Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2012 (vol. 57), issue 10
Effect of season and age on blood minerals, liver enzyme levels, and faecal egg counts in Nguni goats of South Africa
F. Rumosa Gwaze, M. Chimonyo, K. Dzama
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2012, 57(10):443-453 | DOI: 10.17221/6345-CJAS 
The objective of the study was to determine the relationships between age of the goat and faecal egg counts, liver enzymes, and minerals in the wet and dry seasons in male and female Nguni goats of South Africa. Fifty-six female and forty male Nguni goats were used for the study. Faecal and blood samples were collected once in the dry (August) and wet (January) season. Faecal egg counts (FEC) were determined by the modified McMaster technique while trematodes were determined by the sedimentation method. Blood was analyzed for phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase...
Nutritive value of red clover and lucerne forages for ruminants estimated by in vitro and in vivo digestibility methods
P. Homolka, V. Koukolová, M. Podsedníček, A. Hlaváčková
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2012, 57(10):454-468 | DOI: 10.17221/6346-CJAS
The aim of this study was to determine the nutrient and energy levels of red clover and lucerne forage. Investigation of forage at different maturity stages of three growths was carried out by chemical analysis, in vitro and in vivo digestibility methods. Generally, maturation caused a significant increase in fibre fractions. With the increasing maturity of forage samples the in vivo, in vitro, and calculated in vivo (in vivocalcul) digestibilities of organic matter (OM) linearly decreased. The in vitro and in vivocalcul digestibilities of OM averaged 0.754...
Gene expression of six major milk proteins in primary bovine mammary epithelial cells isolated from milk during the first twenty weeks of lactation
T. Sigl, H.H.D. Meyer, S. Wiedemann
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2012, 57(10):469-480 | DOI: 10.17221/6347-CJAS
The objective of the present study was to refine a previously developed method to isolate primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (pBMEC) from fresh milk. Using this method, it was tested whether the number of pBMEC and the relation of recovered pBMEC to total somatic cell count vary within the individual lactation stages. Furthermore, the expression levels of the milk protein genes during the first twenty weeks of lactation were determined by quantitative PCR method. A total number of 152 morning milk samples were obtained from twenty-four Holstein-Friesian cows during the first 20 weeks of lactation (day 8, 15, 26, 43, 57, 113, and 141 postpartum)....
Comparative proteomics analysis of plasma proteins during the transition period in dairy cows with or without subclinical mastitis after calving
Y.X. Yang, J.Q Wang, D.P. Bu, S.S. Li, T.J. Yuan, L.Y. Zhou, J.H. Yang, P. Sun
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2012, 57(10):481-489 | DOI: 10.17221/6348-CJAS
The transition period is the most critical time of the cow's lactation cycle that is associated with the onset of mastitis. In this study, changes of plasma proteins in cows (n = 12) with or without subclinical mastitis after calving were determined by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), which detected 18 spots with variations in protein spots abundance. These spots were identified by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The changes in protein profile from day 21 before calving to day 1 after calving were similar in cows with or without subclinical mastitis. Abundance of α1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) and haptoglobin...
Relationships between the results of hypo-osmotic swelling tests, sperm motility, and fertility in Estonian Holstein dairy bulls
P. Padrik, T. Hallap, T. Kaart, T. Bulitko, Ü. Jaakma
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2012, 57(10):490-497 | DOI: 10.17221/6349-CJAS
As an attempt to find an inexpensive and simple laboratory method for artificial insemination (AI) bull semen quality assessment, the osmotic resistance of spermatozoa was measured using the hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test, developed by Jeyendran et al. (1984) (labelled HOS-1), and its modifications (HOS-2, HOS-3), with decreased osmotic pressure aimed at challenging sperm survival ability. The test results were benchmarked against sperm viability measurements performed using the Computerized Motility Analyzer (CMA), and field fertility was calculated as non-return rate (NRR). Two age groups of Estonian Holstein bull sires were included in this study...