Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2014 (vol. 59), issue 10

A high incidence of leukocyte chimerism (60,XX/60,XY) in single born heifers culled due to underdevelopment of internal reproductive tractsOriginal Paper

I. Szczerbal, B. Kociucka, J. Nowacka-Woszuk, Z. Lach, J.M. Jaskowski, M. Switonski

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(10):445-449 | DOI: 10.17221/7707-CJAS  

Freemartinism, a primary disorder of sex development (DSD) in cattle, is associated with leukocyte chimerism (60,XX/60,XY). The diagnosis of DSD is easy if it is known that a heifer with abnormally developed reproductive tracts originates from a heterosexual twin birth, but it is not so obvious in the case of single born calves. In the present study twelve DSD heifers which were single born (singletons) and culled due to the abnormal development of internal genitalia were studied using cytogenetic and molecular techniques. Among the heifers 7 appeared to be chimeric (60,XX/60,XY and the presence of the genes residing in the Y chromosome: SRY...

Essential oils effect on rumen fermentation and biohydrogenation under in vitro conditionsOriginal Paper

M. Gunal, A. Ishlak, A.A. AbuGhazaleh, W. Khattab

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(10):450-459 | DOI: 10.17221/7708-CJAS  

The effects of adding essential oils (EO) at different levels (125, 250, 500 mg/l) on rumen fermentation and biohydrogenation were examined in a rumen batch culture study. Treatments were: control without EO (CON), control with anise oil (ANO), cedar wood oil (CWO), cinnamon oil (CNO), eucalyptus oil (EUO), and tea tree oil (TEO). Essential oils, each dissolved in 1 ml of ethanol, were added to the culture flask containing 40 ml of buffer solution, 2 ml of reduction solution, 10 ml of rumen fluid, 25 mg of soybean oil, and 0.5 g of the diet. After 24 h of incubation in a water batch at 39°C, three samples were collected from each flask and analyzed...

Effect of dietary glutamine, glucose and/or sodium butyrate on piglet growth, intestinal environment, subsequent fattener performance, and meat qualityOriginal Paper

E. Hanczakowska, B. Niwińska, E.R. Grela, K. Węglarzy, K. Okoń

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(10):460-470 | DOI: 10.17221/7709-CJAS  

The effect of feed supplementing with glutamine, glucose and/or sodium butyrate was estimated on 156 piglets. The after-effect of supplements on fattener performance, carcass traits, and meat quality was examined. Piglets were allocated to 5 groups and fed standard feed mixture alone (control - C) or supplemented with 10 g of l-glutamine, or 10 g of glucose, or 3 g of sodium butyrate per kg of diet or all of these compounds (groups GT, GC, SB, and GT+GC+SB, respectively). Six piglets from each group were slaughtered at 63 days of age, their intestines were prepared and their parts measured. Digesta from ileum and caecum was taken for analysis. Its...

Lycopene regulates production performance, antioxidant capacity, and biochemical parameters in breeding hensOriginal Paper

B. Sun, J. Ma, J. Zhang, L. Su, Q. Xie, Y. Bi

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(10):471-479 | DOI: 10.17221/7710-CJAS  

Lycopene is a carotenoid present in vegetables and ripe fruit and has been proved to be the most potent antioxidant among various common carotenoids. This study assessed the effects of lycopene on performance production, tissue lycopene content, antioxidant capacity, and biochemical parameters in 720 Xing-hua breeding hens. Rice-soybean diets were supplemented with different lycopene levels: 0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg. Lycopene supplementation significantly increased fertilization rates in hens. Serum and egg lycopene contents and the Roche Yolk Colour Fan score increased with lycopene supplementation through day 7. In the liver, lycopene supplementation...

Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) and silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in rural and urbanized regionOriginal Paper

Z. Dobrzański, A. Filistowicz, P. Przysiecki, A. Filistowicz, S. Nowicki, K. Walkowiak, K. Czyż

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(10):480-487 | DOI: 10.17221/7711-CJAS  

Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of silver and arctic foxes farmed in typically rural and urbanized regions (Wielkopolskie Voivodship, Poland) was assessed. Hair and skin samples were collected and analyzed for total Hg content using atomic absorption spectrometry. Hairs and skin of foxes farmed in the rural region accumulated higher amount of Hg compared to animals from the urbanized one. Species effect (lower Hg concentration in V. lagopus) was noted, females having higher accumulation compared with males. The highest Hg content was observed in hairs of V. vulpes females in the rural region (0.207 mg/kg on average), and...

Effect of evening primrose oil on biochemical parameters of thoroughbred horses under maximal training conditionsOriginal Paper

K. Mikešová, H. Härtlová, L. Zita, E. Chmelíková, M. Hůlková, R. Rajmon

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(10):488-493 | DOI: 10.17221/7712-CJAS  

The antioxidative effect of evening primrose oil (EPO) administration on the oxidative stress of race horses during their regular training period was determined. The eight-week experiment was performed on ten clinically healthy thoroughbred horses. All the horses were enrolled in a regular training program. Eight weeks before the experiment, the horses were fed a diet which remained the same for the following eight weeks, only supplemented with 150 ml EPO (blood samplings 3 times). Total antioxidant reactivity (TAS), thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), uric acid (UA) levels, activities of muscle enzymes - aspartate aminotransferase (AST),...