Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2013 (vol. 58), issue 2
Effect of age at first calving on longevity and fertility traits for Holstein cattleOriginal Paper
L. Zavadilová, M. Štípková
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(2):47-57 | DOI: 10.17221/6614-CJAS 
Effects of age at first calving (AFC) on functional longevity of Czech Holstein cows and their reproduction traits in the first lactation were analyzed using the first lactation data of 605 538 Holstein cows first calved from 1993 to 2008. Three classes were formed for AFC: low age class (16-24 months), average age class (25-30 months), and high age class (33-46 months). Effects of AFC on length of productive life (LPL), days open (DO), days between calving and first service (CTFS), and days between first service and conception in the first lactation (FSTC) were estimated by survival and linear model analyses. It was found that LPL was on average slightly...
Genetic effects of melatonin receptor genes on chicken reproductive traitsOriginal Paper
D.Y. Li, L. Zhang, D.G. Smith, H.L. Xu, Y.P. Liu, X.L. Zhao, Y. Wang, Q. Zhu
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(2):58-64 | DOI: 10.17221/6615-CJAS
The melatonin receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) that bind melatonin. Three types of melatonin receptors have been cloned. The MTNR1A (or Mel1A or MT1) and MTNR1B (or Mel1B or MT2) receptor subtypes are present in humans and other mammals, while an additional melatonin receptor subtype MTNR1C (or Mel1C or MT3) has been identified in amphibians and birds. Previous research has shown that the three common melatonin receptors regulate physiological processes, including seasonal reproduction and ovarian physiology. However, whether or not any polymorphisms of...
Genetic variation at RYR1, IGF2, FUT1, MUC13, and KPL2 mutations affecting production traits in Chinese commercial pig breedsOriginal Paper
G.R. Ruan, Y.Y. Xing, Y. Fan, R.M. Qiao, X.F. He, B. Yang, N.S. Ding, J. Ren, L.S. Huang, S.J. Xiao
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(2):65-70 | DOI: 10.17221/6616-CJAS
The identification of causative mutations affecting economically important traits has benefited the worldwide pig industry. We investigated the genetic variation at five loci including RYR1, IGF2, FUT1, MUC13, and KPL2 affecting traits related to production, reproduction, and disease resistance in a sample of 8009 pigs representing 3 commercial breeds (Duroc, Landrace, and Large White) from 28 farms in China. We found that all breeds, especially Duroc pigs, have high frequencies of favourable alleles for lean production and stress resistance at the IGF2 and RYR1 loci. However, all breeds...
Genetic structure and admixture between the Posavina and Croatian Coldblood in contrast to Lipizzan horse from CroatiaOriginal Paper
A. Galov, K. Byrne, T. Gomerčić, M. Duras, H. Arbanasić, M. Sindičić, D. Mihelić, A. Kovačić, S.M. Funk
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(2):71-78 | DOI: 10.17221/6617-CJAS
The Posavina and Croatian Coldblood are Croatian autochthonous horse breeds with interwoven breeding histories for which studbooks have only recently been established. The Lipizzan breed has the oldest formalized breeding and no record of recent genetic introgression from other breeds in Croatia. We analyzed the genetic structure, interbreeding, and breed characteristics by genotyping nine dinucleotide microsatellite loci for 53 Posavina, 37 Croatian Coldblood, and 33 Lipizzan horses and showed that differing breeding schemes and histories have had a strong and measurable impact on the population genetic structure within and between the three breeds....
Ribosomal protein SA and its pseudogenes in ruminants: an extremely conserved gene familyOriginal Paper
A. Van den Broeke, M. Van Poucke, A. Van Zeveren, L.J. Peelman
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(2):79-90 | DOI: 10.17221/6618-CJAS
The ribosomal protein SA (RPSA), also known as 37-kDa laminin receptor precursor/67-kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR), has been identified as a multifunctional protein, playing an important role in multiple pathologies like cancer and prion diseases. Since RPSA is involved in the binding and internalization of the prion protein, mutations in the ovine RPSA gene, influencing the RPSA-PrPC/PrPSc binding, can potentially play a part in the resistance to prion diseases. Our goal was to further characterize the complex RPSA gene family and to detect structural mutations which can play a role in this disease. In a prior...
Influence of dietary vitamin C and selenium, alone and in combination, on the performance of laying hens and quality of eggsOriginal Paper
M. Skřivan, M. Marounek, M. Englmaierová, V. Skřivanová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(2):91-97 | DOI: 10.17221/6619-CJAS
Two hundred and forty laying hens were fed diets supplemented with vitamin C and selenium (Se). Vitamin C was added at 0 or 200 mg/kg, and Se was added as sodium selenite or selenized yeast at 0.3 mg/kg. The feed intake and egg production were measured, and egg quality parameters were determined. Supplementation of the basal diet with Se significantly increased the laying performance; however, vitamin C significantly decreased feed intake and egg production. Vitamin C increased vitamin E concentration in the yolk. Both selenite and Se-enriched yeast increased the vitamin E concentration in the yolk and the Se concentration in the yolk and albumen....