Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2013 (vol. 58), issue 8

Intraday variation of metabolic key indicators in serum of dairy cows between week 2 antepartum and week 12 postpartumOriginal Paper

S. Wiedemann, K. Horstmann, M. Piechotta, U. Meyer, G. Flachowsky, M. Kaske

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(8):343-350 | DOI: 10.17221/6900-CJAS  

Metabolic diseases during early lactation in dairy cows can be routinely diagnosed assessing key indicators in blood. The objectives of the present study were to characterize the impact of interindividual along with intraday variation on specific metabolites and to investigate the effect of the sampling time point relative to calving. Serum samples of four high-yielding, clinically healthy, multiparous dairy cows (body weight 589 ± 27 kg) were obtained in 3-h intervals during 24-h intervals throughout the transition period and early lactation (week -2 antepartum (ap), weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 12 postpartum (pp)). The lowest intraday variation...

Combinations of feed additives affect ileal fibre digestibility and bacterial numbers in ileal digesta of pigletsOriginal Paper

E. Weiss, M. Eklund, A. Semaskaite, R. Urbaityte, B. Metzler-Zebeli, N. Sauer, A. Ratriyanto, R. Gruzauskas, R. Mosenthin

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(8):351-359 | DOI: 10.17221/6901-CJAS  

The study was performed to investigate the effect of combinations of feed additives consisting of either a combination of a probiotic and a prebiotic (synbiotic), or a combination of a probiotic and xylanase on ileal nutrient digestibility, ileal microbial metabolite concentrations, and microbial composition in ileal digesta of weaned piglets. In total, 12 six-week old barrows with an average initial body weight of 7.5 kg, fitted with an ileal T-cannula, were assigned to 3 dietary treatments. The basal diet was supplemented with a combination of 1 g probiotics (Pediococcus acidilactici, Bactocell^®)and 20 g prebiotics (oligofructose)...

Fattening heifers on continuous pasture in mountainous regions - implications for productivity and meat qualityOriginal Paper

M. Velik, I. Gangnat, R. Kitzer, E. Finotti, A. Steinwidder

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(8):360-368 | DOI: 10.17221/6902-CJAS  

Economical and ecological issues as well as consumer demand for sustainably produced agricultural food rise the trends to fatten beef cattle on pasture during the grazing season. However, particularly for mountainous regions, implications of turning beef cattle on pasture remain unclear concerning animal performance and product quality. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare short grass grazing with a semi-intensive indoor fattening system in the Alps. Charolais × Simmental heifers of about 300 kg live weight were either fattened on continuous pasture (3-6 mm sward height) and finished in barn (Pasture group) or solely raised in barn...

Availability of microelements in recently weaned piglets fed diet supplemented with inulinOriginal Paper

A. Untea, R.D. Criste, I. Taranu, W.-B. Souffrant, P. Janczyk, L. Vladescu, C. Dragomir

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(8):369-374 | DOI: 10.17221/6903-CJAS  

The effects of inulin-supplemented diet on Cu, Mn, and Zn bioavailability in recently weaned piglets raised at an experimental and a commercial farm were studied. Piglets were weaned at 28 days of age, when all of them were fed a barley-wheat based starter diet supplemented with a usual vitamin-mineral premix for piglets. The reference diet group received additional 50 mg of zinc per kg diet, while the experimental inulin diet group was supplemented with 1.5% inulin (no additional zinc). Both diets, low in inorganic copper (provided only from forages), covered the demands for minerals of the growing piglets. Four piglets were sacrificed on days 28,...

Effects of Aroclor 1254 on LH and 17,20β-P secretion in female Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio Bloch) in the spawning seasonOriginal Paper

M. Socha, M. Sokołowska-Mikołajczyk, P. Szczerbik, J. Chyb, P. Epler

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(8):375-380 | DOI: 10.17221/6904-CJAS  

The effects of Aroclor 1254 on the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20β-P) in female Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio Bloch) at the time of their natural spawning were determined. Aroclor 1254 at doses of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg body weight was dissolved in 500 ml of oil and was administered three times intraperitoneally or rectally to female Prussian carp every 24 h for three days. Blood samples were collected after 3 days of Aroclor 1254 administration to determine the LH and 17,20β-P concentrations using ELISA. At 6, 12, and 24 h after injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone...

Effects of breed, postnatal development, and nutrition on mRNA expression of the FTO gene in porcine muscle and its relationship with intramuscular fat depositionOriginal Paper

X. Tao, X.M. Men, B. Deng, Z.W. Xu

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2013, 58(8):381-388 | DOI: 10.17221/6905-CJAS  

The effects of breed, development, and nutrition on mRNA expression of the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and its relationship with intramuscular fat (IMF) content in porcine muscle (m. longissimus dorsi; m.l.d.) were estimated. Purebred Jinhua, Zhongbai, Yorkshire, Duroc, Duroc × Zhongbai (DZ), and Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace (DYL) pigs were used to investigate the effect of breed. Pigs weighing 2.5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 100 kg were selected to study the effects of different stages of development. To study the effect of nutrition, four diets were selected: corn-soybean (CS), CS with 1.2% conjugated linoleic...