Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2019 (vol. 64), issue 5

Encapsulated blends of essential oils and organic acids improved performance, intestinal morphology, cecal microflora, and jejunal enzyme activity of broilersOriginal Paper

Yu-Yun Gao, Xing-Li Zhang, Li-Hui Xu, Hui Peng, Chang-Kang Wang, Ying-Zuo Bi

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(5):189-198 | DOI: 10.17221/172/2018-CJAS  

This study investigated effects of encapsulated blends of essential oils (EO) and organic acids (OA) on performance, intestinal morphology, cecal microflora, and jejunal mucosal enzyme activity and secretory IgA (s-IgA) level of broilers. Three hundred one-day-old male broilers were divided into 5 treatments with 5 replicates each. Control group received basal diet. Three additional groups received basal diets supplemented with 150, 200, or 250 mg/kg encapsulated blends of EO and OA. Antibiotic group received basal diet supplemented with 30 mg/kg bacitracin zinc. On days 21 and 70 of trial, 2 broilers from each replicate were weighed, and then blood,...

Estimation of genetic parameters for female fertility traits in the Czech Holstein populationOriginal Paper

Michaela Brzáková, Ludmila Zavadilová, Josef Přibyl, Petr Pešek, Eva Kašná, Anita Kranjčevičová

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(5):199-206 | DOI: 10.17221/51/2018-CJAS  

Genetic parameters for fertility traits in Czech Holstein population were estimated. The database obtained from the Czech-Moravian Breeders Corporation with 6 414 486 insemination records between years 2005-2015 was used. Date of calving of the selected animals was taken from the database of milk records from 2005-2015. Fertility traits were age at first service (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), days open (DO), calving interval (CI) and first service to conception interval in cows (FSC-C) and heifers (FSC-H). The heritability of each trait was estimated using single-trait animal models. The model included fixed effects of herd-year-season of birth,...

Apoptosis of porcine Sertoli cells is inhibited by QKI-5 via regulating CASP8Original Paper

Mengdi Liang, Xin Liu, Jia Guo, Yuwei Yang, Yonghong Zhang, Xianzhong Yu, Boxing Sun

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(5):207-215 | DOI: 10.17221/158/2018-CJAS  

QKI, a KH domain containing RNA binding, is an RNA-binding protein that is involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis through binding to the QKI response element (QRE) site of its target mRNA. And Caspase 8 (CASP8) and Caspase 3 (CASP3) play important roles in the pathway of apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of QKI-5 on the apoptosis of Sertoli cells. The experimental results show that pig tissues contain QKI-5, QKI-6 and QKI-7. Overexpression of QKI-5 significantly decreased the mRNA expression of CASP8 (P < 0.05) and the protein expression...

Laying performance, immune response and antioxidant properties of hens segregating for naked neck and frizzle genes under low ambient temperatureOriginal Paper

Moataz Fathi, Ibrahim Al-Homidan, Gamal Rayan, Salah El-Safty, Tarek Ebeid, Osama Abou-Emera

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(5):216-225 | DOI: 10.17221/221/2018-CJAS  

Major genes could be introgressed into laying hens to attenuate heat stress. However, under cold and/or moderate ambient temperature, these genes might possess different behaviour. The main objective of this study was to evaluate laying performance, immune response, and antioxidant status of native laying hens segregating for naked neck (Na) and frizzle (F) genes under low ambient temperature. Five genotypes were studied: homozygous naked neck (NaNaff), heterozygous naked neck (Nanaff), homozygous frizzle (nanaFF), heterozygous frizzle (nanaFf), and normally feathered (nanaff). The hens...

Nutritional quality assessment of different muscles derived from 15-year-old female emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae): Meat physicochemical traits and sensory scoresOriginal Paper

Mateusz Bucław, Danuta Majewska, Danuta Szczerbińska, Małgorzata Jakubowska

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(5):226-238 | DOI: 10.17221/140/2018-CJAS  

The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is considered a versatile farm species whose main by-products are meat and oil. At present, there is lack of information on the value of the meat of laying females at the end of their reproductive cycle which hampers the development of a specific market. To fill this gap, the present research aimed at studying the mineral composition, fatty acid profile, cholesterol level, selected physicochemical parameters and sensory quality of the meat of laying females at the end of their reproductive life cycles was carried out. The study should extend the knowledge on the application of this type of meat in food products...