Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2018 (vol. 63), issue 8

In vitro bioactivity of various pure flavonoids in ruminal fermentation, with special reference to methane formationOriginal Paper

Susanne Sinz, Carmen Kunz, Annette Liesegang, Ueli Braun, Svenja Marquardt, Carla R. Soliva, Michael Kreuzer

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2018, 63(8):293-304 | DOI: 10.17221/118/2017-CJAS  

Polyphenols, like flavonoids, have been investigated when present in intact plants or in extracts as methane mitigating dietary supplements in ruminants. The aim of the present study was to examine pure compounds in a short-term in vitro experiment using the Hohenheim Gas Test method. We focused on the group of the flavonoids and tested which of them had the potential to mitigate methane without negatively affecting ruminal fermentation. Eight flavonoids were tested: epicatechin, luteolin-7-glucoside, quercetin, and isoquercetin in Experiment 1; catechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate in Experiment 2. Tannic...

Response to selection of a breeding program for Suffolk sheep in the Czech RepublicOriginal Paper

Martin Ptáček, Jaromír Ducháček, Jitka Schmidová, Luděk Stádník

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2018, 63(8):305-312 | DOI: 10.17221/21/2018-CJAS  

Lamb growth performance traits in relation to parental breeding values (BVs) for these traits were evaluated in a purebred Suffolk sheep population in the Czech Republic. The research lasted over 8 years and included 24 886 lambs. Four relevant parental BVs were observed: BV predicted for lamb live weight direct effect (BVLW-DE), BV predicted for lamb live weight maternal effect (BVLW-ME), BV predicted for lamb musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis depth (BV-MLLT), and BV predicted for lamb backfat thickness (BV-BT). The lamb live weight (LW; kg), musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis depth (MLLT; mm), and...

Effects of selenium on selenoprotein synthesis and antioxidant parameters of bovine mammary epithelial cellsOriginal Paper

Yongmei Guo, Jian Gong, Binlin Shi, Xiaoyu Guo, Sumei Yan

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2018, 63(8):313-322 | DOI: 10.17221/24/2018-CJAS  

This study aimed to investigate the effects of selenium (Se) on the selenoproteins synthesis and antioxidant parameters of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). The experiment was conducted as a single factor completely randomized design to explore the effect of different levels of Se supplementation (0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 nmol/l) on selenoproteins synthesis and antioxidant parameters of BMECs, and to screen the appropriate dose of Se supplementation ensuring a better antioxidant function. Se supplementation increased cell proliferation, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide...

Evaluation of gestation length and birth weight of offspring of Polish native cattle breeds in context of estimating genetic parametersOriginal Paper

Anna Nienartowicz-Zdrojewska, Zbigniew Sobek, Jolanta Różańska-Zawieja

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2018, 63(8):323-330 | DOI: 10.17221/65/2017-CJAS  

Research material included data on gestation length of 15 436 cows of Polish native breeds. These were: White Backed (BG; 324 records), Polish Red (RP; 5396 records), Polish Black and White (ZB; 3508 records), and Polish Red and White (ZR; 6208 records). The calvings took place in 2005-2009, and we analysed two calving seasons, lactation number, the degree of calving difficulty, sex, and body weight of newborn calves. The effect of birth year on gestation length and birth weight of offspring was statistically significant, whereas calving season had statistically highly significant effect on both. Gestation...

Nonlinear models of Brazilian sheep in adjustment of growth curvesOriginal Paper

Claudia Cristina Paro de Paz, Guilherme Costa Venturini, Enio Contini, Ricardo Lopes Dias da Costa, Luara Paula Lameirinha, Celia Raquel Quirino

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2018, 63(8):331-338 | DOI: 10.17221/87/2017-CJAS  

Growth curves of the Morada Nova sheep males and females were described using nonlinear models and the relationships between body weight and thoracic circumference were evaluated. Altogether 1516 repeated measures of body weight and thoracic circumference of the Morada Nova sheep (668 males and 848 females) taken since birth till 730 days of age were used. The Brody, Richards, von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and Logistic models have been tested. The Fisher's test (F) was used to verify the differences (P < 0.05) in growth curves between males and females. The Gompertz model presented a significant difference (P < 0.001)...