Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2015 (vol. 60), issue 3

Increase in lutein and zeaxanthin content in the eggs of hens fed marigold flower extractOriginal Paper

M. Skřivan, M. Englmaierová, E. Skřivanová, I. Bubancová

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2015, 60(3):87-96 | DOI: 10.17221/8073-CJAS  

Marigold flower extract (MFE), a natural source of xanthophylls, was added to the diets of hens at different concentrations (0, 150, 250, and 350 mg/kg of diet) to determine the effects of MFE on hen performance, physical characteristics of egg quality, and carotenoid content of the egg yolk of hens housed in enriched cages. Additionally, the highest dose of MFE (350 mg/kg) was tested under commercial poultry conditions and compared with a feed mixture with added synthetic carotenoids and a control diet without synthetic carotenoids. The highest hen-day egg production (P = 0.005) and egg mass production (P = 0.010) was found in hens...

Association of bovine PPARGC1A and OPN genes with milk production and composition in Holstein cattleOriginal Paper

M. Pasandideh, M.R. Mohammadabadi, A.K. Esmailizadeh, A. Tarang

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2015, 60(3):97-104 | DOI: 10.17221/8074-CJAS  

Several studies have reported quantitative trait loci on chromosome 6 affecting milk production and composition traits in dairy cattle. Osteopontin (OPN) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PPARGC1A) genes have been located on this chromosome and identified as positional candidates for milk traits. We investigated the associations of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) T>C at position 1892 and SNP A>C at position 3359 in PPARGC1A gene as well as SNP C>T at position 8514 in OPN gene with milk production and composition. Hence, 398 Iranian Holstein cows were genotyped...

A shift in erythrocyte histone H1 complement following selection in quail (Coturnix japonica)Original Paper

A. Kowalski, J. Pałyga, S. Knaga, A. Witkowski

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2015, 60(3):105-115 | DOI: 10.17221/8075-CJAS  

This work was aimed at comparing distribution of isoforms for polymorphic histone H1 variants H1.b and H1.z and variably abundant histone H1.d subtype between quail (Coturnix japonica) population selected for a high egg yolk cholesterol content and the control birds. The isoforms of histone H1.b (H1.b1, H1.b2) and histone H1.z (H1.z1, H1.z2) differed in their apparent molecular weights judging from their differential migration rates in one- and two-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Stained histone H1.d bands and spots in one-dimensional acetic acid-urea and two-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel patterns, respectively, exhibited differential...

Effect of breeder age and lighting regimen on growth performance, organ weights, villus development, and bursa of fabricius histological structure in broiler chickensOriginal Paper

M.I. El Sabry, S. Yalçin, G. Turgay-Izzetoglu

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2015, 60(3):116-122 | DOI: 10.17221/8076-CJAS  

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of breeder age and lighting regimen on performance, some organ weights, villus development, and bursa of fabricius histological structure in broiler chickens. A total of 384 one-day-old chicks were obtained from two Ross broiler breeder flocks at 32 (young;Y) and 49 (old, O) weeks of age. Chicks from each breeder age were reared under 18 h light : 6 h dark (18 L : 6 D) (control; CL) or 14 L : 4 D : 2 L : 4 D (split darkness, SD). Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and mortality were measured weekly during the experiment. At 21 days of age, liver, heart, spleen, and bursa...

Effect of source of methionine in broken rice-soybean diet on production performance, blood chemistry, and fermentation characteristics in weaned pigsOriginal Paper

N. Krutthai, C. Vajrabukka, K. Markvichitr, A. Choothesa, J. Thiengtham, S. Sawanon, C. Kaewtapee, C. Bunchasak

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2015, 60(3):123-131 | DOI: 10.17221/8077-CJAS  

This study was conducted to compare the effect of source of methionine (Met) in broken rice-soybean diet on performance, blood biochemistry, and fermentation characteristics in weaned pigs. Forty-eight male crossbreed pigs (BW 11 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly allocated to three groups with four replications in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were: (1) basal diet without methionine (Control; total sulfur amino acids (TSAA) 0.60%); (2) basal diet supplemented with dl-methionine (DLM) (TSAA 0.76%); and (3) basal diet supplemented with dl-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (LMA) (TSAA 0.76%). Supplementation with DLM and LMA...

Nucleotide sequencing and DNA polymorphism studies of beta-lactoglobulin gene in native Saudi goat breeds in relation to milk yieldOriginal Paper

A.A.M. El Hanafy, M.I. Qureshi, J. Sabir, M. Mutawakil, M.M.M. Ahmed, H. El Ashmaoui, H.A.M.I. Ramadan, M. Abou-Alsoud, M.A. Sadek

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2015, 60(3):132-138 | DOI: 10.17221/8078-CJAS  

β-Lactoglobulin (β-LG) is the dominant non-casein whey protein found in milk of bovine and of most ruminants. The amino acid sequence of β-LG along with its 3-dimensional structure illustrates linkage with the lipocalin superfamily. Preliminary studies in goats indicated that milk yield can be influenced by polymorphism in genes coding for whey proteins. The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate the incidence of functional polymorphisms in the exonic and intronic portions of β-LG gene in native Saudi goat breeds (Ardi, Habsi and Harri). Blood samples were collected from 300 animals (100 for each breed) and genomic...

Association of a synonymous mutation of the PGAM2 gene and growth traits in rabbitsOriginal Paper

Z.-L. Wu, S.-Y. Chen, X.-B. Jia, S.-J. Lai

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2015, 60(3):139-144 | DOI: 10.17221/8079-CJAS  

Phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM2) catalyzes the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate into 2-phosphoglycerate and releases energy during glycolysis in muscle tissues. PGAM2 has been considered as a candidate gene to influence growth, development, and carcass traits in livestock. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between polymorphisms of PGAM2 and growth traits in rabbits. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by direct sequencing in 20 random individuals from three breeds, including c.-10C>T, c.195C>T, and c.414+17C>T. The c.195C>T was genotyped by PCR-RFLP in a total of 222 rabbits...