Czech Journal of Animal Science - Latest articles
Results 91 to 108 of 108:
In vitro and in sacco evaluation of total mixed ration silage added different levels of chitosan
Ayu Septi Anggraeni, Anuraga Jayanegara, Ahmad Sofyan, Erika Budiarti Laconi, Nur Rochmah Kumalasari, I Nyoman Gunadarma, Hendra Herdian, Rusli Fidriyanto
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(5):178-190 | DOI: 10.17221/173/2023-CJAS 
This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of chitosan administration to total mixed ration (TMR) silage on ruminal fermentation characteristics and degradability by using both in vitro and in sacco methods. The completely randomized design (CRD) used in this study included five treatments and six replications. The treatments consisted of TMR silage with distilled water as control (SA), TMR with 1% acetic acid (SB), 0.5% chitosan in 1% acetic acid diluent (SC), 1% chitosan in 1% acetic acid diluent (SD), and 1.5% chitosan in 1% acetic acid diluent (SE). The variables observed were ruminal fermentation parameters, methane production...
Effects of medium-chain fatty acids on growth performance, microbial attributes, and fat deposition in broiler chicken
Hew Wei Ee, Suriya Kumari Ramiah, Saminathan Mookiah, Zulkifli Idrus
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(4):119-128 | DOI: 10.17221/175/2023-CJAS
Poultry are monogastric animals that share a fat tissue structure that is strikingly comparable to the fat in animal feed. This indicates that the kind and source of fat in animal diets can significantly impact the accumulation and composition of fatty tissue in the resulting carcass. Hence, feeding (or dietary) manipulation is one of the best and commonly employed management strategies to improve of gut health and function in broiler production. Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are fatty acids with six to twelve carbon atoms that are prevalent in coconut and palm kernel oils. Much research is being conducted on nutritional approaches to enhance gut...
Dietary levels of soluble and insoluble fibre sources for young slow-growing broilers
Nayanne Rodrigues de Oliveira, Fabiana Ramos dos Santos, Maura Regina Sousa Silva, Isadora da Silva Rissato, Geyniane Carvalho Roque, Carollynne Martins Silva, Hemylla Sousa Santos Barros, Nathan Ferreira da Silva, Cibele Silva Minafra, Francisco Ribeiro de Araújo Neto
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(4):139-154 | DOI: 10.17221/84/2023-CJAS
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary levels of soluble and insoluble fibre on the performance and digestive development of slow-growing broilers during the starter period. A total of 400 one-day-old Isa LabelTM male chicks were used that were distributed in a completely randomized factorial design 2 × 2 + 1 (inclusion of 2% or 4% of corncobs as a source of insoluble fibre IF and citrus pulp as a source of soluble fibre (SF); and a control treatment) with eight replicates of 10 birds each. The addition of IF to diets improved the weight gain and feed conversion of broilers at 7 and 21 days of age. Both fibre sources added to diets...
Effects of age and litter-of-origin on cryopreserved spermatozoa in Sumava rams
Anežka Málková, Martin Ptáček, Filipp Georgijevič Savvulidi, Szabolcs Tamás Nagy, Luděk Stádník
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(4):129-138 | DOI: 10.17221/32/2024-CJAS
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the internal factors of ram age and litter-of-origin on semen quality during the cryopreservation process in Sumava sheep rams. This breed is included in the protected genetic resources of the Czech Republic. The sires were systematically divided into four groups according to age (under 1.5 years, 1.5 to 2.5 years, 2.5 to 3.5 years, and over 4.5 years) and according to litter frequency (singletons vs twins). Semen was evaluated after equilibration, and after cryopreservation using iSperm® mCASA and flow cytometry. During cryopreservation, there was a significant decrease in total sperm motility...
Field study: Factors influencing virgin queen bee acceptance rate in Apis mellifera colonies
Agnese Smilga-Spalvina, Kriss Spalvins, Ivars Veidenbergs
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(4):155-164 | DOI: 10.17221/22/2024-CJAS
Regular replacement of old and problematic queen bees is necessary to maintain the strength and productivity of bee colonies. Beekeepers replace queen bees using queen cells, virgin queens, or mated laying queens. In this study, we explored factors influencing the acceptance of the virgin queens. A comprehensive field study was conducted in the summer of 2023, involving the introduction of 754 virgin queens of different age and 194 queen cells into mating nuclei of various states using three different methods. The article aims to provide recommendations to beekeepers for introducing virgin queens, thereby increasing the frequency of successful requeening....
Effect of three types of oils on intramuscular fat composition of fattened cockerels
Eva Straková, Lucie Všetičková, Pavel Suchý
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(3):102-109 | DOI: 10.17221/5/2024-CJAS
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of selected vegetable oils on the representation of dietary fatty acids in the muscle of broiler cockerels. The experiment included three groups of one-day-old cockerels of ROSS 308 genotype, 15 individuals each. The feed mixture and drinking water were fed to the cockerels, ad libitum. In accordance with the technological instructions for the hybrid combination ROSS 308, BR1 was fed to chickens up to 9 days of age with the same nutrient and oil (soybean) composition for all three groups. From day 10 to day 28 of fattening the chicks were fed BR2 and from day 29 to day 35 BR3. The components and...
The nurse sow system ‒ A natural process of handling large litters: A review
Joab Malanda Osotsi, Gabriella Novotni-Danko, Peter Balogh
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(3):89-101 | DOI: 10.17221/158/2023-CJAS
Reproductive performance in pig production has gained genetic momentum resulting in large litters. Several strategies have been used to raise the number of piglets to address the challenge of a large litter size. This review provides a rationale for employing the nurse sow system as a biological way of handling large litters, exploring its step-by-step processes and its selected impacts. By exposing these steps, pig farmers will use the information to pinpoint their weak points in the chain and customize the procedures to meet their farm-specific goals for improved productivity. The nurse sow system helps to maximize pre-weaning survival by boosting...
The effect of ellagic acid on rabbit sperm in vitro parameters after cryopreservation
Jovana Grba, Lenka Kuželová, Alexander Makarevich, Andrej Baláži, Saša Dragin, Dragana Tekić, Peter Chrenek
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(3):110-117 | DOI: 10.17221/142/2023-CJAS
Cryopreservation reduces the antioxidant activity of spermatozoa and makes them more sensitive to damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The addition of antioxidants to the freezing medium could prevent cryo-damage by mitigating the harmful effects of ROS and, thus, protecting the spermatozoa. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ellagic acid (EA) on the rabbit sperm traits after freezing-thawing. Semen samples collected from New Zealand White rabbit males were cryopreserved in a BotuCrio freezing medium (Nidacon, Sweden) supplemented with different concentrations of ellagic acid (EA at 0, 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mM) using the manual slow freezing...
Enhancing cattle production and management through convolutional neural networks. A review
Jean de Dieu Marcel Ufitikirezi, Roman Bumbálek, Tomáš Zoubek, Petr Bartoš, Zbyněk Havelka, Jan Kresan, Radim Stehlík, Radim Kuneš, Pavel Olšan, Miroslav Strob, Sandra Nicole Umurungi, Pavel Černý, Marek Otáhal, Luboš Smutný
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(3):75-88 | DOI: 10.17221/124/2023-CJAS
The rise in demand for animal products associated with global population growth has driven the world toward precision livestock farming, where convolutional neural networks (CNN) have gained increasing attention due to their potential to enhance animal health, productivity, and welfare. However, the effectiveness and generalizability of CNN applications in cattle production are limited by several challenges and limitations, which require further research and development to address. This systematic literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the applications of CNN in cattle production. It identified some potential applications of...
Effects of different dietary inclusions of whole-plant corn silage on growth performance, nutrient availability and jejunal development in growing-finishing pigs
Xiangyu Ma, Jing Sun, Jianpu Zhao, Xiaoxue Jv, Jiuyuan Dong, Weiren Yang, Yanping Jiang, Yang Li, Lijie Yang, Shuzhen Jiang
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(2):48-58
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of whole-plant corn silage (WCS) on growth performance, nutrient availability and intestinal development in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 32 barrows (33.1 ± 3.49 kg) were randomly allocated to four treatments. Control was the basal diet, and the low, medium, and high treatments were basal diets substituted with WCS (air-dry basis) at 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0% from day 1 to 42, and 10.0%, 12.5%, and 15.0% from day 43 to 98, respectively. The results showed that the average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed/gain (F/G), and crypt depth (CD) increased linearly (P < 0.05) with the increasing of WCS....
The effect of feed restriction and housing system on performance, organ proportion and microbiota
Jan Tyl, Eva Tůmová, Darina Chodová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(2):68-74 | DOI: 10.17221/172/2023-CJAS
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction with pasture on the performance parameters of fast-growing chickens, the proportion of internal organs and the caecum microbiota. In the experiment, one-day-old Ross 308 chickens were divided into three groups. Group 1 was fed ad libitum (AL), group 2 was restricted on feed at a rate of 70% ad libitum (R), group 3 was restricted to the same age and level as group 2, and was restricted to 22 days on pasture (FR). Feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction and pasture significantly reduced body weight beginning...
Rabbit and quail: Little known but valuable meat sources
Antonella Dalle Zotte, Marco Cullere
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(2):39-47 | DOI: 10.17221/165/2023-CJAS
In the actual scenario of increasing demand of animal food and the need to develop sustainable production systems, rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and quail (Coturnix japonica) represent animal species of undeniable potential, profoundly linked to human’s eating habits in several parts of the World, yet not fully exploited. Given the remarkable adaptability of quail and rabbit to different farming contexts, they can be successfully farmed both in specialised and technologically advanced production systems targeting market diversification, as well as in such areas of the World where malnutrition is a severe issue and technological...
Effect of dietary housefly maggot extract on egg production and egg quality in laying hens under a digital livestock system
Victor A. Zammit, Sang O. Park
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(2):59-67 | DOI: 10.17221/146/2023-CJAS
Antibiotics in poultry feed are banned in many countries owing to their side effects, and insects containing antimicrobial peptides are proven to have potential as antibiotic alternatives in such feed. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary housefly maggot extract (HME) as the biofunctional material for antibiotic replacement in laying hens. The biofunctional properties of HME on egg production, egg quality, blood biomarkers of immune function, and microbiota were evaluated over a period of 40 to 50 weeks in laying hens under a digital livestock system. A total of 120 forty-week-old Hyline Brown laying hens...
Comparison of selected data acquisition models using on-farm production records on qualitative parameters of oocytes in dairy cows
Luděk Stádník, Veronika Kinterová, Jiří Šichtař, Jaromír Ducháček, Matúš Gašparík, Lucie Němcová, Radek Procházka, Radim Codl
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(1):1-10 | DOI: 10.17221/156/2023-CJAS
Dairy cows enter the negative energy balance in the early post-partum period, which negatively affects milk yield, health status and reproduction. This study aimed to determine if milk yield (MY) and fat/protein (F/P) ratio could be used as reliable indicators for predicting the quality of aspirated oocytes and their further use for in vitro fertilisation. A secondary goal was to compare different periods before oocyte aspiration to determine which period had the most significant impact on the oocyte development in donor cows. All tested Holstein cows were at their first lactation (n = 68). The first ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration...
Does feed restriction and pasture affect carcass composition and meat quality of fast-growing chickens?
Eva Tůmová, Darina Chodová, Jan Tyl, Monika Okrouhlá, Tarek A. Ebeid
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(1):11-17 | DOI: 10.17221/154/2023-CJAS
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of feeding regime (FR) and the combination of FR with pasture on the carcass composition and meat quality parameters of fast-growing chickens. Ross 308 chickens were split into three groups: Group 1 was fed ad libitum, and Groups 2 and 3 had a restricted diet. The chickens were feed-restricted at a rate of 70% ad libitum from 8 to 14 days of age. In Group 3, after restriction at the age of 21 days, chickens were kept on a pasture until the end of the experiment at 35 days of age. The chickens were fed ad libitum prior to and following restriction. Feed restriction and the combination...
Effect of thermal management on vitellogenesis and maturation in indoor-reared pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)
Uroš Ljubobratović, László Ardó, Georgina Fazekas, Zoltán Horváth, Jovanka Lukić
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(1):18-28 | DOI: 10.17221/136/2023-CJAS
The present study aimed to assess the effects of thermal manipulation on the vitellogenesis and final oocyte maturation (FOM) in pikeperch. Two groups of fish were stocked in two separate tanks of the climate chamber. One group was stocked at 10-month age (THERMAL), while the other was continually kept under stable photothermal conditions until 19-month-age (CONTROL) and then transferred to a climate chamber. The progress of vitellogenesis was assessed via evaluation of the oocyte diameter at the mid- and late-autumn phases, and the gonadosomatic index (GSI) at the late-autumn phase. Finally, females from the CONTROL group were hormonally stimulated...
Protective effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract against cypermethrin-induced neurotoxicity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) brain tissues
Murteza Cakir, Tayfun Karatas, Serkan Yildirim
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(1):29-37 | DOI: 10.17221/110/2023-CJAS
Corrigendum in: Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2024 May 31;69(5):209. doi: 10.17221/83/2024-CJASThis study was conducted to evaluate the protective impacts of green tea extract (GT) against cypermethrin-induced (CYP) neurotoxicity parameters such as acetylcholinesterase activity, oxidative stress, immune response, histopathology, apoptosis, and DNA damage in the brain tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The trial was divided into four groups (group 1, 2, 3 and 4). Group 1 was the control, while group 2 was treated with 0.1 mg/l of CYP, group 3 was treated with 0.1 mg/l of CYP + 100 mg/l of GT and group 4 was treated with...
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Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(1):I-II