Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jabulani Ngcobo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Faculty of Science, Pretoria, South Africa Author-Name: Thobela Louis Tyasi Author-Workplace-Name: School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Agricultural Economics and Animal Production, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, Limpopo, South Africa Title: Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on fresh bull semen quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis Abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including omega-3, are known to yield health benefits to mammals, including bulls and human beings. This meta-analysis was done to determine the influence of omega-3 fatty acids (OMFA) on bull semen quality. The research question formulated for this meta-analysis was centred on the Population-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome (PICO) framework. To determine the influence of omega-3 fatty acids on semen quality, a meta-analysis was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The different effects were analysed using a random effects model. The variations among the included studies were tested using heterogeneity (I2). Semen volume (MD = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13; 0.44), sperm concentration (MD = 71.12, 95% CI: 15.97; 126.26), live sperm (MD = 11.93; 95% CI: 7.30; 16.55), sperm motility (MD = 9.24, 95% CI: 7.39; 11.09) and plasma membrane integrity (MD = 11.60, 95% CI: 6.30; 16.89) increased dramatically in the omega-3 fatty acid-supplemented group. Notably, the progressive motility (MD = 1.19, 95% CI: -3.24; 5.61) was the only sperm parameter showing a non-significant influence when omega-3 fatty acids were supplemented. It was then concluded that the omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can be used to improve most of the semen parameters in bulls. Keywords: bull fertility, fatty acid supplementation, nutritional modulation, polyunsaturated fatty acid, reproductive efficiency Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 97-108 Volume: 71 Issue: 3 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/6/2026-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6/2026-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6/2026-CJAS.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202603-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:71:y:2026:i:3:id:6-2026-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Karel Novák Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, Institute of Animal Science Prague (IAS), Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Vojtěch Janák Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Natural Sciences and Archaeometry, Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: René Kyselý Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Natural Sciences and Archaeometry, Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Title: On the origin of Bohemian cattle according to mitochondrial DNA Abstract: The genomic structure of extant cattle populations can contribute to the reconstruction of the history of particular breeds or their subpopulations. Genome-wide population resequencing of extant populations of Czech Red Pied (CRP) cattle, its conserved nucleus herd, and Czech Red (CR) cattle detected a T106C polymorphism in mitochondrial DNA shared by the conserved CRP herd with a geographical belt of Anatolian, Illyrian and Eastern Alpine breeds. On the other hand, this SNP is practically absent in the historical cattle breeds associated with Northern Germany, including German Black Pied cattle, Holstein-Friesian and German Red Mountain cattle (GRM). Correspondingly, this indicator SNP was absent in CR cattle, which, like the GRM, belongs to the group of mountain red cattle breeds. It seems that the precursory cattle population in Central Europe was influenced by the germplasm from the Balkans-related group of breeds, thanks to the political and commercial influence of the Northern Italian, Austrian and Hungarian regions. In addition, the presence of this polymorphism in some European aurochs (Bos primigenius) bone remains suggests possible introgression from local aurochs populations. Alternatively, the T106C presence in yaks and in neighbouring cattle breeds in Northern India, China and Korea raises the possibility of origin of this polymorphism from yak populations. The spread of the T106C mutation in alpine regions is consistent with the known role of this mtDNA region in adaptation to the reduced oxygen pressure. Keywords: aurochs, Busha, Czech Red cattle, Czech Simmental, historical cattle Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 118-128 Volume: 71 Issue: 3 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/127/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/127/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202603-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:71:y:2026:i:3:id:127-2025-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Li Liang Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: Jingzhen Li Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: Huade Xie Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: Xianqing Luo Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: Fanquan Zeng Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: Qian Deng Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: Chengjian Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Nanning, P.R. China Title: Effects of papaya peel addition on fermentation quality, nutritional value and in vitro ruminal digestion of napier grass silage Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of papaya peel addition on the quality and in vitro ruminal digestion of napier grass silage. Fresh napier grass was mixed with papaya peel at 0% (control), 15%, 30%, and 45% of fresh weight and ensiled under anaerobic conditions. After fermentation, silages were analysed for pH, organic acids, ammonia-N, and nutrient composition. In vitro ruminal fermentation was conducted using the rumen fluid collected from buffaloes to assess gas production, volatile fatty acid profiles, and hydrogen release. The results showed that papaya peel addition significantly affected silage fermentation and nutrient composition. The inclusion at 15% lowered pH and increased lactic acid concentration compared with the control (P < 0.05). Higher inclusion levels (30% and 45%) reduced neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre content, increased total digestible nutrients and relative feed value (P < 0.05). In vitro ruminal fermentation showed that, compared with the control, hydrogen production was significantly reduced in the 15% treatment, and the acetate-to-propionate ratio was highest in the 45% treatment as a result of decreased propionate acid concentration (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that co-ensiling napier grass with papaya peel improved fermentation quality and feed value, with 15% addition yielding the most desirable balance of fermentation characteristics and ruminal fermentation outcomes. This approach provides a practical strategy for enhancing the forage preservation and utilising fruit-processing by-products in tropical livestock systems. Keywords: Carica papaya L. peel, co-ensiling, fruit by-products, Pennisetum purpureum Schumach, silage quality Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 109-117 Volume: 71 Issue: 3 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/163/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/163/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202603-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:71:y:2026:i:3:id:163-2025-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Andrej Mitrík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Husbandry, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Tomáš Mitrík Author-Workplace-Name: FEEDLAB s.r.o., Spišská Nová Ves, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Iveta Maskaľová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Husbandry, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovak Republic Title: Evaluation of changes in dry matter and nutrient content during the growth dynamics of silage maize Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the relationships between the nutrient content and the DM (dry matter) content of various maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) in the dynamics of vegetative maturity and various soil-climatic growing conditions. Over the course of 7 growing seasons (years), a set of 1 972 samples of whole silage maize plants consisting of 206 different hybrids grown in two contrasting regions (lowland and foothill areas) was analysed. The focus was on DM content and the content of key energy nutrients (WSC - water soluble carbohydrates, starch, NDF - neutral detergent fibre) and their interactions. Results show that the transformation of WSC into starch has four key points: (i) it begins at a DM content of 150 g/kg; (ii) it peaks at a DM content of approximately 235 g/kg; (iii) it begins to decrease significantly from a DM content of 300 g/kg; and (iv) it practically stops rapidly after exceeding a DM content of 350 g/kg. In the dynamics of vegetative development of maize plants, the DM content is very closely related to the WSC content (R2 = 0.728) and the starch content (R2 = 0.873). With the gradual increase in vegetative maturity and DM content in maize plants, the transformation of WSC into starch dynamically increases. These characteristics, with small deviations, were also confirmed at different levels of evaluation (all analyses, regions, seasons and individual hybrids). These results show that a DM content of 300 g/kg to 350 g/kg can be considered the optimal harvesting window for maize ensiling and the optimal phase of silage maturity for whole maize plants, because once the DM content exceeds 350 g/kg; the transformation of WSC into starch stops and the drying phase of plants begins. Keywords: carbohydrate transformation, hybrid, maize, silage maturity, vegetative development Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 129-139 Volume: 71 Issue: 3 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/172/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/172/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202603-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:71:y:2026:i:3:id:172-2025-CJAS