Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2014 (vol. 59), issue 11
Selenium in poultry nutrition: a reviewReview
P. Suchý, E. Straková, I. Herzig
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(11):495-503 | DOI: 10.17221/7730-CJAS 
Selenium has been known for two centuries and its biological activities have been studied for nearly a hundred years, however the problem of Se deficit has still been persisting both in humans and animals. The cause of Se deficit in animals may be low Se level in soil. This mainly applies to cattle and sheep with their direct link to soil via roughage. The risk of Se deficit in pigs and poultry is lower due to lower dependence on soil Se level in the region and Se fortification in feed mixes. The present research focuses on the effects of Se on meat and egg quality, antioxidant activity of Se, effects on fatty acid levels, activity of glutathione-peroxidase,...
Effect of stage of the estrous cycle at the time of initial exposure to rams on the ovarian activity of Pelibuey ewesOriginal Paper
S. Jarquin, A. Roldan, L. Zarco, J. Berruecos, J. Valencia
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(11):504-510 | DOI: 10.17221/7731-CJAS
Forty non-lactating, cyclic adult Pelibuey ewes were randomly divided into six groups. Estrus was synchronized within each group using intravaginal sponges and prostaglandin F2α injection at the time of the sponge removal. The sponges were inserted and removed on different dates in each group, but all the groups except the control one were first exposed to rams on the same date (July 17th), so that at the time of the first exposure the ewes were either on day 0 (group D0; n = 7), 3 (group D3; n = 7), 8 (group D8; n = 7), 12 (group D12; n = 7) or 14 (group D14; n = 7) of their synchronized...
Uterine size in replacement gilts associated with age, body weight, growth rate, and reproductive statusOriginal Paper
P. Tummaruk, S. Kesdangsakonwut
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(11):511-518 | DOI: 10.17221/7732-CJAS
The objective of the present study was to determine the association between the uterine size and age, body weight, growth rate, and reproductive status in Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred gilts. Genital organs from 310 gilts (302.6 ± 2.9 days of age, 145.2 ± 1.2 kg body weight) were examined. The gilts were classified into two groups according to reproductive status: non-cyclic (n = 86) and cyclic (n = 224). The uterine weight in non-cyclic gilts was lower than that in cyclic ones (128 ± 8.1 and 694 ± 17.9 g, P < 0.001). Likewise, the length of the uterus in non-cyclic gilts was shorter than that...
Mitochondrial DNA-based genetic evaluation of autochthonous cattle breeds in CroatiaOriginal Paper
A. Ivanković, S. Paprika, J. Ramljak, P. Dovč, M. Konjačić
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(11):519-528 | DOI: 10.17221/7733-CJAS
Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of three Croatian autochthonous cattle breeds was analyzed using a sequence of the mtDNA D-loop region. Among Busha, Istrian, and Slavonian Syrmian Podolian cattle 146 unrelated animals were tested. The sequencing of 780 base pairs of the mtDNA D-loop region revealed 39 polymorphic sites representing 28 different haplotypes. The highest numbers of haplotypes were observed in the Busha population and the lowest in the population of Slavonian Syrmian Podolian cattle, while the highest level of sequence diversity within a population was observed in the Istrian cattle. Our results indicate a high level of...
Effects of dietary copper supplementation on nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical indices, and growth rate of young female mink (Neovison vison)Original Paper
X.-Z. Wu, Y. Yang, H.-T. Liu, Z.-Y. Yue, X.-H. Gao, F.-H. Yang, X. Xing
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2014, 59(11):529-537 | DOI: 10.17221/7734-CJAS
The objective of this study was to determine whether nutrient digestibility and growth performance of mink were affected by different dietary copper levels. Ninety-six 60-day-old healthy female minks were randomly assigned to 8 treatment groups with 12 animals in each group and fed a diet supplemented with either 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256 mg/kg copper as CuSO4 × 5H2O, respectively. Our data showed that body weight and average daily gain increased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) as Cu increased in the diet, the highest body weight and average daily gain were seen in the Cu32 group. Feed : gain ratio responded...