Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2026 (vol. 71), issue 1
Population structure, genetic diversity, and reproductive efficiency in the autochthonous Busha cattle breedOriginal Paper
Aneta Piplica, Mato Èaèiĉ, Anamaria Ekert Kabalin, Maja Mauriĉ Maljkoviĉ, Ivan Vlahek, Velimir Suıiĉ, Sven Menèik
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(1):1-10 | DOI: 10.17221/138/2025-CJAS 
Autochthonous cattle breeds represent important resources of genetic diversity. The Busha cattle breed is reared in the Balkan Peninsula and is characterised by high adaptability, resilience, longevity, small body size, and low maintenance and production requirements. During the 36-year observation period, the total population of the autochthonous Busha cattle breed in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 10 411 animals. Pedigree completeness for the total population, considering the first parental generation, was 97.1%. The average inbreeding coefficient was 2.44%, ranging from zero to 42.6%, while the average relatedness coefficient was 3.56%...
Genetic parameters for foot and claw disorders in Czech Holstein cattleOriginal Paper
Ludmila Zavadilová, Eva Kaıná, Zuzana Krupová, Miloslava İtípková, Michaela Brzáková
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(1):11-20 | DOI: 10.17221/140/2025-CJAS
Our study investigated the genetic variability of specific foot and claw disorders, namely dermatitis digitalis, sole ulcer, and three broader categories (infectious diseases, claw horn lesions, and general claw disorder) in Czech Holstein cows. We also examined their genetic relationships with clinical mastitis and key fertility traits. Using both linear and threshold animal models, we concluded that heritability estimates for foot and claw disorders were consistently higher when employing the threshold model. A significant finding was the genetic correlation between sole ulcer and dermatitis digitalis, which ranged from 0.21 (calving...
The impact of pre-dry-off weather patterns on subsequent lactation udder health in dairy cows, and their comparison with milkability, milk quality and udder health parameters – A pilot studyOriginal Paper
Matúı Gaıparík, Jaromír Ducháèek, Ludìk Stádník, Radim Codl, Iveta Szencziová, Kateĝina Cihláĝová, Nikola Mareıová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(1):21-29 | DOI: 10.17221/169/2025-CJAS
Environmental conditions are known to influence the dairy cow health, with most research focusing on the detrimental effects of heat stress. However, the impact of non-summer weather patterns in temperate climates on udder health carry-over between lactations is not well understood. This pilot study evaluated the effect of various weather factors (temperature, humidity, precipitation, sunshine) during 1-day to 90-day periods before dry-off on udder health in the first month post-calving (represented by somatic cell count, conductivity, lactose, and mastitis incidence) in 199 Holstein cows in Central Europe. The scope of the experiment was limited...
The impact of domestication process on eggshell microstructure in Gallus gallus, Anser anser and Anas platyrhynchosOriginal Paper
Joanna Rosenberger, £ukasz Pawelec, Regina Grugel
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2026, 71(1):30-40 | DOI: 10.17221/112/2024-CJAS
The domestication process has had a substantial and varied impact on animals in terms of anatomy, physiology, and behaviour. Poultry species are particularly important for humans, with the most significant being chickens, geese, and ducks. However, it is not well understood whether, or to what extent selection influences the eggshell structure compared to wild ancestors. In the present study, we compared eggshells from three species: Red junglefowl and its four domesticated forms: Green-legged partridge, Lohmann Brown, Ko-Shamo, meat type breeder (Cobb 500); Greylag goose, and two domesticated breeds: Bilgoraj goose and White Koluda goose, as well...