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Results of scoring the reaction to powdery mildew of 240 winter barley varieties that were gradually included in 392 Czech Official Trials conducted at 21 locations were analysed. The reaction of the varieties was determined on the basis of the level of infection by the disease. Therefore, the data can also be used to assess the disease severity in years and at locations. Several characteristics indicative of disease severity were considered, including the disease severity coefficient (= average infection of susceptible varieties in trials with a high disease severity/the proportion of such trials). The value of the coefficient is inversely proportional to disease severity. The highest powdery mildew severity was found in 1976, and the years 1988, 1990 and 2003 were characterised by high infection of the examined varieties. In contrast, the disease was practically absent in 1979 and 1982, and its severity was also low in 1978, 1981, 1985, 1991 and 1998. Very low disease severity was found for the period 1977-1982 when insufficient disease severity was found on average in 78% of the trials and high disease severity in only 6% of the trials. The highest disease severity was found at locations Trutnov, Horažďovice and Chrastava. The analysis of data from a large number of field trials conducted at various locations for a period of 30 years confirmed that powdery mildew is an important disease of winter barley in the Czech Republic. Known genetic sources of resistance and current methods, such as marker assisted selection, enable breeders to solve this problem.

The aim of this research was to determine the slaughter yield, proximate composition, and flesh colour of cultivated and wild perch (Perca fluviatilis). The study material was composed of fish obtained from intense fattening on formulated feed (age 1+, mean body weight (BW 116 g)) and wild specimens caught in a lake (age 3+, BW 119 g). The biometric traits of the two groups of fish did not differ with regard to body weight, total length (Lt), body length (Lc), or condition coefficient (P > 0.01). The cultivated perch had both higher maximum body height (H) and relative body profile (Rp) (P ≤ 0.01). The cultivated perch has a significantly lower slaughter yield (P ≤ 0.01). This dependence stems from the heavier viscera, which included more perivisceral fat and larger liver. Cultivated perch had significantly higher values of the viscerosomatic (VSI; 12.0 vs. 6.4), hepatosomatic (HSI; 1.9 vs. 1.7), and perivisceral fat (IPF; 7.0 vs. 1.2) indices. The analysis of the proximate composition of fillets from wild and cultivated perch indicated that the ratios of protein, fat, water were significantly different (P ≤ 0.01). The higher content of dry matter in the cultivated perch was a result of higher fat and protein contents. The fillets of the two groups of perch differed with regard to the saturation of green and yellow pigment; the cultivated perch exhibited lower values of parameter a* and higher values of parameter b* (P ≤ 0.01).

The reserve root nutrients influence the overwintering, regrowth, yield, and persistence of alfalfa plants. The total amount of the root reserves is considered more important than their concentration. One of the factors which can affect the reserve content can be the soil compaction. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of the soil compaction on the reserve root nutrients in relation to the stand density and the amount of the root biomass. In this experiment, the stand density ranged from 28 to 112 plants per m². The average soil bulk density in the uncompacted and compacted variants was found to be 1.38 and 1.52 g/cm³, respectively. In spring and autumn periods, the root samples were taken from an area of 0.25 m² (the depth 150 mm) in four replications. The number of plants, the root weight, and the concentrations of starch, saccharose, fructose, and crude protein were assessed in each plot. The total amount of the root reserves was calculated from the determined concentrations and the weights of roots of each sample. A higher soil compaction reduced significantly the stand density, root weight, total amount of all nutrients as well as the starch and crude protein concentrations. The concentration of the soluble non-structural saccharides was identical to or increased over that in the compacted variant. The negative significant effect of a higher soil compaction on the root weight and, consequently, on the total amount of all reserve root nutrients was explained by the changes in the stand density. When the root weight effect was excluded, the compacted variant provided a significantly lower density and crude protein amount and concentration. The significant effect of density on the reserve nutrients was explained by changes in the root weight.

An outbreak of tuberculosis among bovines and pigs caused by Mycobacterium caprae is described in this paper. After tuberculin skin tests with bovine purified protein derivates (PPD) six cattle and one sow, own by a small family farm, tested positive whilst three pigs were suspected in 2004. All animals were euthanised and checked for gross pathological lesions. Generalised lesions were found in five cattle and two sows; however one calf and two gilts had lesions that were localised in the submandibular lymph nodes. Mycobacteria were isolated from tissue samples of six cattle and four pigs. Mycobacterial isolates were identified using classical biochemical tests and molecular methods (PCR, GenoType MTBC) as M. caprae. Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit (MIRU) typing of isolated mycobacteria showed an identical number of repeats in 12 different loci. Results of the research confirmed the domination of M. caprae among infected cattle in Croatia; however this paper was the first to confirm a case of M. caprae in pigs. The source of the infection was not found.

This review of chemosignals in birds considers intraspecific oriented chemosignals such as pheromones, interspecific chemosignals, and chemical interactions with parasites. Intraspecific chemosignals are known in some seabirds, especially burrow- or crevice-nesting auklets and petrels that breed in large colonies and are often nocturnal on land. Crested Auklets secrete a distinctive scent closely associated with courtship and important in sexual selection. Individually distinctive odours of petrels allow them to identify their own nest and can have a significant role in social relationships. Substances considered as sex pheromones, diesters of 3-hydroxy fatty acids, are produced by female mallards in their uropygial glands during the mating season. In many species of Charadriiformes during nesting monoester waxes are substituted with mixtures of less volatile diester waxes, less easily detected by mammals searching for nests. The tissues, mainly skin and feather of the New Guinean Passerines of the genus Pitohui and Ifrita contain steroidal alkaloids from the batrachotoxin group probably as a chemical defense. The variation of preen gland secretion in some other Passerines is apparently due to selective pressures caused by ectosymbionts. The auklets' odour, considered as a signal of mate quality, has also a function as ectoparasite repellent: aldehyde constituents of this odour kill and repel ectoparasites. Parasitic nematodes influence grouse digestion and thereby scent emission, making parasitized birds more vulnerable to depredation by mammals. Conversely, scents of some mammalian predators can function as a bird repellent.

In this paper, we describe and compare the employment, wages and prices in the agricultural and other rural sectors in Central and East European countries. Together, we point out the lack of statistical information limiting the possibilities of the comparison. We comment the marked decrease in both production and employment in these sectors during the transition period. Together with low wages and the unfavourable development of the relation between the purchase and producer prices, this situation causes the retardation in the growth of the living standard of the rural population, in comparison with other sectors of the national economy. Therefore, the necessity of restructuring agricultural production arises, and first of all, the multifunctional character of the agriculture and the development of non-agricultural activities must be supported by the rural municipalities. It concerns, of course in different rates, all discussed countries.

The paper describes the role of rural tourism for the sustainable development of rural areas and stresses out the importance of strategic approach in the planning of their development. The author identifies core problems, which eliminate their use and disable individual strategies set by some entrepreneurs in rural tourism. Concretely it is the absence of developing projects and focus on the development of individual villages. Then it is the lack of will to cooperate, local resources are not effectively used and the local community is not adequately involved.

The paper presents the results of relatively long-term research focused on spoil bank revitalization pro-cesses in the North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin after the first three years of observations. The biological activity of soil (namely catalase and phosphatase activity), indicators of basal and potential soil respiration, ammonification and growth, development and nutrition status of forest plantations were selected as indicators of this revitalization process. These parameters were determined in five localities of different age of reclamation where different technological approaches and tree species compositions were used. The results confirm the distinct time dependence of revitalization processes. From the aspect of biological activity older reclamations are close to natural forest soil. The enrichment of top soil layer with organic matter before the plantation (by ploughing in cellulose fibres and peat addition) increased some parameters of soil biological activity. The positive amelioration effect of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) was also confirmed.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of foliar urea applications on quality, growth, mineral content and yield of broccoli under field conditions in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Broccoli cultivars AG 3317 and AG 3324 were treated with foliar urea applications at different concentrations (0.0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.0%). Foliar applications of urea, especially 0.8 and 1.0% resulted in larger heads, weightier heads and plants as well as higher plants. Conversely, the greatest head and leaf dry matter contents were obtained with no fertilizer-nitrogen application. SPAD chlorophyll readings that were measured in the third year increased with elevated urea concentrations. In regard to the nutrient content, it can be interfered that soil nitrogen fertilization and foliar urea applications increased the content of almost all nutrients in leaves and heads of both broccoli cultivars in three experiment years. Generally, the greatest values were obtained from 1.0% urea application for both cultivars. It results from the study that for optimum yields 0.61 and 0.96% concentrations of urea sprays could be successfully used to obtain better growth and yield in broccoli cultivars AG 3317 and AG 3324, respectively.

The basic concept of malt barley production is to reach a dilution effect of nitrogen accumulated by grains at maturity. A three-year study was undertaken to establish time courses of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) in leaves as the prerequisite tool for total grain yield prognosis. Sulphur application at the lowest rate of 25 kg/ha significantly increased yields of grain in 2001 and 2003. The time course of N and S concentrations in leaves over the growing season showed declining trends for N and variable for S. At mid tillering (BBA-25) both N and S, but at BBA-31 only N concentrations significantly responded to S rates, and in turn affected patterns of N concentration in barley organs up to maturity. Sulphur concentrations and N:S ratios were useful tools to make reliable prognosis of total grain yield of barley at BBA-31 as indicated by the obtained regression equations. The threshold values for N and S in leaves in order to achieve the maximum total grain yield are 0.4% for S and 8.0 for the N:S ratio as presented by the graphical procedure.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of MHS-genotype and feeding regime on the growth and development of muscle and fatty tissue in the whole body as well as in hams of hybrid pigs. The experiment was carried out on 72 barrows that were divided into 4 groups regarding the MHS-genotype (NN and Nn) and feeding regime (standard and intensive). Data necessary to determine the volume of examined tissues were obtained by means of magnetic resonance tomography. During the fattening period there were no statistically significant differences between pig groups with respect to total lean content of the body although the feeding regime effect in the finishing fattening phase was on the margin of statistical significance (P = 0.057). Differences between investigated groups with respect to the lean content in hams were not significant either. Results of this research lead to a conclusion that different feeding regimes and MHS genetic status of pigs do not have a significant influence on the growth of muscle and fatty tissue in hams.

In an experiment with 18 lactating Chios ewes, the replacement of barley grain, wheat grain, sugar beet pulp and lucerne meal with fermented olive wastes (FOW), maize grain and soybean meal was used to formulate diets that allowed the net energy (NE) for lactation (NE_l) density of FOW to be calculated. In the experiment, which lasted 8 weeks, ewes were allocated, after equal distribution for milk yield, body weight (BW) and lactation number, into three treatments of 6 ewes each in a Youden square experimental design with 4 consecutive periods of 14 days. Ewes in all groups were offered a concentrate mixture ad libitum (1.12 kg/ewe/day, dry matter (DM) basis) and lucerne hay (0.90 kg/ewe/day, DM basis). FOW were added to the concentrate mixture at inclusion levels (on an as-fed basis) of 0, 100 and 200 kg/t for treatments FOW0, FOW100 and FOW200, respectively. There were no differences among groups in milk protein (60.0 g/kg), lactose (53.0 g/kg) or ash (9.6 g/kg) contents, but milk fat content increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary levels of FOW. Average milk yield (1 137 g/day) and yields of components tended (P < 0.10) to decrease with increased FOW feeding. The best estimate of the NEl density of FOW was 2.55 MJ/kg DM at 2.7×M NE intake, a value only slightly lower than that of 2.62 at 2.7×M based upon a Van Soest et al. (1984) discount from equations of Van Es (1978), who suggested 3.00 MJ/kg DM at 1.1×M of NE intake. FOW is a low protein, high fibre and low NEl feedstuff that will be of limited value in rations of high producing lactating ewes.

The article was written on the base of research results concerning economic development of several selected Czech agricultural companies. In dependence on the altitude, the sample was divided into two sub-samples: companies of production areas and companies of marginal areas. Various economic indicators were monitored in these two sub-samples, the most important one being the economic result before tax. Other monitored indicators are closely related to this one - e.g. the required profit ratio, structure of the economic result, tax impact on the economic result. Other monitored indicators were: the structure of the revenue, productivity of labour, labour technical equipment, capital efficiency and other. Time comparison (development during several recent years; comparison between production and marginal areas) and space comparison of these two sub-samples were carried out. In its conclusion, this article evaluates the history of the hitherto development.

An outbreak of koi herpesvirus (KHV) infection associated with high mortality of common and koi carp was recorded in the USA and Israel in 1998. At present, this disease is viewed as one of the most significant factors that can adversely affect common and koi carp breeds. The disease has spread worldwide including European countries neighbouring with the Czech Republic (CR), i.e. Germany, Poland, and Austria. To monitor the situation in the CR, samples were collected from a total of 138 common and koi carps in seven and eight locations in CR respectively, and were examined between 2005 and 2006. Locations owned by the major producers of common and koi carp were selected with respect of potential occurrence of the KHV virus. No records of increased mortality and morbidity were noticed there. Preferentially carps with non-specific symptoms of disease were sampled, often with isolated skin erosions. To obtain detailed picture about health condition of examined fish the bacteriological and haematological examinations were accomplished. The next part of the examined samples were carp and koi carp for export from professional breeders, imported koi carp and fish from breeds with increased mortality (45 and 21 fish in 2005 and 2006, respectively) The only virological testing was done in this case. The culture and PCR method, according to Gilad et al. (2002) showed negative results for virus KHV in all years. Retrospective investigation by PCR method according to Bercovier et al. (2005) showed positivity in five locations in 2005. In 2006, KHV virus was not detected in any of the selected locations. The aim of our study was to find out the presence/absence of KHV in selected locations and potential correlation of virological, bacteriological and haematological findings. The results of first testing for presence of koi herpesvirus indicates the necessity of regular KHV monitoring in the Czech Republic in the next period.

The authors elaborated a new complex methodical approach to the evaluation of necrotic disease of beeches. They used two evaluation scales: a scale for the evaluation of stems and a scale for the evaluation of beech crowns. A four-degree scale for the evaluation of necrotisation of crowns completed the existing five-degree scale for the evaluation of necrotisation of stems. Combination of both these scales into one methodical approach produced the third, complex scale for the evaluation of necrotisation of whole trees. The proposed combined scale is recommended for the monitoring of beech necroses.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of treated wastewater on soil chemical and physical properties. Field experiment was conducted in Borkhar region in Isfahan province in central Iran with two water treatments of wastewater and groundwater under sprinkler and surface irrigation systems for three crops of sugar beet, corn and sunflower. Soil samples were collected to 120 cm depth to determine concentration of lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Irrigation systems had no significant effect on extractable heavy metals in soil. The accumulation of Pb, Mn, Ni and Co in the soil increased significantly in the wastewater treatment as compared to the groundwater treatment. The accumulation of Pb, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn decreases with the soil depth. Treated wastewater showed no effect on the increase of Fe, Cd, Ni, Cu and Zn during growing season. The irrigation system had a significant effect on infiltration rate, bulk density and total porosity. Under sprinkler irrigation system the infiltration rate increased significantly

The stability of plant nuclear genome is a necessary condition for the faithful transmission of genetic information through cell lineages. When DNA damage occurs due to various impairments, cells start a number of repair processes including ligation of broken chromosomes. As a result, dicentric chromosomes can be formed. Dicentrics are easily detectable as anaphase bridges during following mitosis. Using Arabidopsis as a model plant, we developed a sensitive cytogenetic assay to identify specific chromosomal rearrangements. Here we show Arabidopsis tert^-/- and atm^-/- mutants and their chromosome rearrangements and fusions analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The method is based on successive rounds of FISH with chromosome-specific probes and the comparison of resulting FISH images.

A pot greenhouse experiment was performed to determine the effect of contamination with nickel interacting with other heavy metals on the microbiological properties of soil. The study was conducted on samples of soils classified under natural conditions as typical Eutric Cambisol developed from heavy loamy sand and typical Eutric Cambisol developed from light silty loam. Soil material was contaminated with nickel in the amount of 50 and 200 mg Ni²⁺/kg. The treatments with 200 mg Ni²⁺/kg were additionally contaminated with other heavy metals (Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cr⁶⁺), in the amount of 50 mg/kg soil. The following treatments, in which the soil was contaminated with heavy metals applied alone or in combinations, were compared in the study: Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, NiZn, NiCu, NiPb, NiCd, NiCr, NiZnCu, NiZnPb, NiZnCd, NiZnCr, NiZnCuPb, NiZnCuCd, NiZnCuCr, NiZnCuPbCd, NiZnCuPbCr, NiZnCuPbCdCr. The experiment was carried out in four replications. A microbiological analysis was performed on days 28 and 56. The tested crop was oat. It was found that the impact of particular heavy metals on microbiological properties of soils depended on their type, interactions between nickel and zinc, copper, lead, cadmium and chromium (VI), date of analysis and soil species. Soil contamination with heavy metals reduced the population size of Azotobacter spp. The counts of other microbial groups, i.e. copiotrophic bacteria, spore-forming copiotrophic bacteria, oligotrophic bacteria, spore-forming oligotrophic bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, nitrogen immobilizing bacteria, cellulose-decomposing bacteria, Arthrobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., actinomyces and fungi, showed varied susceptibility to heavy metals.

Tree vigour, occurrence of mildew and scab, yields, yield efficiency, fruit weight, flesh firmness and soluble solids content of apple trees on M 9 rootstock were monitored between 1998-2005 in 42 commercial orchards situated in all the major growing regions of the Czech Republic. Altogether 50 cultivars were included into the evaluation. The characteristics of newly bred or newly introduced cultivars were compared to the cultivars of standard assortment such as Gloster, Golden Delicious, Idared, Jonagold, Melrose, Rubín and Šampion. The group of late ripening cultivars imported from France (Baujade, Early Smith, Granny Smith and Red Winter) proved to be unsuitable for climatic conditions of the Czech Republic. Cultivars of the Rubín group (Bohemia, Gold Bohemia) showed a better quality of fruits than the cultivars of the Jonagold group, but were significantly inferior regarding yields and yield efficiency. The cultivars Rucla, Pinova and Rubinstep seemed to be potential competitors of Jonagold or Rubín; their fruit quality is similar to Rubín, and their yield efficiency is comparable to that of Jonagold. Topaz, which is resistant to scab and has recently spread in the Czech Republic, is specific for its early yield and a very good productivity observed in a majority of the orchards. In addition, characteristics of other evaluated cultivars and their potential prospects for growing in the Czech Republic are briefly discussed.

The available data concerning rapid identification of fish bacteria via commercial phenotypic tests demonstrate that there is no agreement regarding the choice of the tests. However, API 20E, an identification system for Enterobacteriaceae and other non-fastidious Gram-negative rods developed for clinical specimens, seems to be increasingly used for the identification of fish pathogens. In this review, adaptation of API 20E for fish bacterial isolates and its distinctiveness for fish bacteria was assessed. Some strains are wrongly identified because they are not included in the database of API 20E system. API 20E reactions should be compared with the diagnostic schemes based on reactions in conventional phenotypic tests. Due to their significance for fish health and impact on the aquaculture, and because of the need for their rapid identification, some important fish bacteria should be included in the API 20E system, such as Yersinia ruckeri, Edwardsiella ictaluri, Vibrio anguillarum.

Cultures in vitro made in agar are rather precarious, because gel strength varies both with the medium formula used and the source and grade of agar. Any solidifying agent (like for example agar) should be strong enough to support cultivated plantlets, yet liquid enough to allow the nutrients and drossy products from plants through the medium. It should also be a chemically inert material. Agar, especially in acid solutions, is an undefined constituent of culture media, namely in the mentioned properties. Silica sand, used in cultures of herbs up to the present time, is applicable also in cultures of Sorbus sudetica. The required acid medium is exactly defined if sand is substituted for agar. Similar cultures of wood species, including conifers, will be realized in future research.

Seeds and seedlings of Quercus robur, a characteristic tree species of the hardwood floodplain forests along the Rhine River, demonstrated high resistance to complete inundation under controlled conditions. In both experimental trials no significant difference between the different flooding periods (8, 10, and 12 weeks) could be established either for shoot emergence or for the measured morphological growth parameters. Flooding delayed the germination of submerged acorns till the end of inundation. However, seeds of the flooding treatments had significantly higher germination rates than the non-flooded acorns of the control. Likewise, dry weights of seedlings from the flooded seeds were significantly higher than those of seedlings from seeds not flooded. Aboveground growth in the 24-week growth period following flooding was reduced in favour of root development in either trial of the experiment. Restricted leaf development and reduced shoot elongation stalled the growth of young oaks in the seedling trial. The results confirm knowledge from earlier experiments about the flood tolerance of Quercus robur seed and seedlings. They also serve to explain why oak seedlings are widespread on the Rhine floodplain after mast years, but gradually disappear in successive years.

In several cases ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) proved to be an efficient mobilising amendment during chemically enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals. The presence of Fe-(hydr)oxides and their dissolution after the addition of EDTA can limit the phytoextraction of the targeted heavy metals due to the high stability of the formed Fe(III)EDTA complexes. This study has focused on the influence of Fe- and Mn-oxides and hydroxides dissolution on heavy metal uptake by Zea mays in a two-year EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction process. Incubation experiments and speciation modelling proved the increased concentrations of Mn and Fe through the dissolution of Mn-and Fe-(hydr)oxides. Furthermore, increased Fe and Mn accumulation was observed in maize plants after the second year of the phytoextraction process. Therefore, the presence of Mn- and especially Fe-(hydr)oxides proved to be a limiting factor during EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils.

Current sequencing projects are often based on random sequencing of genomic libraries followed by contig assembly by means of bioinformatics tools. This approach is convenient for whole genome sequencing projects. Chromosome walking described here is suitable for mapping and sequencing of short genomic regions in species where whole genome sequencing is not possible or for cloning gene from its closest known marker. This method is based on searching for overlapping BAC clones specific for the genomic region of interest.

Proteomic techniques that allow the identification and quantification of stress-related proteins, mapping of dynamics of their expression and posttranslational modifications represent an important approach in the research of plant stresses. In this review, we show an outline of proteomics methods and their applications in the research of plant resistance to various types of stresses.

The exclusive pre-selective effect of BLAD carriers reproducing in the exposed Holstein-Friesian cattle population prompted to search for the candidate gene variants of high quality of milk performance traits within the bovine ITBG2 gene or loci linked with bovine ITBG2 gene. Theoretical considerations indicated that the &Idquo;silent mutation" C→T localized at the position of 775 bp of the gene encoding the CD18 subunit might be a potential QTL marker of high milk productivity. An association study between the polymorphism of SNP 775C>T, and the diversification of milk performance traits was carried out on the progeny of four bulls with genotypes BL/TL and 775C/T and one bull with genotypes TL/TL and 775C/T. The results documented statistically significant differences in the protein content percentage of milk in two half-sib families of bulls with BL/TL and 775C/T genotype and one half-sib family of bull with TL/TL and 775C/T genotype. It was further concluded that the polymorphism of SNP 775C>T was found to be a more efficient QTL marker than that of D128G, since in all the analysed milk performance traits for half-sib families higher values of the F coefficient were obtained for the SNP 775C>T mutation in comparison with D128G.

A total of thirty-four Czech Fleckvieh (CF), Charolais (CH) and Charolais × Czech Fleckvieh (CH × CF) bulls with an average weight of 284 kg were included in the experiment and fed ad libitum two mixed diets: MS (based on maize silage) and LCS (based on legume-cereal and lucerne silages) with different concentrations of dietary energy until slaughter at the target live weight of 600 kg. The CF bulls consumed more dry matter (DM) of feed daily than the CH bulls (P < 0.05) and gained weight less efficiently than the CH × CF and CH animals (P < 0.01) during the entire experiment. The killing-out percentage was lower in the CF than in the CH × CF and CH (P < 0.05). The CH bulls received a higher score for carcass conformation and a lower score for carcass fatness (P < 0.01) than the CF bulls, had lower proportions of kidney and cod fat (P < 0.01) than the CH × CF and CF bulls, and produced the highest percentage of high-priced meat (P < 0.05) and the lowest percentage of separable fat (P < 0.001). The bulls on the MS diet were younger than the others at the end of the experiment (P < 0.01), gained weight more rapidly (P < 0.001), consumed less DM (P < 0.001) daily, utilized nutrients more efficiently over the entire experimental period (P < 0.001), and had a higher proportion of internal fat than the LCS bulls. It can be concluded that purebred CH bulls were superior to the other breed groups in most of the traits observed. The intensive diet based on maize silage increased average daily gains, reduced the time needed to achieve the target slaughter weight, and improved the feed efficiency of bulls.

In this paper, the authors summarise the land use changes in the upper reaches of the Krupá river catchment, which is a left tributary of the Morava River. During last 70 years, the catchment was exposed to many important historical events that have been inscribed in the physique of the landscape in a very interesting way. The land use changes, which occurred during the last eight decades in the subcatchment of the Krupá river basin, have been analysed using historical maps, cadastral maps, and both historical and recent aerial photographs of the area. The next step is to estimate, through the CN method and DesQ hydrological model, how the runoff processes in the Krupá River catchment could be influenced by the land use changes.