Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2019 (vol. 64), issue 1

Lippia citriodora (verbascoside) extract supplementation: Effect on rabbit semen quality in vivo and in vitroOriginal Paper

Francesco Vizzarri, Marisa Palazzo, Donato Casamassima, Lubomir Ondruska, Martin Massanyi, Filip Tirpak, Grzegorz Formicki, Agnieszka Gren, Peter Massanyi

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(1):1-10 | DOI: 10.17221/35/2018-CJAS  

Verbascoside, the main component of Lippia citriodora extract, is one of the most powerful free radical scavengers exhibiting a wide biological activity. In in vivo study 20 adult New Zealand white rabbit bucks were divided into two homogeneous groups, one control (CON) and one verbascoside-supplemented (0.1%) in feed mixture (EXP) and later in vitro effects of verbascoside on the motility aspects of rabbit spermatozoa were analysed. The spermatozoa concentration, ejaculate volume, spermatozoa motility, progressive motility, distance parameters, velocity parameters and type of spermatozoa movement were negatively affected...

Multi-breed herd approach to detect breed differences in composition and fatty acid profile of cow milkOriginal Paper

Carmen L. Manuelian, Mauro Penasa, Giulio Visentin, Anna Benedet, Martino Cassandro, Massimo De Marchi

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(1):11-16 | DOI: 10.17221/18/2018-CJAS  

The objective of the present study was to estimate the effect of breed on milk fatty acid (FA) composition of dairy (Brown Swiss, Holstein-Friesian, and Jersey) and dual-purpose cows (Simmental and Alpine Grey) in multi-breed herds. Information on individual milk samples was collected during routine cow milk testing between 2011 and 2014, and consisted of 285 606 observations from 17 445 cows in 617 herds. Fixed effects included in the mixed model were breed, parity, stage of lactation and the interaction between parity and stage of lactation, and random effects were cow, herd-test-date and residual. Contrast estimates for the studied traits were used...

Alfalfa meal as a source of carotenoids in combination with ascorbic acid in the diet of laying hensOriginal Paper

Michaela Englmaierová, Miloš Skřivan, Tomáš Vít

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(1):17-25 | DOI: 10.17221/116/2018-CJAS  

The purpose of the experiment was to determine how the addition of dehydrated alfalfa (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) into the diet of hens influences the performance characteristics and egg quality characterised by physical parameters, yolk carotenoid content, and the oxidative stability of yolks. Two hundred and forty Hisex Brown hens were divided into 6 treatment groups according to the level of DA (0 and 40 g/kg) and concentration of AA (0, 100, and 200 mg/kg) in the diet. Hen-day egg production and egg mass production were reduced by the supplement of DA (P < 0.001) and AA (P = 0.017). The addition of DA itself increased the feed...

Solvent-extracted soybean meal top-dressed on a fresh cow diet increased milk production, but not milk components, and decreased plasma non-esterified fatty acidsOriginal Paper

Mohammad Ghelichkhan, Hamid Amanlou, Ehsan Mahjoubi, Robert A. Patton

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(1):26-40 | DOI: 10.17221/26/2018-CJAS  

Post-ruminally infused casein has increased milk and milk protein yield in post-partum cows. We theorised top dressing (TD) higher amounts of soybean meal (SBM) might mimic these effects. Fifty-one multiparous Holstein cows 1 day after calving were assigned to 3 dietary treatments: a base total mixed ration (CON) with 196 g/kg crude protein and 329 g/kg neutral detergent fibre; 17 cows TD with l kg of SBM (SBM1); and 17 cows TD with 2 kg of SBM (SBM2) for 30 days. Milk and milk components were measured at days 9, 18, and 27. Rumen and urine samples were collected on day 27; blood samples were obtained on day 30. Statistical inference...

Estimation of genetic and non-genetic effects influencing coat colour in black horsesOriginal Paper

Barbora Hofmanová, Luboš Vostrý, Hana Vostrá-Vydrová, Adéla Dokoupilová, Ivan Majzlík

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(1):41-48 | DOI: 10.17221/136/2018-CJAS  

The aims of this study are the quantitative characterisation of the coat colour in the black variety of the Old Kladruber Horse breed, the estimation of the coat colour genetic parameters, and the determination of the factors that influence coat colour intensity. A total of 252 horses aged 1-24 years were included in the study. The colour parameters were taken using a Konica Minolta spectrophotometer CM-2500d at four different body parts during the summer and winter seasons, resulting in 1748 phenotypic records. The possible effects of sex, season, housing system, age and body part on the spectrophotometric parameters were analysed. The results confirmed...