Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2021 (vol. 66), issue 12
Changes in milk ketone and fatty acid concentrations during early lactation in Holstein and Fleckvieh cowsOriginal Paper
Magdaléna Štolcová, Dalibor Řehák, Luděk Bartoň
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2021, 66(12):477-486 | DOI: 10.17221/122/2021-CJAS 
The aim of this study was to compare the changes in milk composition postpartum, especially ketones and milk fatty acids (FAs), in Holstein and Fleckvieh cows kept under identical management conditions. Milk composite samples were collected from 66 cows during afternoon milking, at weekly intervals from one to eight weeks postpartum, and their components were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The Holstein cows had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of long-chain FAs (ranging from 6% to 16% in different weeks), monounsaturated FAs (6% to 12%), and C18:1 (5% to 16%), as well as lower (P <...
Fleckscore system of exterior evaluation as a more accurate indirect predictor of longevity in Slovak Simmental dairy cowsOriginal Paper
Eva Strapáková, Peter Strapák, Juraj Candrák, Ivan Pavlík, Katarína Dočkalová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2021, 66(12):487-494 | DOI: 10.17221/102/2021-CJAS
The goal of the work was to discover the influence of conformation traits evaluated by the Fleckscore system on the length of productive life of Slovak Simmental dairy cows. Evaluation of body conformation traits according to the Fleckscore system was performed on 3 452 cows. The relationship of individual traits to longevity was analysed using the Weibull proportional hazard model. The results confirmed that smaller and longer cows, which were well muscular and with a deeper body, had a lower risk of early culling than cows in the reference group. Hock angularity, pastern and hoof height scored with low or high marks were associated with an early...
Copy number variation of amylase alpha 2B gene is associated with feed efficiency traits in Large White pigsOriginal Paper
Tsukasa Yoshidomi, Kazuaki Tanaka, Tatsuya Takizawa, Satoshi Nikaido, Tetsuya Ito, Mai Kamikawa, Kensuke Hirose
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2021, 66(12):495-503 | DOI: 10.17221/117/2021-CJAS
Copy number variation (CNV) of the AMY gene in humans has been enthusiastically studied for its association with starch digestibility and obesity. The alpha-amylase (AMY) is a major starch digestive enzyme in mammals. This study aimed to determine the association between CNV of the porcine pancreatic amylase (AMY2B) gene and feed efficiency. Improvement of feed efficiency in growing pigs is of great economic interest. We assayed the copy number of AMY2B by using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in a Large White pig population. We identified three genotypes for AMY2B CNVs, namely I/I (homozygotes...
Effects of folic acid supplementation to basal diets of broilers on growth performance, slaughter performance, IGF2 gene expression and methylationOriginal Paper
Xiuling Li, Yujie Zhang, Wenqian Jing, Weiqi Tang, Jinyi Xing, Yunyun Zhang
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2021, 66(12):504-512 | DOI: 10.17221/76/2021-CJAS
Folic acid (FA) is an important water-soluble vitamin and plays an important role as a cofactor and coenzyme in animal growth and development, and regulation of gene expression and methylation. A total of 270 female broiler chickens (1-day-old) were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments supplemented with 0 mg/kg (control group), 5 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg FA in basal diets for 42 days, respectively. Each treatment had six replicate cages with 15 birds per cage. Dietary supplementation of 5 mg/kg FA significantly enhanced average body weight and average daily gain of 21-day-old broilers (P < 0.05), but significantly reduced subcutaneous...