Czech Journal of Animal Science - In Press
Effects of dietary inclusion of condensed tannins from Schinopsis lorentzii and age on the physicochemical properties, minerals and amino acids content of meat in Eimeria-challenged broilersOriginal Paper
Vlastimil Šimek, Radka Dobšíková, Martina Kosťuková, Lenka Rozsypalová, František Ježek, Josef Kameník, David Zapletal
The aim of the study was to evaluate the dietary effect of condensed tannins (CT) from red quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii) and broiler age on the physicochemical properties, mineral composition, and amino acid content in the meat of broilers challenged with Eimeria spp. Broilers were randomly assigned to four dietary groups: CT1 and CT2 received 10 and 20 g CT/kg, respectively; the control (C) group received a basal diet; and the R group received a basal diet with a coccidiostat. Meat quality indicators were assessed at 35 and 42 days of age. Supplementation with the higher CT level (2%) reduced carcass weight, particularly at 42 days (P < 0.05), and affected physical meat quality indicators, including cooking loss, pH, and shear force, although the relationships among individual indicators were not fully consistent. Broiler age significantly influenced most of the physical traits, with older birds showing higher cooking loss and shear force in breast meat and altered meat colour (P < 0.05). Both CT and age modified mineral composition, with significant differences in macro- and microelements depending on muscle type and fattening duration (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). CT supplementation consistently increased total essential (EAA) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA) in leg meat (P < 0.05), whereas in breast meat, a significant effect was observed only for NEAA in the CT1 group at 42 days of age. Extending fattening from 35 to 42 days did not affect total EAA or NEAA in either muscle (P > 0.05), although minor age-related differences were detected for several individual amino acids (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). Overall, dietary CT supplementation and broiler age significantly influenced meat quality, including mineral content, amino acid composition, and functional physical properties.
Improved cryotolerance of bovine blastocysts by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ supplementation during in vitro culture and post-thaw recoveryOriginal Paper
Lee HakKyo, Kim Do-Hyun, DaeJin Kwon
In vitro embryo production (IVP) is a valuable technique for advancing cattle breeding and reproductive biotechnology. Nevertheless, embryos produced in vitro often display reduced developmental competence and cryotolerance compared with their in vivo counterparts. Vitamin D is known to regulate many cellular functions, including growth and antioxidant defence. This study evaluated the impact of vitamin D supplementation during in vitro culture on bovine embryo development and post-thaw recovery. Oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro, and presumptive zygotes were cultured with 0 (control), 25, or 50 ng/mL of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃. Supplementation with 25 ng/mL vitamin D did not significantly alter cleavage or blastocyst rates; however, it increased the expression of IGF2R and SOD2. In contrast, 50 ng/ml impaired embryonic development. Following vitrification and warming, embryos supplemented with 25 ng/ml vitamin D showed higher blastocyst hatching rates, lower mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, increased IGF2R expression, and reduced BAX expression and BAX/BCL2L1 ratio (P < 0.05). Overall, these findings suggest that low-dose vitamin D supplementation may support embryonic recovery from cryo-induced stress, potentially through the modulation of the oxidative balance and growth-related pathways, rather than by enhancing pre-freezing developmental competence.
A review on the antimicrobial activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum metabolitesReview
Yuanyuan Kong, Peiying Li, Tong Liu, Kunliang Han, Panpan Zhao, Junhong Wang, Yangan Xiao, Chaoning He (email: 273847064 @qq.com)
The increasing demand for natural alternatives to chemical preservatives and antibiotics has intensified interest in probiotic microorganisms with intrinsic antimicrobial properties. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, a well-characterized species within the Lactobacillaceae family, is widely recognized for its broad‑spectrum antibacterial activity and its long history of safe use in fermented foods. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in the antimicrobial functionality of L. plantarum, covering its taxonomic classification, genomic features, and the diverse array of antimicrobial metabolites it produces, including bacteriocins, organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, lysozyme, siderophores, and short‑chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The mechanisms of action of these compounds, strain‑specific variability in antimicrobial efficacy, the role of biofilm formation, and synergistic interactions among different metabolites are discussed in detail. Key application domains, such as food preservation, medical therapy, and agricultural biocontrol, are critically evaluated. The primary objective of this review is to systematically consolidate current knowledge, identify core scientific questions and technical bottlenecks, and provide a theoretical foundation for the development of safe and effective natural antimicrobial agents based on L. plantarum. Furthermore, the review outlines strategies to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial implementation, thereby facilitating the translation of this probiotic into practical applications.
Characterization of testicular perfusion dynamics using digital pulse wave doppler ultrasonography in indigenous cattle reared under coastal tropical climateOriginal Paper
PP Gokuldas, Amiya Ranjan Sahu, Vedika Kudalkar, Mahak Singh, Shirish Dadarao Narnaware, Sanjaykumar Udharwar
Testicular blood flow and hemodynamics play a critical role in maintaining spermatogenesis and thermoregulation in bulls. The assessment of testicular blood flow provides detailed insights into the reproductive function in male animals. This study was aimed to characterize testicular perfusion pattern using Pulse Wave Doppler Ultrasonography in Shweta Kapila breed of indigenous cattle reared in their native habitat in Indian west coast. Healthy Shweta Kapila bulls (n=8) maintained under semi-intensive systems were examined. A digital Pulse Wave Doppler Ultrasound system equipped with a linear array probe was used to assess Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Resistive Index (RI) and Pulsatility Index (PI) along the spermatic cord part of testicular artery (sTA), marginal region (mTA), and intra-testicular branches (iTA) of the testicular artery. Mean PSV ranged from 4.94 to 12.32 m/s, EDV ranged from 3.63 to 5.14 m/s, RI ranged from 0.23 to 0.58 and PI ranged from 0.68 to 1.05 across different arterial segments. Significantly higher mean PSV values (P < 0.05) were recorded in the proximal sTA compared to distal arterial segments. RI demonstrated low within-bull variability and repeatability suggesting its potential as a reliable indicator of testicular perfusion. The stable and low intra-testicular RI values also suggest enhanced vascular adaptation and thermoregulatory efficiency. These findings establish first baseline reference values for testicular perfusion and hemodynamics in native Shweta Kapila cattle. Pulse Wave Doppler ultrasonography provides a reliable, non-invasive and real-time tool for evaluating vascular function and reproductive soundness in indigenous cattle reared under coastal tropical climate.
Drinking Warm Water in a Cold Environment Impairs Growth Performance and Alters the Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Growing CalvesOriginal Paper
Zhanhe Zhang, Xintong Li, Donglin Wu, Ming Xu
This study aimed to investigate the effects of drinking water temperature on growth performance and gastrointestinal microbiota in growing calves. Forty-five weaned male calves were randomly divided into three treatment groups (n = 15 per group). The groups were provided with drinking water at different temperatures: 5–10 °C (FC), 20–25 °C (FM), or 35–40 °C (FW). The experiment lasted for 30 days, during which all calves were housed in individual hutches. Body weight and jugular blood samples were collected on days 0, 15, and 30; body measurements were taken on days 0 and 30. On day 30, rumen fluid and faecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3–V4 regions. Calves in the FW group showed significantly higher water intake and diarrhoea frequency, along with significantly lower average daily gain (ADG), compared to the other groups. During the first 15 days, ADG was significantly higher in the FM group than in the other two groups. Additionally, the FM group maintained lower faecal scores throughout the experimental period. On day 15, serum total cholesterol was significantly lower in the FW group than in the FC group. Rumen microbial analysis revealed a higher abundance of the potentially pathogenic genus Pseudoscardovia in the FW group compared to the FC group. In a cold winter environment, providing drinking water at 35–40 °C reduced growth performance, elevated faecal scores, and increased the abundance of harmful microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of growing calves.
The impact of folic acid on genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in liver of broilers
Pang Yuting, Zhang Yujie, Liu Yunheng, Li Xiuling, xing Jinyi
Folic acid (FA) plays an important role as a cofactor and coenzyme in animal growth and development, and in the regulation of gene expression and methylation. However, the epigenetic mechanism by which dietary FA supplementation regulates lipid metabolism in broilers remains largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of FA on genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in broiler liver and to identify differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and pathways associated with lipid metabolism. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was performed to analyze genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in liver tissues of broilers supplementing with 0 (C group), 5 (M group), 10 mg/kg (H group) FA in basal diet for 42 days. The genome-wide methylation analysis showed that the average percentage of each sample of CpG (5'-C-phosphate-G-3') methylation efficiency was 29.47%. A total of 1402 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were detected between C and M groups, including 745 hyper-DMRs and 657 hypo-DMRs; Compared with the C group, 410 hyper-DMRs and 436 hypo-DMRs were identified in the H group. Additionally, 511 hyper-DMRs and 560 hypo-DMRs were found between the M and H groups. Furthermore, a total of 134 DMGs exhibited DMRs in the promoter region across all three comparison groups, including 27 up-regulated DMGs and 20 down-regulated DMGs. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of DMRs revealed that the associated genes are mainly involved in H3-K4 demethylation, histone lysine demethylation, peptidyl-lysine methylation), histone demethylation, lysine N-methyltransferase activity, fat cell proliferation, cellular lipid metabolic processes, fatty-acyl-CoA binding. In addition, key Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were primarily associated with the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, fatty acid metabolism, butanoate metabolism, retinol metabolism. Taken together, these results demonstrated that FA supplementation affects genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in the liver of broilers, suggesting an underlying epigenetic mechanism for its regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism.
The mechanism of N-carbamoylglutamate promoting arginine synthesis and its application in pig production: a reviewReview
Pei Mao, Mengmeng Gao, Naizhi Hu, Xiaoli Zhang, Chenggang Yan, Chengsheng Song, Wenfeng Ma
Arginine (Arg) is an essential amino acid that can improve the reproductive capacity, intestinal development, and growth performance of pigs. N-carbamoylglutamate (NCG) and N-acetylglutamate (NAG) can activate carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I and the Δ1 pyrrolin 5 carboxylate synthetase in mitochondria, promoting the synthesis of citrulline from glutamine and proline, which are the main precursors for the synthesis of Arg, and subsequently increasing the endogenous synthesis of Arg to produce nitric oxide (NO) and polyamines. Compared with Arg, NCG has a longer half-life and does not inhibit the absorption of basic amino acids such as tryptophan, histidine, or lysine; thus, it has been developed as a feed additive. This paper reviews the application of NCG as a feed additive in pig production and its possible theoretical mechanism.