Author-Name: Guifeng Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Lonct Enzymes Co., Ltd., Shandong, Lin'yi, P.R. China Author-Name: Yilin Ge Author-Workplace-Name: SDU-ANU Joint Science College, Shandong University, Wei' hai, Shandong, P.R. China Author-Name: Jie Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilisation of Non-Grain Feed Resources (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Department of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, P.R. China Author-Name: Weiren Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilisation of Non-Grain Feed Resources (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Department of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, P.R. China Author-Name: Lijie Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilisation of Non-Grain Feed Resources (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Department of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, P.R. China Title: Effects of low-protein diet supplemented with exogenous protease on growth performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens Abstract: This experiment was conducted to study the effects of low-protein diet supplemented with exogenous protease on performance and intestinal health of broilers. A total of 560 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 8 replicates (12 birds per replicate) in a completely randomised design. The treatments were as follows: (1) maize-soybean meal basal diet (CON); (2) negative control with crude protein being 1% lower than in CON (NCON); (3) NCON + 12 000 U/kg coated alkaline protease (NCAP); (4) NCON + 16 000 U/kg alkaline protease (NAP); (5) NCON + 16 000 U/kg keratinase (NKA). The remaining 80 birds (10 replicates, 8 birds per replicate) were randomly assigned to endogenous indicator measurements. The results indicated that the NCON diet resulted in a higher feed-to-gain ratio and reduced protein digestibility, ileal amino acid digestibility, and intestinal morphological parameters (P < 0.05). Supplementation of different exogenous proteases significantly improved the apparent and true ileal digestibility of specific amino acids, enhanced jejunal chymotrypsin activity, and promoted intestinal morphological development, including increased villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05). Our findings suggested that the addition of exogenous protease improved the intestinal morphology of broilers. Keywords: Arbor Acres chickens, feed efficiency, intestinal morphology, low-protein diet, nutrient digestibility, protease supplementation Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 147-159 Volume: 70 Issue: 4 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/18/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/18/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202504-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:4:id:18-2025-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 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 - Suchdol, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jaromír Ducháček Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sceinces (CULS) Prague, Prague - Suchdol, 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 - Suchdol, Czech Republic Author-Name: Matúš Gašparík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sceinces (CULS) Prague, Prague - Suchdol, Czech Republic Author-Name: Veronika Kovářová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sceinces (CULS) Prague, Prague - Suchdol, Czech Republic Author-Name: Radim Codl Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sceinces (CULS) Prague, Prague - Suchdol, Czech Republic Author-Name: Luděk Stádník Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sceinces (CULS) Prague, Prague - Suchdol, Czech Republic Title: Impact of microclimatic conditions on sperm production in Czech Holstein bulls: A correlational study Abstract: In this study, the influence of microclimatic conditions in different seasons of the year (including the hottest months) on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of ejaculates of Czech Holstein bulls was assessed. Bulls were kept in the facility with no forced ventilation or air conditioning. To determine the influence, the temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated based on the microclimatic parameters measured directly in the facility with the animals. Bull sperm was obtained using an artificial vagina on five occasions throughout the year, in different seasons of the year including the hottest months. Semen was assessed for its volume, sperm concentration, and motility by CASA, as well as cellular viability by using flow cytometry. In the present study no statistically significant positive correlations between values of THI and sperm degradation were observed. Obtained preliminary results give grounds to believe that Czech Holstein bulls produced high-quality sperm during the summer, the hottest months of the year. Keywords: bovine, CASA, flow cytometry, fresh sperm, heat stress, temperature-humidity index Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 121-129 Volume: 70 Issue: 4 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/21/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/21/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202504-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:4:id:21-2025-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Tz-Shian Liao Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan Author-Name: Pei-En Chang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan Author-Name: Yi-Ting Chen Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan Author-Name: Ching-Yi Chen Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan Author-Name: Cheng-Wei Tom Chang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA Author-Name: Jon YutakaTakemoto Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA Author-Name: Yuan-Yu Lin Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan Title: Mesobiliverdin IXα-enriched microalgae feed improves gut health in weaned piglets under LPS challenge Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mesobiliverdin IXα-enriched microalgae (MBV-SP) on growth, diarrhoea prevalence, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced enteritis in weaned piglets. Seventy-two 28-day-old piglets were randomly divided into four groups: control (NC), LPS, tylosin, and MBV-SP, with saline/LPS (100 µg/kg) administered intraperitoneally on day 14. Results showed reduced mortality and diarrhoea rates in the tylosin + LPS and MBV-SP + LPS groups compared to the LPS group. Histological analysis revealed improved villus morphology and decreased crypt depth in the MBV-SP group. Catalase activity was notably higher in the MBV-SP group. Both tylosin and MBV-SP supplementation reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, with MBV-SP exhibiting a more pronounced effect. In conclusion, MBV-SP mitigated diarrhoea, improved antioxidant capacity, and modulated inflammatory cytokines in weaned piglets with LPS-induced enteritis, highlighting its potential as a dietary supplement for the gut health in piglets. Keywords: lipopolysaccharide, mesobiliverdin IXα, , microalgae, weaned piglets Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 139-146 Volume: 70 Issue: 4 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/159/2024-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/159/2024-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202504-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:4:id:159-2024-CJAS