Fulltext search in archive

: Nutrient digestibility and parameters of nutritive value for ruminants of two winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were evaluated by means of an in vivo balance trial performed by the regression method on two groups of heifers with an increasing proportion of grain in DM (from 6 to 46%). Sulamit and Rapsodia, chosen on the basis of the in vitro test from a set of 25 cultivars (grown in 2002-2004) reached significant differences in DM fermentability in vitro (by 43.7-78.6 ml/g DM, P < 0.05). In vivo digestibility of crude protein, nitrogen-free extract, organic matter, parameters of N retention, energy concentrations (metabolisable energy, net energy for lactation and for fattening) and parameters in the PDI system (especially PDIE) increased along with the grain proportion in the diet. At the comparable proportion of grain in the ration the positive differences were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for Sulamit than Rapsodia.

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L. var. Palava), harvested at four successive dates over a 30-day period, was evaluated for chemical composition (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, nitrogen-free extract, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin), amino acid contents and intestinal digestibility in dairy cows. Dry matter (r = 0.78), organic matter (r = 0.95), crude fibre (r = 0.91), neutral detergent fibre (r = 0.94), acid detergent fibre (r = 0.79) and acid detergent lignin (r = 0.48) presented positive linear correlation coefficients (r) with growth stage, whereas crude protein (r = -0.96), ether extract (r = -0.86) and nitrogen-free extract (r = -0.70) showed negative relationships. Total essential amino acid content decreased (r = -0.94) from 84.1 to 55.3 g/kg of dry matter with maturity, with r-values higher than -0.90 obtained between growth stage and contents of lysine, methionine, threonine and valine. With the exception of tyrosine (r = -0.68), r-values between growth stage and individual non-essential amino acids were all higher than -0.90. Total amino acid (r = -0.98) and nitrogen (r = -0.99) contents presented comparable tendencies with successive sampling times. Whereas no definite trends were detected for the amino acid composition of rumen incubated (16 hours) lucerne samples, the intestinal digestibility of total essential (r = -0.78), total non-essential (r = -0.58) and total (r = -0.69) amino acids as well as nitrogen (r = -0.99) decreased with growth. However, due to a small sample size (n = 4), most linear relationships between constituents and growth stage were insignificant. It can be concluded that, although limited in the sample size, this report presents information on the decrease in amino acid contents and intestinal amino acid digestibility as growth proceeds in lucerne (var. Palava) produced in the Czech Republic, which could be utilized in the feeding of ruminants.

: Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) was found to have possible anticarcinogenic, antioxidant and anti-atherogenic effects on the organism. So far, its influence on metabolic pathways has been unknown. This work was the first attempt to determine the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism changes in vivo after administration of 150 mg/kg b.wt./day I3C to male rats. Additionally, the aim of this trial was to evaluate the direct effect of I3C on basal and hormone-induced lipogenesis and lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes at concentrations 1, 10, 100 μM in vitro. We can corroborate that adipocytes are susceptible to the direct action of I3C. The incubation of adipocytes with I3C at the three above-mentioned concentrations resulted in its influence on restriction of glucose entry into adipocytes in the basal as well as insulin-stimulated conditions. However, it was observed that I3C at these concentrations strongly intensified basic and epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis. I3C also has a significant influence on metabolism in vivo. Its administration to rats caused a significant increase in the content of triglycerides and a decrease in glycogen in the liver. The considerable augmentation of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein and insulin with a concomitant decrease in FFA concentrations was noted in the blood serum. I3C did not alter phospholipids, total, free, esterified cholesterol in the serum and the liver cholesterol. The results obtained in vivo and in vivo indicate that the effect of I3C is adverse for the majority of metabolic parameters which were investigated. The most important finding in this study is the effect of I3C on liver steatosis and that the observed lower lipogenesis at higher lipolysis in fat cells may be involved in the mechanism.

: Economic weights (EW) for the Slovak dairy production system were calculated in Holstein, Slovak Simmental, and Slovak Pinzgau breeds under a direct support regime using a bio-economic approach. EW were calculated for three scenarios (A: without agricultural subsidies; B: agricultural subsidies included in revenues and C: agricultural subsidies included in feeding costs). Quota-free milk production was assumed in all scenarios. The base price of milk was corrected according to real fat, protein and somatic cell content. Under the given economic and production conditions, only the Holstein system in scenario A was economically profitable. All simulated systems were profit-making when agricultural subsidies were taken into account (B and C). No influence of subsidies on EW of traits in scenario B was found. Most of the evaluated traits (especially milk and functional traits) showed higher marginal economic weights when subsidies were considered in feeding costs (C). Regardless of the scenarios, milk components were of higher relative economic importance for Holstein cattle than for Slovak Simmental and Slovak Pinzgau cattle. The relative EW of mature weight of cows and daily gain of calves mostly declined in scenario C. A meaningful effect of direct subsidy and milk production level on the economic efficiency of Slovak Simmental and Slovak Pinzgau cattle was found. Handling direct subsidy in scenario C seems to be suitable methodology to avoid the underestimation of EW for milk and functional traits.

The objective of this experiment was to test a hypothesis that L-carnitine supplemented diet would improve semen characteristics in 6 adult crossbred AI boars (Hampshire × Pietrain). The control and the tested diet were identical except the tested period (8 weeks) when the diet was supplemented with 2 g of L-carnitine per boar per day. The semen was collected regularly weekly by a gloved-hand technique. Semen volume, sperm motility and concentration, proportion of alive sperm cells and aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) activity of semen were determined immediately after the semen collection once every two weeks. Sperm survival rate, morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, seminal plasma mineral components and free amino acid concentration, L-carnitine concentration in semen plasma and in sperm cells were determined after the sample storage (-20°C) at a later time. The differences ascertained between the average values of semen characteristics in the control vs. tested period did not prove a true and unambiguous positive effect on boar semen parameters by dietary supplementation of L-carnitine as our data show in our study: volume (239.11 vs. 250.50 ml; P 0.518), sperm concentration (301.67 vs. 350.83 × 10³/mm³; P 0.309), sperm progressive motility (66.94 vs. 70.00%; P 0.409), morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (29.00 vs. 27.46%; P 0.802), daily sperm cells output (9.86 vs. 11.71 × 10⁹; P 0.206), proportion of alive sperm cells (72.56 vs. 74.13%; P 0.484), survival spermatozoa ability maintenance (43.29 vs. 38.68%; P < 0.01), mineral components in the seminal plasma (Na-, K-, Ca-, Mg-, Zn-; P from 0.138 to 0.968), AspAT activity (in semen plasma - 132.50 vs. 128.31 mU/10⁹ spermatozoa; P 0.830, in sperm cells - 147.37 vs. 119.01 mU/10⁹ spermatozoa; P 0.146), semen plasma amino acid concentration - a significant positive effect of L-carnitine in lysine only (0.79 vs.1.17 μmol/100 ml; P < 0.01), L-carnitine concentration (in semen plasma 255.40 vs. 259.97 mg/l; P 0.884, in sperm cells - 1 110.68 vs. 883.58 mg/l; P < 0.01). In conclusion, the studied indicators of semen quality were not significantly enhanced by dietary supplementation of L-carnitine in adult AI boars.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the microbial diversity in the caecum of geese using a 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA) clone library approach. A total of 160 clones and 124 clones were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed from the contents and mucosa of the caecum of Yang Zhou geese, respectively. The result indicated that there was a rich variety of bacteria in the caecum contents. Forty-six operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on a 98% similarity criterion were classified in the contents of goose caecum, as compared to 29 OTUs based on a 97% similarity criterion in the mucosa of goose caecum. The sequences were assigned to 7 and 5 groups in the contents and mucosa of goose caecum, respectively. Contents of goose caecum were dominantly occupied by Clostridia-related species (58.7%) with other abundant sequences being related to Bacteroidetes (26.9%) and Erysipelotrichi (11.2%). Gammaproteobacteria (59.6%) and Clostridia (20.1%) were predominant in the mucosa of goose caecum.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the length of calf sucking milk from its own mother on calf growth at the age of 3 months and milk yield of mothers. We tested a hypothesis that the nursing of calves by their own mothers increases the body weight of calves and decreases the milk production. 50 Holstein primiparous cows and their calves were divided into three groups according to the sucking length of calves: 7 days (A), 14 days (B) and 21 days (C). All calves suckled mother's colostrum and milk while mothers were milked twice per day. After weaning from mother calves were kept in individual hutches until 56 days of life, and then in group housing pens. In the period from birth to weaning the calves of group A reached the lowest and the calves of group C the highest daily gains (0.35 kg, 0.46 kg, 0.54 kg; P < 0.01). The lowest gain was recorded in animals of group A (0.55 kg) and the highest gain was reached by calves of group C (0.74 kg) for the period from birth to three months of age. For the first 305 days of lactation cows of group A produced insignificantly more milk than group C (7356.5 kg, 6779.2 kg, 6663.9 kg). A significant difference in milk production was recorded only during the first seven months of lactation (5494.5 kg, 5041.9 kg, and 4872.3 kg; P < 0.05). The long stay of calves with their mothers influences the growth of calves positively, but the milk production of mothers may decrease. Therefore, the stay of calves with the dam within 21 days after birth is not recommended for high-yielding dairy cows.

The effect of three housing systems (conventional cages, enriched cages and litter) on egg quality parameters was evaluated in two experiments with four brown laying strains ISA Brown, Hisex Brown, Bovans Brown and Moravia BSL. During 40 weeks of lay the total number of 7200 eggs was produced and analysed for egg weight, egg component weight and eggshell quality indicators. In 60 eggs, pore density in the small-end, large-end and equatorial areas was determined. Significant interactions between genotype and housing were found out in egg weight (P ≤ 0.001), yolk and albumen weight (P ≤ 0.001) and yolk colour (P ≤ 0.001). Haugh units were the highest in eggs laid in cages and the lowest in the ISA Brown strain. Eggshell quality indicators were affected more by genotype than by housing. The interaction between genotype and housing was not significant for eggshell thickness but it was significant for eggshell weight and strength. Although eggshell thickness was lower in eggs produced in cages, eggshell strength was higher. A significant negative correlation was found out between pore density and housing system. Results of the study suggest that the ability of a strain to produce eggs of high quality in a particular housing system should be considered, even within brown strains.

A model of postmenopausal osteoporosis was used in the study. 107 days after ovariectomy the animals were subcutaneously applied 1.0 IU PRL/kg BM or 1.0 IU calcitonin/kg BM for 7 days in single doses. The application of the preparations started again 80 days after the first application. After 194 days the animals were narcotized, blood was collected, and lumbar (L2-L4) and femoral bones were prepared. The material obtained was subjected to densitometric analysis of bone mineral density (BMD). In ovariectomized rats the loss of osseous tissue was observed only in the lumbar bone. The application of prolactin to ovariectomized rats caused an increase in the mineral density of the lumbar bone up to a BMD value equal to that of the control group which had not been subjected to ovariectomy (control healthy group - SHAM). Similar results were obtained in the case of calcitonin. An increase in osteocalcin concentration and activity of isoenzyme alkaline phosphatase (BAL), with a decrease in the activity of isoenzyme acid phosphatase (TRAP) was observed in experimental groups compared to control ones.

Marginal economic values for production and reproduction traits of pigs were estimated applying a bio-economic model to Hungarian commercial sow herds with integrated fattening of piglets. Data collected between 2002 and 2008 were used for the calculation. Marginal economic values (in € per unit of the trait per sow per year) estimated for fattening days in the station test, age at the end of the field test, lean meat percentage in the carcass, percentage of valuable cuts in the carcass and the number of piglets born alive were 2.84 €/day, 2.71 €/day, 22.45 €/%, 28.81 €/% and 54.22 €/piglet in the first litter, respectively.

This paper compares two different housing systems for laying hens producing table eggs, namely a conventional cage system and an aviary, during three summer months, starting from the 20^th week of the production cycle. Research was focused on airborne bacteria, fungi and dust levels and on the bacterial eggshell contamination. Levels of airborne bacteria determined in the aviary system were many times higher and ranged from 6.2 × 10⁴ CFU/m³ to 8.9 × 104 CFU/m3, and the levels of airborne fungi ranged from 1.6 × 10⁴ to 1.9 × 104 CFU/m³, while the levels of airborne bacteria and fungi determined in the conventional cage system ranged from 1.6 × 10⁴ to 2.5 × 10⁴ CFU/m3 and from 0.8 × 10⁴ to 1.3 × 10⁴ CFU/m³, respectively. Microbial air contamination was associated with eggshell contamination, with the levels in the aviary ranging from 5.4 × 10³ to 9.6 × 103 CFU/eggshell and those in the conventional cage system ranging from 2.3 × 10³ to 3.6 × 10³ CFU/eggshell. Airborne dust levels in the aviary and conventional cage system ranged from 3.2 to 4.6 mg/m³ and from 0.7 to 1.2 mg/m³, respectively. From the aspect of animal welfare and behavioural requirements, alternative systems, i.e. aviaries, appear more acceptable; however, they are not satisfactory from hygienic aspects because of a higher content of airborne pollutants which can represent a greater risk of horizontal contamination of the egg content.

The goal of this study was to compare the growing degree-days (GDD) and predictive equations for alfalfa quality (PEAQ) for the prediction of lucerne quality and to test their accuracy and suitability in the first cut period in Central Bohemia. Several additional stand parameters were verified in order to increase the accuracy of the quality estimate under these environmental conditions. In 2004-2007, the measurement and sampling were repeatedly realized from the late vegetative to the early bloom stage in six replications. For the GDD model across the years, the obtained R² for NDF, ADF and CP were 0.40, 0.57 and 0.65, respectively. It seems that the forage quality response to accumulated GDD was related to the stand development and it could be the reason for low R² across all the years. For the PEAQ model, R² were 0.62, 0.92, and 0.85, respectively. Similarly like in the GDD model, the effect of stand development across the years on changes in the slopes of equations was observed. The accuracy of the model combination was not higher in comparison with the PEAQ model. The count of stems per plant, density of stems per m², dry matter yield and average stem weight improved the NDF content prediction within a four-year period. In these models, variables which represent the stand development should be taken into account.

26 herds with 71 586 individual records were used. We tested a hypothesis that milk efficiency was influenced by the elevation of the farm, housing system, breed, area of altitude, and by the cooling of dairy cows. There were 20 herds from lowlands and 6 herds from mountains, 20 herds from free-stall housing, 6 herds from tie-stall housing. 8 herds consisted of Slovakian Pied cattle, 4 herds of Red Holstein cattle, 11 herds of Black-Pied Lowland cattle and 3 herds of Slovakian Pinzgau cattle. The herds were divided into 4 groups according to the nearest meteorological station, and they were distributed according to the type of cooling. 10 herds were cooled by misting, 16 herds by fans. We recorded from 96 to 117 summer days and from 49 to 63 tropical days in lowlands for this summer period. Ninety days with temperature-humidity index (THI) above 72.0 were found in the lowest-elevation area. During 55 days we recorded the values higher than 78.0. Production of milk was higher in lowlands than in mountains (8 761.4 kg vs. 6 372.0 kg; P < 0.01). Differences were also recorded in the evaluation of fat and protein production (346.0 kg vs. 275.9 kg; P < 0.01; 282.6 kg vs. 205.9 kg; P < 0.001). Milk and protein production was higher in free-stall housing than in tie-stall housing (8 656.3 kg vs. 6 722.1 kg; P < 0.05; 278.7 kg vs. 218.9 kg; P < 0.05). The highest milk production was recorded in Black-Pied Lowland cattle (8 832.7 kg) and the lowest in dairy cows of Slovakian Pinzgau cattle (6 058.0 kg). The mist cooling of dairy cows increased (P < 0.05) the amount of produced milk and protein (9 234.4 kg vs. 7 569.7 kg; 293.5 kg vs. 247.1 kg).

Porcine oocytes matured in vitro were activated for parthenogenetic development using either calcium ionophore (50μM for 10 min) or nitric oxide donor SNAP (2mM for 23.5 hours). Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, bisindolylmaleimide I or rottlerin, are able to inhibit parthenogenetic activation induced by calcium ionophore. The rate of activated oocytes decreased from 69% to 2% (P < 0.05) under the effect of bisindolylmaleimide I at a concentration of 0 or 20nM, respectively. The activation rate decreased from 68% to 0% (P < 0.05) under the influence of 0 or 20μM rottlerin, respectively. PKC inhibitors Go6976 or hispidin had no effect on the oocyte activation using calcium ionophore or on oocytes activated by a nitric oxide donor. The activation of oocytes by a nitric oxide donor is not significantly influenced even under the effects of bisindolylmaleimide I or rottlerin. Based on these data we can conclude that the oocyte activation induced by calcium ionophore depends on PKC, especially on PKC-δ. On the other hand, the oocyte activation induced by nitric oxide is independent of the tested isotypes of PKC.

The effect of egg collection time, genotype and housing system on egg quality characteristics was evaluated in an experiment with laying hens of ISA Brown, Hisex Brown and Moravia housed on litter and in conventional cages. The experiment was conducted from 20 to 64 weeks of age. Eggs were collected and recorded daily at 06:00, 10:00 and 14:00 h. Once every four weeks, two days in row, all eggs laid from each pen or cage at each oviposition time were used for egg quality analyses (total 1 694 eggs). Egg collection time was dependent on genotype. Significantly more eggs were laid at 06:00h by ISA Brown while Moravia laid eggs mainly at 10:00 and 14:00 h. Housing on litter postponed the time of oviposition. The highest egg weight (62.09 g) was recorded in Hisex Brown genotype placed in cages and at 06.00 h. Interactions of all factors were determined also in Haugh units (P ≤ 0.041). Eggshell strength was affected by housing system, genotype and egg collection time (P ≤ 0.049). It was higher in cages than on litter, and lower in the Moravia genotype in comparison with the other two strains.

The analysis comprised purebred Charolais bull calves (CH) and crossbred bull calves born from Hereford (CH × HE) and Simmental (CH × SI) cows. Body weights and daily gains were measured in subsequent periods of the experiment and the post-slaughter evaluation was carried out. Carcass lean weight and dressing percentage were evaluated, as well as the lean content of five prime cuts. Total weight of the five prime cuts was measured and its share in the half-carcass weight was determined. The rib-eye area was also measured. The CH × SI crossbreds reached significantly higher body weights at weaning, 210-day body weights and weights at finishing, as well as significantly higher daily gains in all the periods (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and were characterized by the heaviest carcasses and most cuts, particularly the round. The crossbreds had the highest total weight of five prime cuts and total lean weight, highest weight of the round and lean weight in the round. Other relationships were found analyzing the share of each cut in the carcass. The share of tenderloin and rump in the carcass of CH × SI was significantly lower compared to the purebred bulls (P < 0.01) and CH × HE (P < 0.05). They also had a significantly lower share of the shoulder, shank and shin, as compared to the other groups, as well as a significantly higher (P < 0.05) share of the neck, as compared to the purebred bulls. The purebred bulls also achieved good results and had the highest share of the prime cuts and the largest mean rib-eye area.

The growth and survival of rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.) were evaluated in a laboratory at 25°C. In 20-day Experiment 1, first-feeding larvae at the age of 4 days post-hatch (initially: TL = 5.7 mm, BW = 0.9 mg) were fed live Artemia nauplii or commercial dry feed (Aller Futura Larvae, AFL) or combinations of both. Even the longest period of initial feeding of nauplii (6 days) was insufficient to obtain satisfactory larval growth after weaning to AFL (TL = 12.4 mm and BW = 17.7 mg vs. TL = 18.9 mm and BW = 68.5 mg for the nauplii-fed fish, significant differences). Nauplii-fed older larvae (24 days post-hatch) were then used in Experiment 2, in which they were fed AFL or Ewos AgloNorse (EAN) dry feeds for 40 days. The EAN diet proved to be significantly (P ≤ 0.05) superior to AFL regarding the final fish growth (TL = 36.5 mm and BW = 506.8 mg vs. TL = 33.4 mm and BW = 392.0 mg ), final survival rates (97.6% vs. 100%) and the incidence of spinal deformities (0% vs. 13.5%).

Gas chromatography and IDF Standard method (1999) were used to analyze the fatty acid composition of milk fat of mares originating from the following breeds: 10 of Wielkopolska breed, 10 Konik Polski Horses, and 9 Polish Cold-blooded Horses. Eighty-seven mare's milk samples were collected in the years 2000-2002. Unsaturated fatty acids were shown to prevail in the milk fat of mares of Wielkopolska breed (61.32%) and of Konik Polski mares (52.58%) whereas saturated acids prevailed in the milk fat of Cold Blooded mares (54.95%). The study revealed that the fatty acid composition of the investigated groups of mares was breed-specific. Of course, the impact of other uncontrolled factors such as nutrition is not excluded, either.

In an experiment with 45 neonatal male Holstein calves, effects of yeast cultures Yea-Sacc^® 1026 (SC) containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain 1026) and Vitex (KF) containing Kluyveromyces fragilis (strain Jürgensen) on rumen fermentation characteristics were determined. From day 4 to day 56 of age, the calves were allocated to one of the three dietary treatments (Control, SC, and KF) of 15 animals each, placed in individual pens, and fed 4 l of whole milk twice daily and a basal concentrate mixture ad libitum as calf starter feeds. The control treatment was not supplemented with yeast culture. The yeast culture supplements Yea-Sacc^® 1026 and Vitex were top-dressed at 10 g/calf daily on the basal concentrate mixture of treatments SC and KF, respectively. At the end of the experiment (day 56), all calves were slaughtered and the rumen fluid was analysed. The administration of yeast cultures Yea-Sacc^®026 and Vitex to calves did not affect final body weight (BW), BW gain, dry matter intake, feed conversion ratio, ruminal pH, lactic acid concentration and the molar proportion of propionic acid, but it decreased (P < 0.05) the total volatile fatty acid concentration and the molar proportion of butyric acid, and increased (P < 0.05) the molar proportion of acetic acid and the acetate to propionate ratio. In addition, the microbial cellulolytic activity was higher in calves that received both yeast cultures compared to the control treatment. The results of this study suggest that the ruminal fermentation was more stable in calves receiving yeast culture supplements.

The amelioration of aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens was examined by feeding two concentrations of yeast component (esterified glucomannan; EG). EG, incorporated into the diet at 0.5 and 1 g/kg, was evaluated for its ability to reduce the detrimental effects of 2 mg total aflatoxin (AF; 82.72% AFB₁, 5.50% AFB₂, 10.20% AFG₁ and 1.58% AFG₂) in diet on growing broiler chicks from 1 to 21 d of age. A total of 240 male broiler chicks (Ross-308) were divided into 6 treatment groups [control, AF, EG (0.5 g/kg), AF plus EG (0.5 g/kg), EG (1 g/kg), and AF plus EG (1 g/kg)]. Compared to the control, AF treatment significantly decreased body weight gain from week 2 onwards. AF treatment also caused significant decreases in serum total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, inorganic phosphorus, creatinine levels and alanine-aminotransferase (ALAT) activity but increased the aspartate-aminotransferase (ASAT) activity. Red blood cell, haematocrit, haemoglobin, thrombocyte, and lymphocyte counts and tibial crude ash levels were significantly reduced by AF treatment, while significant increases were seen in heterophil counts. The addition of EG (1 g/kg) to an AF-containing diet significantly improved the adverse effects of AF on haematological parameters, total protein, albumin values and ASAT activity. EG (1 g/kg) also partially improved body weight gains (59%) and the other biochemical parameters influenced by AF treatment. The addition of EG (both 0.5 and 1 g/kg) to the AF-free diet did not cause any considerable changes in the investigated values. These results clearly indicated that EG (1 g/kg) addition effectively diminished the adverse effects of AF on the investigated values. Also, the higher dietary concentration of EG (1 g/kg) was found more effective than the lower concentration (0.5 g/kg) against the adverse effects of AF on the variables investigated in this study.

Chrysopogon gryllus and Festuca vallesiaca are components of a number of meadow-pasture communities in Serbia. We performed the analyses of phenolics that influence quality and digestibility of grasses to a great extent. Total phenolics were measured spectrophotometrically and phenolic acids by HPLC analysis. The aboveground parts of C. gryllus contained 10.6 mg/g whereas F. vallesiaca of 21.6 mg/g total phenolics. Bound phenolics dominated over free ones in both species. The content of both free and bound p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic and syringic acid was higher in C. gryllus (6.34 mg/g) than in F. vallesiaca (3.96 mg/g). Derivatives of cinnamic acid prevailed in both species compared to the benzoic acid derivatives. Low quality of C. gryllus is connected with its high tissue phenolic acids and mediocre quality of F. vallesiaca with the high content of total phenolics that act unfavourably on digestibility of such grasses.

It was confirmed in metabolic experiments with 4 individuals of roe deer (2 males and 2 females with the live weight of 20.8 and 17.9 kg, respectively) that due to the animals' selective choice of a part of feeds there was no significant difference in the intake of lucerne hay of different quality and high-quality meadow hay (515.86 ± 66.97 and 597.82 ± 94.87 g, respectively). However, different quality of lucerne hay influenced the animals' intake of crude protein and crude fibre. When the animals were fed meadow hay, they took in significantly less crude protein and fibre and significantly more nitrogen-free extract, fat and ash. Digestibility of crude protein was observed to be significantly decreased in hay of lower quality (by 10.1%). Digestibility coefficients for crude protein, crude fibre, organic matter and fat were significantly lower in grass hay compared to lucerne hay. Based on the coefficients of nutrient digestibility it can be stated that meadow hay, even if of excellent quality, is not a suitable supplement for the roe deer.

The influence of supplementation of a lecithin emulsifier (0.1%) to the feed mixture for piglets after weaning was studied. 16 piglets in the control group (C - without lecithin) and 16 piglets in an experimental (E) group were monitored in three replications in a 28-day experimental period. We observed higher digestibility of monitored nutrients in the experimental group (crude fat: C = 66.28 ± 12.11, E = 69.75 ± 9.85%, crude protein: C = 78.72 ± 5.47, E = 82.17 ± 2.23%, crude fibre: C = 56.70 ± 12.85, E = 59.10 ± 12.04%, nitrogen free extract: C = 86.67 ± 3.32, E = 87.75 ± 3.00%, ash: C = 63.63 ± 11.59, E = 65.73 ± 10.35%). Statistically insignificantly higher daily average gain (C = 374.1 ± 107.0, E = 399.1 ± 104.7 g) of experimental groups and a lower feed conversion ratio (C = 2.285 ± 0.416, E = 1.768 ± 0.048 kg/kg) were found out. It was also confirmed in an additional field experiment (C = 279, E = 312 piglets from birth to 71 days of age) where average daily gain weight was 270 g in control and 290 g in experimental group. The influence of lecithin on the occurrence of haemolytic strains of Escherichia coli was not proved. This experiment confirmed a positive effect of the lecithin emulsifier supplement on the efficiency of piglets.

The following characteristics were determined in raw and popped amaranth grain: crude protein (158.1 and 168.5 g/kg), ether extract (71.5 and 69.4 g/kg), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (99.2 and 111.8 g/kg), cellulose (86.6 and 60.0 g/kg) and essential amino acids (Cys 4.2 and 4.1, Thr 6.0 and 6.5, Ala 8.8 and 9.2, Val 6.8 and 7.4, Ile 5.2 and 5.6, Lys 9.2 and 8.8, Arg 12.8 and 14.2 g/kg). In vitro protein digestibility was 68.1 and 50.6% in raw and popped amaranth grain, respectively. In balance experiments with broiler chickens ROSS 308 the following coefficients of apparent digestibility (%) were determined for control and experimental diets containing 0, 10% raw and 10% popped amaranth: crude protein 85.4, 86.5 and 83.0, ether extract 88.3, 88.2 and 86.1, NDF 21.2, 27.6 and 15.9, cellulose 25.0, 38.4 and 36.3, nitrogen free extractives 76.1, 82.6 and 81.1, organic matter 77.3, 81.8 and 80.6, gross energy 77.5, 80.6 and 78.2.

The objective of this study is an analysis of meat quality in broilers of standard fast-growing hybrid Hybro G, reared in two different non-industrial systems (extensive rearing in a poultry house or "extensive indoor" system and rearing in a poultry house using a free range or "free-range" system). Quality parameters, i.e. proportions of basic carcass parts (breasts, drumsticks and thighs), abdominal fat, and proportions of basic tissues (muscles, bones and skin) in more valuable carcass parts, were investigated. The aim of the investigation was to analyse the effect of the two non-industrial rearing systems and broiler sex on the above-mentioned traits of broiler meat quality. The used rearing systems (free-range and extensive indoor ones) did not have a statistically significant effect on the proportions of major basic carcass parts and of abdominal fat in broiler chickens (P > 0.05). Heavier carcasses at slaughter (on the 56^th day of fattening) were recorded in the male broilers compared to the female ones, the differences being statistically significant (P < 0.01). The drumstick proportion in the male broiler carcasses was statistically significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the proportion in the female broilers. The interaction between the investigated effects (of sex and rearing system) did not exert a statistically significant effect on the proportions of major basic carcass parts and abdominal fat in broiler chickens (P > 0.05). The rearing system (free-range and extensive indoor) and the interaction between the investigated effects (of sex and rearing system) did not affect statistically significantly the differences expressed in the meat, skin and bone proportions in breasts, drumsticks and thighs of the broilers (P > 0.05). The sex effect on the skin proportions in breasts, drumsticks and thighs was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Average muscle proportions in drumsticks and thighs of the female broilers were statistically highly significantly (P < 0.01) and significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to those in the male broilers. Average bone proportions in the breasts of the male broilers were statistically significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in the female ones, and statistically highly significantly higher (P < 0.01) in drumsticks and thighs.

5 540 records of the arctic fox fur coat and reproductive traits collected in 1983-1999 were studied. The analyzed traits were: body size (BS), colour type (CT), colour purity (CP), coat density (CD), hair length (HL), general appearance (GA), total score (TS), skin length (SL), litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), number of dead pups (NPD), pup weight at weaning (PW), and pregnancy length (PL). (Co)variance components were estimated using a derivative-free algorithm of REML and a multi-trait animal model. Random effects were direct additive, common litter environment and residual. The genetic parameters for the fur coat traits (discrete characters) were estimated twice: using the original data set, and the data set in which the distribution of fur coat scores was normalised using a probit link function. Direct heritability estimates obtained from the original data set ranged from 0.108 for SL to 0.276 for HL, and were somewhat lower than those estimated using the transformed data set (they ranged from 0.109 for GA to 0.315 for CT). Reproductive traits were lowly heritable with direct heritabilities ranging from 0.060 for PW to 0.174 for LSB. Estimates of the portion of litter variation calculated from the original and transformed data set were comparable ranging from 0.045 for GA to 0.156 for CP, and from 0.059 for GA to 0.185 for TS, respectively. Genetic correlations between fur coat traits ranged from high favourable (0.948 between SL and BS, original data) to strong negative ones between CP and GA (-0.405, transformed data). High positive genetic correlations were found between LSB and LSW (0.954), and between LSB and NPD (0.783), whereas PL was negatively correlated with all other reproductive traits.

A qualitative assessment of the Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis semen describing the basic parameters of seminal plasma was completed. The histological methods used in this study showed changes in perch gonads during a spawning and post-spawning period. At the late period of the spawning season, the structure of testes was clearly loosened and spermatozoa did not fill uniformly all the ampullae of the testes, leaving free spaces at their banks and no spermatids were observed. The results confirmed that there was an additional period after spawning in the annual reproductive cycle of the male Eurasian perch. In both years of investigations (2000-2001), an essential decline in sperm motility at the late period of the spawning season was observed, from more than 85% to 56% in 2000. The sperm motility was not influenced by sperm concentrations because throughout the spawning time no changes in the sperm concentration were observed, 32.4 and 32.6 mld/ml at beginning and at the late period of spawning period, respectively. In contrast to sperm concentrations, protein concentrations in seminal plasma increased in the late period of spawning season, from 3.95 to 5.16 g/l in 2001. This study confirmed that protein concentrations in the seminal plasma of most fish are much lower than in the other vertebrates. Among the fish examined, perch is characterized by one of the highest values of protein concentrations in plasma. Our observations confirmed that a high water temperature influenced anatomical and functional parameters of the reproductive system in male perch.

With the aim to examine the effect of season and rearing system on major broiler meat quality traits appropriate experimental investigations were conducted. Trial material included a total of 800 one-day-old broilers of the Hybro line hybrid. The experiment was organized in two replications, as trial I (conducted in the spring season) and trial II (conducted in the summer season). Two broiler fattening methods were employed, the intensive and semi-intensive one (using free-range rearing). The experimental chicks were slaughtered after seven weeks of fattening. Following the fattening period, 60 broilers (30 broilers from each experimental group) were chosen at random and slaughtered, with the aim of examining major broiler meat quality traits. At the slaughter line, determination of meat quantitative traits was done accompanied by sampling for chemical analyses. The rearing systems (intensive and semi-intensive system) affected significantly (P < 0.05) the proportion of class I meat in the broilers reared under the semi-intensive system, whereas in the class II and III meat proportions the rearing system did not exert any statistically significant effect (P > 0.05). The broilers reared under the semi-intensive system had a 1.44% higher proportion of muscular tissue on average than the intensively reared ones (P < 0.01). The bone and skin proportion was 0.82 and 0.67% lower in the broilers reared by the semi-intensive method (P < 0.05). The differences between the results of two trials organised at different seasons were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The broilers reared semi-intensively had a statistically highly significantly higher protein proportion (P < 0.01) in breasts, drumsticks and thighs compared to the intensively reared broilers. The broilers reared in the summer season had higher breast and drumstick proportions (P < 0.01) as well as a higher thigh proportion (P < 0.05). The effect of both the season and the rearing system on the lipid content in the breasts, thighs and drumsticks was statistically highly significant (P < 0.01). The lipid content in the breasts, thighs and drumsticks was higher in the broilers during the summer season as well as in the intensively reared chicken. Finally, having thoroughly examined the research results, or more precisely, considering the established advantages in terms of the meat quality, the use of the free-range broiler rearing system can be deemed scientifically and professionally justifiable.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of glutamine on growth performance of weanling piglets. Sixty piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly assigned to two groups (10 piglets per pen, 3 pens per group). The control group received a maize-soybean meal-based diet. The treatment group received a maize-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 1.0% free l-glutamine. Piglets were fed the diets for 20 days. Results showed that piglets fed the glutamine diet had lower diarrhoea ratio and shorter diarrhoea duration than those fed the control diet during 20 days after weaning. During the first ten days after weaning, pigs supplemented with glutamine had a 12.05% lower feed:gain ratio than those fed the control diet (P < 0.05). During the second ten days after weaning, they had a 27.75% higher average daily gain than those fed the control diet (P < 0.05); there were no differences in the feed:gain ratio and average daily feed intake. During the first ten days after weaning, the serum urea nitrogen of pigs supplemented with glutamine was reduced by 17.36% (P > 0.05) compared to the control. During the second ten days after weaning, serum urea nitrogen was reduced by 4.27% and serum concentrations of total protein increased by 18.70% in pigs supplemented with glutamine compared to the control (P > 0.05). There were no differences in albumin, T_3, T₄ and growth hormone.