Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2009 (vol. 54), issue 2

Growth and carcass performance of bull calves born from Hereford, Simmental and Charolais cows sired by Charolais bulls

H. Kamieniecki, J. Wójcik, R. Pilarczyk, K. Lachowicz, M. Sobczak, W. Grzesiak, P. Błaszczyk

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2009, 54(2):47-54 | DOI: 10.17221/1669-CJAS  

The analysis comprised purebred Charolais bull calves (CH) and crossbred bull calves born from Hereford (CH × HE) and Simmental (CH × SI) cows. Body weights and daily gains were measured in subsequent periods of the experiment and the post-slaughter evaluation was carried out. Carcass lean weight and dressing percentage were evaluated, as well as the lean content of five prime cuts. Total weight of the five prime cuts was measured and its share in the half-carcass weight was determined. The rib-eye area was also measured. The CH × SI crossbreds reached significantly higher body weights at weaning, 210-day body weights and weights at finishing, as well...

Congenital disorders in the cattle population of the Czech Republic

J. Čítek, V. Řehout, J. Hájková

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2009, 54(2):55-64 | DOI: 10.17221/1668-CJAS  

The aim of the paper was to analyse congenital disorders in the Czech cattle population in 1986-2001. The offspring of 474 sires - 215 Czech Simmental, 236 Holstein, and 23 beef - were diagnosed with congenital disorders which were unevenly distributed because only 18 occurred in the progeny of 10 and more sires, in contrast to 88 occurring in the progeny of 1 sire only. Umbilical hernia was the most frequently noted disorder, and 136 sires fathered progeny with limb anomalies. The most frequent gestational accident was schistosomus reflexus, the results suggesting a familial burden. Three sires fathering offspring with the afflicted spinal column...

Incidence of psychrotrophic lipolytic bacteria in cow's raw milk

R. Cempírková, M. Mikulová

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2009, 54(2):65-73 | DOI: 10.17221/1667-CJAS  

The contamination of bulk samples of cow's raw milk (n = 491) by psychrotrophic lipolytic bacteria (PLiBC), total count of psychrotrophic bacteria (PBC) and mesophilic bacteria (TBC) was monitored for two years on eight dairy farms and the correlations among these groups of bacteria were analysed. An increase in TBC, PBC and PLiBC and in the values of free fatty acids (FFA) was tested experimentally in three milk samples in relation to time (analyses were done in 24-hour intervals until 96 hours) and storage temperature of milk samples (4; 6.5 and 10°C). Bacterial contamination of milk was determined by culture methods in accordance with IDF...

Genetic diversity and relationship between genetic distance and geographical distance in 14 Chinese indigenous chicken breeds and red jungle fowl

W.B. Bao, J.T. Shu, X.S. Wu, H.H. Musa, C.L. Ji, G.H. Chen

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2009, 54(2):74-83 | DOI: 10.17221/1666-CJAS  

Genetic diversity and the relationship between genetic distance and geographical distance in red jungle fowl and 14 Chinese indigenous chicken breeds were evaluated using 29 microsatellite loci. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 25 and the average expected heterozygosity and PIC of all loci were 0.6683 and 0.50, respectively. The average number of alleles per locus ranged from 3.41 in Gushi chicken breed to 6.28 in Wannan Three-yellow chicken breed. The overall expected heterozygosity of 15 Chinese chicken breeds was 0.6686 ± 0.0254 and all breeds showed relatively large heterozygosity. The average of genetic differentiation among...

The use of bacterial inoculants for grass silage: their effects on nutrient composition and fermentation parameters in grass silages

D. Jalč, A. Lauková, M. Simonová, Z. Váradyová, P. Homolka

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2009, 54(2):84-91 | DOI: 10.17221/1665-CJAS  

The effect of three microbial inoculants (Lactobacillus plantarum CCM 4000, L. fermentum LF2, and Enterococcus faecium CCM 4231) on the fermentation and nutritive value of orchard grass silage was studied under laboratory conditions. The first-cut orchard grass (280 g of dry matter/kg) was ensiled at 21°C for 105 days. All inoculants were applied at 1.0 × 10(9) CFU/ml. Uninoculated silage served as control. After inoculation, the chopped orchard grass was ensiled in 40 (1 l) plastic jars divided into four groups. The counts of the silage inoculants dominated on day 21 of ensiling: CCM 4231 strain amounted to 9.40 ± 0.30...