Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2004 (vol. 49), issue 12

Sex reversed chicks (Gallus domesticus) hatched from eggs treated with aromatase inhibitor YM511

P. Trefil, A. Mičáková, J. Mucksová, M. Poplštein, J.-P. Brillard, P. Hodek

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2004, 49(12):511-516 | DOI: 10.17221/4338-CJAS  

The objectives of this study were to assess post-hatch development of chickens treated in ovo with the aromatase inhibitor YM511. A total of 137 eggs coming from artificially inseminated hens were at first injected in the albumen with either DMSO alone (54 eggs injected, control group) or with DMSO + aromatase inhibitor (YM511, 1 mg/egg, 83 eggs injected, treated group) and then incubated under standard conditions. Out of the 24 chicks hatched in the treated group, 16 were genetic males (ZZ) and 8 were genetic females (ZW). By 26 weeks of age, secondary sex characteristics of females (cloaca, comb, wattles, song, feathers...

The effect of carnitine on hatching rate and metabolic profile of blood in breeding layers

J. Thiemel, P. Jelínek

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2004, 49(12):517-523 | DOI: 10.17221/4339-CJAS  

We examined the effect of orally administered L-carnitine (at a dose of 30 mg per kg of feeding mixture) on egg hatching and some haematological and biochemical parameters of blood plasma in COBB 500 breeding layers of meat type. The experimental results confirmed a positive effect of L-carnitine, which increased the hatching rate significantly (P ≤ 0.05) by 8.89% as compared to the control. This positive effect resulted from a highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) decrease in the number of unfertilized eggs in experimental layers (4.44%), as compared to the control (12.2%). Haematological tests such as total counts of erythrocytes...

Genetic gain, increase in inbreeding rate and generation interval in alternatives of Pinzgau breeding program

O. Kadlečík, R. Kasarda, L. Hetényi

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2004, 49(12):524-531 | DOI: 10.17221/4340-CJAS  

The aim of this paper was to analyse alternatives of Pinzgau breeding program. Alternatives were optimised for genetic gain of selection index composed of parameters of milk efficiency traits and increase in inbreeding per generation. A scheme using the mating of 70% old proven sires led to a lower increase in inbreeding per generation from 0.248% to 1.903% than a young sires scheme with 0.313-2.177% or 0.303-2.18% without MOET when 2, 5, 10 and 20 proven sires were used in the population. Schemes using 70% mating of young sires resulted in a shorter generation interval of 3.46 years in comparison with proven sires scheme with 4.06 years. Young sires...

The use of amaranth grain in diets for broiler chickens and its effect on performance and selected biochemical indicators

J. Roučková, M. Trčková, I. Herzig

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2004, 49(12):532-541 | DOI: 10.17221/4341-CJAS  

The objective of our experiment was to test the possibility of using amaranth grain, either heat-treated (AO) or without treatment (AN), in vegetable diets for broilers as a substitution for meat-and-bone meals. The effect of amaranth on performance and selected biochemical parameters was investigated. The groups of chickens fed with amaranth obtained comparable results in all characteristics with the control group whose diet included a component of animal origin. We did not observe any statistical differences in live weights of monitored groups of chickens on day 41 (Kab 2 149.9 ± 274.3; ANab 2 192.2 ± 255.2; AOab 2 186.2 ± 260.8...

Effects of supplemental phytase on performance and tibia ash of broilers fed different cereals based diets

J. Pintar, B. Homen, K. Gazić, D. Grbeša, M. Sikirić, T. Černy

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2004, 49(12):542-548 | DOI: 10.17221/4342-CJAS  

A 21-day experiment with day-old broilers was conducted in order to assess the effect of phytase supplementation to different cereals-soybean meal based diets on broiler performance and tibia ash. Diets were formulated to contain 4 different cereals (maize, wheat, triticale and barley), 2 levels of dietary calcium (0.6 and 1.0%) and 3 levels of supplemental phytase (0, 500 and 1 000 PU/kg). Supplemented phytase had beneficial effects on broiler performance. It significantly increased body weight gain (P < 0.0003) and feed consumption (P < 0.0361) by 6 and 7% in comparison with the control groups, respectively. No influence on...