Czech Journal of Animal Science - Latest articles
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Evaluation of changes in dry matter and nutrient content during the growth dynamics of silage maize
Andrej Mitrík, Tomá¹ Mitrík, Iveta Maskaµová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(3):129-139 | DOI: 10.17221/172/2025-CJAS 
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...
Effects of papaya peel addition on fermentation quality, nutritional value and in vitro ruminal digestion of napier grass silage
Li Liang, Jingzhen Li, Huade Xie, Xianqing Luo, Fanquan Zeng, Qian Deng, Chengjian Yang
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(3):109-117 | DOI: 10.17221/163/2025-CJAS
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...
On the origin of Bohemian cattle according to mitochondrial DNA
Karel Novák, Vojtìch Janák, René Kyselý
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(3):118-128 | DOI: 10.17221/127/2025-CJAS
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)....
Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on fresh bull semen quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Jabulani Ngcobo, Thobela Louis Tyasi
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(3):97-108 | DOI: 10.17221/6/2026-CJAS
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...
Obituary Notice – Prof. Ing. Antonín Stratil, DrSc. (1941–2025)
Petr Kotlík
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(2):94-95 | DOI: 10.17221/15/2026-CJAS
Professor Antonín Stratil (1941–2025) was a respected animal geneticist whose six-decade career made lasting contributions to biochemical, molecular and genomic research, education, and service to the scientific community.
Effect of dietary administration of Mentha piperita alone and in combination with Artemisia abrotanum on growth performance, body composition, physicochemical properties and amino acid composition of meat in Eimeria-challenged broilers
David Zapletal, Martina Kos»uková, Lenka Rozsypalová, Vlastimil ©imek, Franti¹ek Je¾ek, Josef Kameník, Radka Dob¹íková
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(2):67-78 | DOI: 10.17221/173/2025-CJAS
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary administration of peppermint (Mentha piperita) alone and in combination with southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) on performance, body and carcass composition, physicochemical characteristics, and amino acid composition of breast meat in broilers under Eimeria challenge. A total of 160 14-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four dietary groups: the control (C) group was fed a basal diet; the CC group received a grower diet containing the coccidiostat robenidine; the M group was fed the diets with the addition of 20 g peppermint/kg of diet; the MS group...
Performance and physiological responses of E. coli-challenged broiler chickens to dietary Moringa oleifera
Ari Hameed Omer, Sherzad Mustafa Hussein
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(2):79-93 | DOI: 10.17221/153/2025-CJAS
This study was conducted to examine the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) seed powder on the performance and gut health of broilers challenged with E. coli. A total of 720 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 72 pens across two separate rooms, following a 2 × 6 factorial design. The factors per room included (i) challenge: no or yes, and (ii) feed additive: control (none), antibiotic [oxytetracycline (OTC) at 0.5 g/kg], MO 0.1%, MO 0.2%, MO 0.4%, and MO 0.8%. At 9 days old, birds in both challenged and non-challenged rooms were inoculated with 1.5 ml of E. coli-O157:H7...
Genetic and genomic parameters of piglet birth-weight traits and litter size in Czech Large White and Landrace sows
Eli¹ka ®áková, Emil Krupa, Zuzana Krupová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(2):59-66 | DOI: 10.17221/135/2025-CJAS
This study aimed to estimate heritabilities of piglet birth-weight traits and to investigate the relationships between piglet birth-weight and litter-size traits using field data from Czech Large White and Landrace sows. Data including 86 241 piglets from 5 536 litters were analysed using repeatability, genetic, and genomic models. The investigated piglet-weight traits included arithmetic mean birth weight (MBW), within-litter standard deviation (SDBW), coefficient of variation in birth weight (CVBW), and the proportion of small piglets in the litter (SMALL). Heritability rates of piglet-weight traits were low, with the highest estimates for...
Mitigating methane in dairy cattle: Integrated strategies and the evolving role of precision livestock farming
Eva Mixtajová, Joana Nery, Radovan Kasarda, Muzaffer Denlí, Achille Schiavone, Alkan Çağlı, José Francisco Pérez, Hasan Hüseyin İpçak, José Luis Repetto, Stanislava Drotárová, Cecilia Cajarville
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(2):41-58 | DOI: 10.17221/116/2025-CJAS
Modern dairy farming faces the dual challenge of meeting global food demands while mitigating its environmental impact, particularly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as methane (CH4), a potent contributor to climate change. This review explores the role of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies in monitoring and reducing CH4 emissions from dairy cattle. We evaluate state-of-the-art methods, including direct monitoring (e.g. respiratory chambers, GreenFeed systems) and indirect approaches (e.g. infrared milk spectroscopy, AI-driven analytics), alongside mitigation strategies such as nutritional optimisation, genetic...
The impact of pre-dry-off weather patterns on subsequent lactation udder health in dairy cows, and their comparison with milkability, milk quality and udder health parameters – A pilot study
Matú¹ Ga¹parík, Jaromír Ducháèek, Ludìk Stádník, Radim Codl, Iveta Szencziová, Kateøina Cihláøová, Nikola Mare¹ová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(1):21-29 | DOI: 10.17221/169/2025-CJAS
Environmental conditions are known to influence the dairy cow health, with most research focusing on the detrimental effects of heat stress. However, the impact of non-summer weather patterns in temperate climates on udder health carry-over between lactations is not well understood. This pilot study evaluated the effect of various weather factors (temperature, humidity, precipitation, sunshine) during 1-day to 90-day periods before dry-off on udder health in the first month post-calving (represented by somatic cell count, conductivity, lactose, and mastitis incidence) in 199 Holstein cows in Central Europe. The scope of the experiment was limited...
Genetic parameters for foot and claw disorders in Czech Holstein cattle
Ludmila Zavadilová, Eva Ka¹ná, Zuzana Krupová, Miloslava ©típková, Michaela Brzáková
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(1):11-20 | DOI: 10.17221/140/2025-CJAS
Our study investigated the genetic variability of specific foot and claw disorders, namely dermatitis digitalis, sole ulcer, and three broader categories (infectious diseases, claw horn lesions, and general claw disorder) in Czech Holstein cows. We also examined their genetic relationships with clinical mastitis and key fertility traits. Using both linear and threshold animal models, we concluded that heritability estimates for foot and claw disorders were consistently higher when employing the threshold model. A significant finding was the genetic correlation between sole ulcer and dermatitis digitalis, which ranged from 0.21 (calving...
Population structure, genetic diversity, and reproductive efficiency in the autochthonous Busha cattle breed
Aneta Piplica, Mato Èaèiæ, Anamaria Ekert Kabalin, Maja Mauriæ Maljkoviæ, Ivan Vlahek, Velimir Su¹iæ, Sven Menèik
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(1):1-10 | DOI: 10.17221/138/2025-CJAS
Autochthonous cattle breeds represent important resources of genetic diversity. The Busha cattle breed is reared in the Balkan Peninsula and is characterised by high adaptability, resilience, longevity, small body size, and low maintenance and production requirements. During the 36-year observation period, the total population of the autochthonous Busha cattle breed in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 10 411 animals. Pedigree completeness for the total population, considering the first parental generation, was 97.1%. The average inbreeding coefficient was 2.44%, ranging from zero to 42.6%, while the average relatedness coefficient was 3.56%...
The impact of domestication process on eggshell microstructure in Gallus gallus, Anser anser and Anas platyrhynchos
Joanna Rosenberger, £ukasz Pawelec, Regina Grugel
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(1):30-40 | DOI: 10.17221/112/2024-CJAS
The domestication process has had a substantial and varied impact on animals in terms of anatomy, physiology, and behaviour. Poultry species are particularly important for humans, with the most significant being chickens, geese, and ducks. However, it is not well understood whether, or to what extent selection influences the eggshell structure compared to wild ancestors. In the present study, we compared eggshells from three species: Red junglefowl and its four domesticated forms: Green-legged partridge, Lohmann Brown, Ko-Shamo, meat type breeder (Cobb 500); Greylag goose, and two domesticated breeds: Bilgoraj goose and White Koluda goose, as well...
Endogenous inhibitory compounds in bovine milk, their significance and methods of detection
Marcela Klimesova, Ludmila Krizova, Hana Nejeschlebova, Oto Hanus, Lenka Vorlova
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(12):499-517 | DOI: 10.17221/146/2025-CJAS
Raw cow’s milk is one of the most strictly controlled commodities in the food industry. Besides basic hygienic and nutritional parameters, the presence of inhibitory and contaminant substances plays a critical role in technological quality and safety. While the vast majority of inhibitory residues are represented by antibiotics originating from mastitis prevention and therapy, milk also contains a broad spectrum of naturally occurring native antimicrobial compounds. These include immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, phosphatases, lipases, and proteases acting as integral elements of the innate immune system within the...
Lactoferrin – The protective component of goat colostrum and milk
Pavlína Navrátilová, Klára Bartáková, Jan Pospí¹il, Lenka Vorlová, Tomá¹ Kopec, Oto Hanu¹, Hana Nejeschlebová, Eva Samková, Josef Kuèera, Radoslava Jedelská
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(12):538-553 | DOI: 10.17221/123/2025-CJAS
Lactoferrin (LF) is an important bioactive component of colostrum, is critical for the development of immunity in the newborns, and it is an important component of the mammary gland defence system. LF is also an important biomolecule in terms of promoting and restoring the human health. The aim of our study was to monitor the dynamics of changes in lactoferrin concentration in goat milk at varying stages of lactation and its correlation with selected components and physicochemical parameters. Colostrum (n = 24) and milk (n = 120) samples were obtained from 12 goats by hand milking. Lactoferrin was determined using reversed-phase...
Impact of puerperal disorders on early culling and milk production in Slovak Spotted dairy cows
Karolína Pále¹ová, Jozef Bujko, Nina Moravèíková, Hana Vostrá-Vydrová, Adrián Halvoník, Lubo¹ Vostrý, Radovan Kasarda
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(12):528-537 | DOI: 10.17221/122/2025-CJAS
Puerperal diseases are major postpartum complications in dairy cattle and may compromise both survival and production performance. This study evaluated how specific puerperal diseases influence early culling risk and standardised 305-day milk traits in Slovak Spotted cows. A total of 792 animals were clinically assessed during early postpartum and classified as healthy or affected by ketosis, metritis, retained foetal membranes, parturient paresis, or by comorbid diseases, defined as the concurrent occurrence of two or more disorders. Logistic regression models indicated that ketosis was associated with the highest odds of culling compared with...
Effect of extruded flaxseed supplementation during the indoor fattening of yearling bulls on beef carcass, meat composition, and fatty acid profile
Emir Mujiæ, Javier Mateo, Mahsa Dehnavi, Halil Omanoviæ, Aida D¾aferoviæ, Munevera Begiæ, Selma Èorbo
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(12):518-527 | DOI: 10.17221/5/2025-CJAS
This study investigates the impact of supplementing extruded flaxseed to the diet of yearling bulls during the indoor fattening on beef carcass quality, meat composition, and fatty acid profile. Twenty male crossbred calves (Holstein × Simmental) were divided into two groups: control group and flaxseed-supplemented group, each with 10 calves. The control group received a conventional diet, while the flaxseed group was fed the same diet enriched with 5% extruded flaxseed on a dry-matter basis. The study revealed no significant differences in growth performance, carcass weight, or yield between the two groups. However, the flaxseed-supplemented...
Lactoferrin content determined in bovine milk by HPLC and mid-infrared spectrometry – Relation to udder health and potential for detection of milk adulteration
Hana Nejeschlebová, Oto Hanu¹, Klára Bartáková, Craig Parsons, Eva Samková, Lenka Vorlová, Gavin Thompson, Lucie Hasoòová, Roman Koneèný, Pavlína Navrátilová, Marcela Klime¹ová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(11):467-479 | DOI: 10.17221/114/2025-CJAS
Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein linked to udder health in dairy cows. This study aimed to develop a calibration model for LF quantification using mid-infrared spectrometry (MIR-FT), with ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as the reference method. Two sets of individual milk samples (A: n = 120; B: n = 91) were collected from five dairy farms in the Czech Republic. Set A included a higher proportion of samples with somatic cell count (SCC) above 300 000 cells/ml to ensure broad LF variability. After merging both sets and removing six outliers, a final calibration set C (n =...
Colostrum quality in Northern Italy: The role of dry cow nutrition and colostrum feeding management
Martina Pavesi, Giulia Gislon, Serena Bonizzi, Stefania Colombini, Nicola Palladini, Maddalena Zucali
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(11):459-466 | DOI: 10.17221/104/2025-CJAS
This study investigated the effects of dry cow feeding on colostrum quality. A survey was conducted, and samples of colostrum and feed ingredients were collected from 25 dairy farms in Northern Italy. Colostrum was analysed for quality in terms of Brix value and gamma globulins, while diets and feed ingredients were analysed for their chemical constituents. The mean colostrum quality (n = 163) was 24.3 ± 4.41% Brix and 54.2 ± 20.8 g/l gamma globulin. The refractometer method effectively assessed colostrum quality, correlating accurately with laboratory gamma globulin measurements (R = 0.729). Factor analysis indicated...
Sperm quality improvement of cryopreserved boar semen through colloidal centrifugation gradient
Francisco Sevilla, Ignacio Araya-Zúñiga, Patricia Cervantes-Acosta, Antonio Hernández-Beltrán, Manuel Barrientos, Belisario Domínguez, Anthony Valverde
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(11):489-497 | DOI: 10.17221/103/2025-CJAS
Boar semen cryopreservation is limited due to the lower thermal shock resistance of sperm cells. A colloidal centrifugation gradient is an enhancement to cryopreservation that could improve the frozen boar semen quality. Cryopreserved boar semen quality was evaluated using a commercial colloidal centrifugation gradient. A total of 15 ejaculates from 5 boars were evaluated across two treatments: a control without colloidal centrifugation and a treatment with commercial colloidal centrifugation. A manual freezing method used two freezing curves in liquid nitrogen. Sperm motility was assessed by Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis, as well as sperm...
Effects of silymarin supplementation during late gestation on reproductive performance, haematological parameters, antioxidant status, and gut microbiota in sows
Guanglei Cong, Chunxue Liu, Shuangshuang Xia, Junbo Li, Ifen Hung
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(11):480-488
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of silymarin supplementation during late gestation on reproductive performance, haematological parameters, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota composition in sows. Twenty parity-4 crossbred sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were enrolled and randomly allocated in parity blocks to either a control group (CG; n = 10, basal diet) or a silymarin-supplemented group (SIL; n = 10, basal diet + 200 mg/kg silymarin). The experimental period extended from day 85 of gestation to the completion of farrowing. The results demonstrated that dietary silymarin significantly reduced the number of stillbirths (P < 0.05),...
Preliminary study: From biofortified maize to cow milk enriched with selenium: An on-farm strategy using selenium-enriched silage
Luká¹ Praus, Jaromír Ducháèek, Tomá¹ Mr¹tina, Luká¹ Kaplan, Jana Sekaninová, Martina Jankù, Jiøina Száková, Pavel Tlusto¹, Ludìk Stádník, Kateøina Cihláøová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(10):415-427 | DOI: 10.17221/131/2025-CJAS
Selenium (Se) supplementation is a common practice in dairy nutrition. However, the use of biofortified feedstuffs remains a not fully realized strategy to enhance the Se content of animal derived products. This study explored an on-farm biofortification approach by incorporating Se-enriched maize silage into the total mixed ration (TMR) of dairy cows. Sixty Holstein cows were divided into a control group (CON), receiving a conventional diet with selenite supplementation (0.6 mg/kg Se in TMR), and an experimental group (EXP), in which conventional silage was replaced with high-Se silage (0.9 mg/kg Se in TMR). The trial lasted 22 weeks, including one...
Using milk components to estimate the risk of energy imbalance in Holstein cows by means of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis
Magdaléna ©tolcová, Ludìk Bartoò, Eva Ka¹ná
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(10):428-437 | DOI: 10.17221/124/2025-CJAS
Negative energy balance (NEB) in dairy cows during early lactation significantly contributes to metabolic and infectious diseases, traditionally diagnosed via costly and time-consuming serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) analysis. This study aimed to develop a practical and cost-effective diagnostic test for NEB based on milk components analysed routinely. Data from 692 Holstein cows (5–35 days in milk) located at five Czech dairy farms were analysed using multiple logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results showed that 99 cows (14.3%) were classified as NEB+ (NEFA > 0.6 mmol/l). Cows in the...
Phytase supplementation maintains productive performance, egg quality, and blood biochemical profile in Japanese quails fed phosphorus-reduced diet
Adi Magna Patriadi Nuhriawangsa, Adi Ratriyanto
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(10):450-458 | DOI: 10.17221/83/2025-CJAS
This study aimed to investigate the effects of phytase supplementation in phosphorus (P)-reduced diet on the productive performance, egg quality, calcium (Ca) utilisation, and blood profile of Japanese quails. Phytase breaks down phytic acid; thereby, increasing the availability of its bound nutrients, enabling poultry to hydrolyse and utilise these nutrients effectively. A total of 480 female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica; 28-day-old and average body weight = 94.3 ± 5.7 g) were assigned to four dietary regimens, each consisting of six replicates of 20 birds. The control diet (T0) contained 0.5% nonphytate P. The other...
Carcass traits and meat quality in Balkan goats: A multivariate evaluation of crossbreeding and slaughter weight effects
Nikola Stani¹iæ, Bogdan Cekiæ, Nevena Maksimoviæ, Maja Petrièeviæ, Nikola Deliæ, Slavi¹a Stajiæ, Tanja Ke¹kiæ
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(10):438-449 | DOI: 10.17221/53/2025-CJAS
This study investigated the effects of slaughter weight and breed on carcass characteristics, meat quality, and technological properties in purebred Balkan and F1 crossbred (Balkan × Saanen) male goats. A total of 48 animals, divided into four slaughter weight groups (10, 15, 18, and 22 kg), were analysed for carcass composition, muscle traits, and fat distribution. ANOVA and multivariate analyses (PCA and HCA) revealed significant effects of weight and breed on key carcass and meat quality parameters. Heavier animals exhibited higher intramuscular fat and primal cut yields with superior water-holding capacity (WHC), while lighter goats had leaner...
Antimicrobial properties of secondary metabolites of Cannabis sativa: A promising natural alternative for livestock health
Tereza Paulová, Karel Novák, Eva Pìchouèková
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(9):357-382 | DOI: 10.17221/85/2025-CJAS
In addition to their practical importance as a medicinal plant, animal feed and a source of materials for the textile and construction industry, industrial varieties of Cannabis sativa L. (hemp in a wider sense) provide an alternative for controlling infectious diseases in livestock. Despite the genetic divergence between two primary groups of cannabis, i.e. medicinal cannabis and technical hemp, hemp plants also produce a wide spectrum of secondary metabolites. These include the main classes of cannabinoids and terpenoids, as well as representatives of flavonoids, stilbenoids, steroids, alkaloids, spiroindans, dihydrophenanthrenes, and...
Cryopreservative and antimicrobial properties of kaempferol on the post-thaw quality of turkey spermatozoa
Filip Benko, Tomá¹ Slanina, Michal Ïuraèka, Miroslava Kaèániová, Eva Tvrdá
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(9):404-413 | DOI: 10.17221/79/2025-CJAS
At present, the low post-thaw quality of poultry semen presents a challenge to develop new strategies for its cryopreservation. The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of kaempferol (KAE) on post-thaw turkey sperm characteristics (motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function), oxidative and microbial profile. Turkey semen (n = 40) was diluted and cryopreserved in modified Beltsville extender with 5, 10, and 25 µM of KAE or without it (cryopreserved control – CtrlC), while fresh semen served as negative control (CtrlN). Following thawing, parameters were evaluated including...
Estimation of lean meat percentage in pig carcass with the use of objective methods with regard to sex
Kristýna Klímová, Kristýna Lokvencová, Ivan Bahelka, Kateøina Zadinová, Roman Stupka, Jaroslav Èítek
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(9):397-403 | DOI: 10.17221/72/2025-CJAS
In the Czech Republic, the pig carcass classification is mandatory in slaughterhouses processing over 200 pigs weekly. As breeding practices evolve to enhance lean meat yield, it is essential to update regression equations used in classification systems. This study presents new regression models for the Fat-O-Meater II (FOM II) device, using computed tomography (CT) as the reference method. Separate equations were developed for barrows, gilts, and boars to improve the accuracy of lean meat percentage (LMC) estimation. To calibrate the CT method, 24 carcasses were selected across a range of backfat thicknesses and sexes. CT scans were performed...
Computer vision-based approaches to cattle identification: A comparative evaluation of body texture, QR code, and numerical labelling
Roman Bumbálek, Jean de Dieu Marcel Ufitikirezi, Tomá¹ Zoubek, Sandra Nicole Umurungi, Radim Stehlík, Zbynìk Havelka, Radim Kune¹, Petr Barto¹
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(9):383-396 | DOI: 10.17221/66/2025-CJAS
Cattle identification systems are advancing to meet the growing demands of precision livestock management, traceability, and ethical animal treatment. This study investigates three methods: body texture recognition, QR code collars, and numerical labelling, implemented using the YOLOv8 convolutional neural network. Each method was evaluated in terms of accuracy, scalability, adaptability to dynamic herd changes, and operational efficiency under various environmental conditions. Body texture recognition, while leveraging unique natural patterns and achieving a mean Average Precision (mAP50–95) of 0.78 proved limited by its reliance on frequent...
The effect of artificial reduction of the somatic cell count, as a violation of authenticity, on milk quality indicators
Oto Hanu¹, Hana Nejeschlebová, Veronika Legarová, Lucie Kejdová-Rysová, Jan Øíha Jr., Eva Samková, Gavin Thompson, Irena Nìmeèková, Marcela Klime¹ová, Jaroslav Kopecký, Radoslava Jedelská
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(8):319-334 | DOI: 10.17221/90/2025-CJAS
The somatic cell count (SCC) in raw milk is an important indicator of health and hygienic quality. Artificial reduction of the SCC (ARSCC) in milk, for the apparent improvement of milk quality for commercial reasons, is an undesirable phenomenon and a violation of authenticity both in the factual sense and legislatively. Analytical methods need to be developed to identify ARSCC as well as to assess the effects that ARSCC may have on milk. The aim of the work was to quantify the effects of ARSCC on cow’s milk as a food raw material. The results presented are some of the first on the given problem. Raw bulk tank cow milk was sampled in two experiments,...