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This study evaluated the effects of feeding European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) that developed from the fingerling to juvenile stage a diet supplemented with a blend of Padina sp. and GroBiotic^®-A over a 12-week period. A total of 480 fish (initial weight: 2.08 ± 0.06 g) were randomly allocated to four groups, each comprising three replicates. The fish were fed to satiation with diets containing varying proportions of Padina sp. and GroBiotic^®-A: 0% Padina sp. and 0% GroBiotic^®-A (0P0G), 1% Padina sp. and 1% GroBiotic^®-A (1P1G), 2% Padina sp. and 1% GroBiotic^®-A (2P1G), and 4% Padina sp. and 1% GroBiotic^®-A (4P1G). The 4P1G group demonstrated significant improvements in growth performance parameters, including final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in other parameters including feed conversion ratio, visceral somatic index, and survival rate (P > 0.05). Histological analysis of liver and intestinal tissues showed no pathological alterations (P > 0.05); more likely, only adaptive and non-pathological morphological changes such as moderate lipid vacuolisation and preserved mucosal structure were noted. Furthermore, dietary supplementation of the Padina sp. and GroBiotic^®-A blend significantly upregulated the expression of growth-related genes, specifically growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the combination of Padina sp. and GroBiotic^®-A has a synergistic potential to enhance the growth performance without inducing digestive disturbances. Nevertheless, further studies are recommended to assess its effects on fish grown to market size before commercial application.

This study investigates advancements and trends in Fleckvieh breeding research using the Web of Science Core Collection database to collate articles published since 1994. Through CiteSpace 6.4.R1, we conducted systematic analyses to visualise research trajectories, identify seminal domains, and delineate emerging patterns. Our methodology encompassed publication profiling, scientific collaboration network mapping, co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence/clustering techniques. The findings reveal that the current research frontiers focus on: Genomic applications in genetic selection, Reproductive efficiency optimisation, Environmental adaptability mechanisms, Thermotolerance management strategies, Cross-disciplinary methodological integration. Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland emerged as leading contributors, with institutions including the Technical University of Munich and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, demonstrating a particular scholarly influence. Knowledge mapping effectively delineated thematic concentrations and temporal evolution patterns, providing actionable insights for future research prioritisation. The field is progressing towards holistic, interdisciplinary frameworks underpinned by robust international consortia. This work introduces novel analytical perspectives to refine breeding protocols and enhance practical implementation.

This study elucidates the expression dynamics and biological functions of oar-miR-214_3p in ovarian and uterine tissues of Liangshan Black Sheep across distinct stages of the oestrous cycle, providing novel insights into its regulatory mechanisms governing ovine reproductive physiology. The study employed RT-qPCR, northern blotting, FISH, dual-luciferase reporter assays, and ELISA to analyse the expression and biological functions of oar-miR-214_3p in the ovary and uterus of Liangshan Black Sheep across different stages of the oestrous cycle (proestrus, oestrus, metoestrus, and dioestrus phases). RT-qPCR and northern blotting revealed that oar-miR-214_3p is expressed in the ovarian and uterine tissues, with significant variations across different stages. Compared with the dioestrus and metoestrus phases, oar-miR-214_3p expression was significantly increased during the proestrus and oestrus phases (P < 0.05), with the highest levels observed during oestrus (P < 0.05). FISH analysis indicated that oar-miR-214_3p is primarily localised in the cytoplasm. We constructed wild-type and mutant vectors for mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) and Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D). After intervention for 48 h in granulosa cell cultures, RT-qPCR analysis of mTOR and Sema4D expression revealed that the mimic and inhibitor groups suppressed and promoted the expression of these target genes, respectively. The control and NC groups showed stable expression levels with no significant differences. Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that mTOR and Sema4D are oar-miR-214_3p target genes. ELISA revealed that the mimic and inhibitor treatment groups promoted and suppressed oestrogen secretion, respectively. These findings confirm that oar-miR-214_3p, primarily localised in the cytoplasm, regulates ovarian follicle development, ovulation, oestrogen secretion, and the oestrous cycle via its target genes, mTOR and Sema4D. The study provides valuable insights into improving sheep reproductive performance through molecular breeding techniques. These findings have significant clinical and practical applications for enhancing reproductive efficiency.

At present, the low post-thaw quality of poultry semen presents a challenge to develop new strategies for its cryopreservation. The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of kaempferol (KAE) on post-thaw turkey sperm characteristics (motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function), oxidative and microbial profile. Turkey semen (n = 40) was diluted and cryopreserved in modified Beltsville extender with 5, 10, and 25 µM of KAE or without it (cryopreserved control – Ctrl_C), while fresh semen served as negative control (Ctrl_N). Following thawing, parameters were evaluated including sperm motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial functionality, DNA fragmentation index, apoptosis status, global reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein oxidation. Bacterial identification was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry. Our data suggest that motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity continuously increased correspondingly to KAE concentration versus Ctrl_C (P < 0.05) while cell apoptosis, ROS generation, LPO and protein oxidation were significantly decreased in KAE treated groups versus Ctrl_C (P < 0.05). Bacterial growth was suppressed in all KAE-treated groups, which acted synergistically with penicillin to eradicate most bacterial strains from cryopreserved samples versus Ctrl_N. Finally, our results suggest that KAE possesses strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which may be used to improve commercially available extenders for more effective preservation of turkey spermatozoa.

Boar semen cryopreservation is limited due to the lower thermal shock resistance of sperm cells. A colloidal centrifugation gradient is an enhancement to cryopreservation that could improve the frozen boar semen quality. Cryopreserved boar semen quality was evaluated using a commercial colloidal centrifugation gradient. A total of 15 ejaculates from 5 boars were evaluated across two treatments: a control without colloidal centrifugation and a treatment with commercial colloidal centrifugation. A manual freezing method used two freezing curves in liquid nitrogen. Sperm motility was assessed by Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis, as well as sperm capacitation-like membrane destabilisation at 30 min and 150 min after thawing using Merocyanine 540 (M540) for samples incubated at 37 °C. Spectrophotometry measured lipid peroxidation indirectly by the amount of malondialdehyde; reactive oxygen species production was also determined for sperm samples incubated for 30 minutes. The gradient centrifugation treatment improved ejaculate sperm motility and membrane destabilisation. The proportion of morphologically normal sperm was higher in the gradient than in the control. A total of 74% of spermatozoa retained normal morphology. Lipid peroxidation was lower in the colloidal centrifugation treatment. MDA was lower with gradient (16.4 ± 2.5 vs 22.3 ± 2.5 µmol/30 × 10⁶ sperm; P < 0.05). Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and M540 positivity did not differ significantly between the treatments at either time point. The centrifugation process improved the quality parameters of frozen boar semen after thawing.

Lactoferrin (LF) is an important bioactive component of colostrum, is critical for the development of immunity in the newborns, and it is an important component of the mammary gland defence system. LF is also an important biomolecule in terms of promoting and restoring the human health. The aim of our study was to monitor the dynamics of changes in lactoferrin concentration in goat milk at varying stages of lactation and its correlation with selected components and physicochemical parameters. Colostrum (n = 24) and milk (n = 120) samples were obtained from 12 goats by hand milking. Lactoferrin was determined using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with an ion-pairing reagent equipped with a Photodiode Array Detector. The LF concentration in colostrum ranged from 206 mg/l to 1 228 mg/l, and showed a statistically significant decrease in concentration (P < 0.05) over the colostral period. Significant correlation coefficients (P < 0.001) were found between crude protein and LF (r = 0.896), lactose and LF (r = –0.754), as well as between non-fat solids and LF (r = 0.853). The LF content in milk ranged within a relatively wide range of 94 mg/l to 1 115 mg/l although the values were highly variable (vx = 57.0%). Significant correlations were found between fat content and LF in milk (r = 0.429, P < 0.001), crude protein and LF (r = 0.376), non-fat solids and LF (r = 0.361), somatic cell count (SCC) and LF (r = 0.330), as well as log SCC and LF (r = 0.348, P < 0.01).

This study investigates the impact of supplementing extruded flaxseed to the diet of yearling bulls during the indoor fattening on beef carcass quality, meat composition, and fatty acid profile. Twenty male crossbred calves (Holstein × Simmental) were divided into two groups: control group and flaxseed-supplemented group, each with 10 calves. The control group received a conventional diet, while the flaxseed group was fed the same diet enriched with 5% extruded flaxseed on a dry-matter basis. The study revealed no significant differences in growth performance, carcass weight, or yield between the two groups. However, the flaxseed-supplemented group exhibited a higher intramuscular fat content, which was likely due to the increased energy intake from the flaxseed lipid content. Additionally, flaxseed supplementation improved the fatty acid profile of beef by increasing the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and reducing the saturated fatty acid (SFA) percentage and the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio. Despite these improvements, the study did not reveal any significant increase in the proportion of n-3 fatty acids in the meat. These findings suggest that while flaxseed supplementation enhances the nutritional profile of beef, further research is needed to optimise the balance of energy intake to maximise the increase in n-3 fatty acids.

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 as Mallard duck and domesticated crossbred KhO-01. The analyses revealed significant differences in the eggshell structure both between species (P < 0.001) and between breeds (P < 0.001 for chickens and geese, and P = 0.039 for ducks). Domesticated forms tend to have fewer mammillary knobs per mm² (P = 0.004), which were larger (P < 0.001) and they show the smaller coverage of the mammillary knobs (P < 0.001). Analyses showed significant correlations of the body mass and egg size with eggshell characteristics (P < 0.001). Considering that domesticated forms are usually larger, it cannot be conclusively determined whether changes in structure result from the domestication process itself or are physiologically linked to body mass and egg size. The relatively high similarity between the eggs of the wild ancestor and the Ko-Shamo breed, which exhibits substantial morphological changes but has a body mass similar to that of the Red junglefowl, supports this interpretation.

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% in the total population. The effective population size, calculated in the reference population based on the individual increase in inbreeding, was 63.3. The probabilities of gene origin in the reference population were f_e – 38.0, f_a – 33.0, and f_g – 25.4, indicating a loss of genetic variability due to genetic drift (f_g/f_e – 0.66) and a bottleneck (f_e/f_a – 1.15). In the population of the autochthonous Busha cattle breed, the effective number of ancestors (f_a) was smaller than the effective number of founders (f_e). Increased relatedness among animals was observed, which could affect the long-term conservation of the population.

This study aimed to estimate heritabilities of piglet birth-weight traits and to investigate the relationships between piglet birth-weight and litter-size traits using field data from Czech Large White and Landrace sows. Data including 86 241 piglets from 5 536 litters were analysed using repeatability, genetic, and genomic models. The investigated piglet-weight traits included arithmetic mean birth weight (MBW), within-litter standard deviation (SDBW), coefficient of variation in birth weight (CVBW), and the proportion of small piglets in the litter (SMALL). Heritability rates of piglet-weight traits were low, with the highest estimates for MBW (0.06–0.10) and SMALL (0.08–0.17), depending on the model used, while the other within-litter variability traits showed heritability rates from 0.03 to 0.05. The heritability rates of litter-size traits, including the number of piglets born alive (NBA) and the number of piglets weaned (NW), were low and ranged from 0.05 to 0.07. The realised accuracies of prediction were moderate to high, ranging from 0.50 to 0.72 for piglet-weight traits and from 0.54 to 0.77 for litter-size traits, with ssGBLUP improving realised accuracy by 4–15% in comparison to BLUP. Genetic correlations estimated using BLUP and ssGBLUP indicated that litter size at birth (NBA) tended to be negatively associated with MBW and positively or weakly associated with piglet-weight variability traits (SDBW, CVBW, and SMALL), whereas NW tended to show positive correlations with MBW and negative correlations with variability traits. However, none of the correlations were statistically significant.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary administration of peppermint (Mentha piperita) alone and in combination with southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) on performance, body and carcass composition, physicochemical characteristics, and amino acid composition of breast meat in broilers under Eimeria challenge. A total of 160 14-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four dietary groups: the control (C) group was fed a basal diet; the CC group received a grower diet containing the coccidiostat robenidine; the M group was fed the diets with the addition of 20 g peppermint/kg of diet; the MS group was fed the diets with the addition of 10 g peppermint + 10 g of southernwood/kg of diet. The addition of peppermint to the diet increased final live weight compared to the CC group (P < 0.05). The highest value of dressing percentage was found in the M group as compared to the CC group (P < 0.01) and C group (P < 0.05). Compared with the C group, a higher intramuscular fat content was found in the breast meat of broilers in both the M and MS groups (P < 0.01; P < 0.05, resp.). Concerning the colour of meat, lower values for yellowness b* and chroma C* characteristics were observed in the C group compared to the MS group (P < 0.05) and mainly to the M group (P < 0.01). In spite of the lower crude protein content (P < 0.05) in the meat of the MS group, the highest content of all essential amino acids (P < 0.05) as well as the total content of all assessed amino acids (P < 0.01) were found in the meat of the MS group, resulting in a considerable increase in the nutritional value of the breast meat proteins of these broilers.

The genomic structure of extant cattle populations can contribute to the reconstruction of the history of particular breeds or their subpopulations. Genome-wide population resequencing of extant populations of Czech Red Pied (CRP) cattle, its conserved nucleus herd, and Czech Red (CR) cattle detected a T106C polymorphism in mitochondrial DNA shared by the conserved CRP herd with a geographical belt of Anatolian, Illyrian and Eastern Alpine breeds. On the other hand, this SNP is practically absent in the historical cattle breeds associated with Northern Germany, including German Black Pied cattle, Holstein-Friesian and German Red Mountain cattle (GRM). Correspondingly, this indicator SNP was absent in CR cattle, which, like the GRM, belongs to the group of mountain red cattle breeds. It seems that the precursory cattle population in Central Europe was influenced by the germplasm from the Balkans-related group of breeds, thanks to the political and commercial influence of the Northern Italian, Austrian and Hungarian regions. In addition, the presence of this polymorphism in some European aurochs (Bos primigenius) bone remains suggests possible introgression from local aurochs populations. Alternatively, the T106C presence in yaks and in neighbouring cattle breeds in Northern India, China and Korea raises the possibility of origin of this polymorphism from yak populations. The spread of the T106C mutation in alpine regions is consistent with the known role of this mtDNA region in adaptation to the reduced oxygen pressure.

The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the relationships between the nutrient content and the DM (dry matter) content of various maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) in the dynamics of vegetative maturity and various soil-climatic growing conditions. Over the course of 7 growing seasons (years), a set of 1 972 samples of whole silage maize plants consisting of 206 different hybrids grown in two contrasting regions (lowland and foothill areas) was analysed. The focus was on DM content and the content of key energy nutrients (WSC – water soluble carbohydrates, starch, NDF – neutral detergent fibre) and their interactions. Results show that the transformation of WSC into starch has four key points: (i) it begins at a DM content of 150 g/kg; (ii) it peaks at a DM content of approximately 235 g/kg; (iii) it begins to decrease significantly from a DM content of 300 g/kg; and (iv) it practically stops rapidly after exceeding a DM content of 350 g/kg. In the dynamics of vegetative development of maize plants, the DM content is very closely related to the WSC content (R² = 0.728) and the starch content (R² = 0.873). With the gradual increase in vegetative maturity and DM content in maize plants, the transformation of WSC into starch dynamically increases. These characteristics, with small deviations, were also confirmed at different levels of evaluation (all analyses, regions, seasons and individual hybrids). These results show that a DM content of 300 g/kg to 350 g/kg can be considered the optimal harvesting window for maize ensiling and the optimal phase of silage maturity for whole maize plants, because once the DM content exceeds 350 g/kg; the transformation of WSC into starch stops and the drying phase of plants begins.

The aim of the study was to compare the muscle protein quality in the m. longissimus, pars thoracis of bulls of the Aberdeen Angus (AA) and Czech Fleckvieh (CF) breeds reared under identical conditions within an extensive pasture-based system. The CF breed exhibited a higher crude protein content (887 ± 87.4 g/kg of dry matter) compared to AA (812 ± 59.3 g/kg of dry matter); P ≤ 0.05. A higher content of non-essential amino acids was recorded in CF (390 ± 37.9 g/kg of dry matter) compared to AA (364 ± 44.5 g/kg of dry matter); P ≤ 0.05, as well as higher contents of essential amino acids (CF 406 ± 38.9 g/kg of dry matter, AA 382 ± 41.0 g/kg of dry matter; P ≤ 0.05) and total analysed amino acids (CF 796 ± 74.8 g/kg of dry matter, AA 746 ± 82.7 g/kg of dry matter; P ≤ 0.05). Breed-related differences were observed in the content of most analysed amino acids (P ≤ 0.05), except for tyrosine and phenylalanine, for which no effect of breed was found (P > 0.05). Lysine showed the highest content among essential amino acids (AA 73.4 ± 8.23 g/kg of dry matter, CF 76.6 ± 8.87 g/kg of dry matter; P ≤ 0.05), while glutamic acid was dominant among non-essential amino acids (AA 109 ± 14.4 g/kg of dry matter, CF 119 ± 12.5 g/kg of dry matter; P ≤ 0.05). The ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids (EAA/NEAA) did not differ between breeds (AA 1.05 ± 0.08, CF 1.04 ± 0.05; P > 0.05). The results indicate that cattle breed affects the content of crude protein and the content of most analysed amino acids in the muscle tissue of AA and CF breeds; however, the EAA/NEAA ratio remains unaffected by breed.

In vitro embryo production (IVP) is a valuable technique for advancing cattle breeding and reproductive biotechnology. Nevertheless, embryos produced in vitro often display reduced developmental competence and cryotolerance compared with their in vivo counterparts. Vitamin D is known to regulate many cellular functions, including growth and antioxidant defence. This study evaluated the impact of vitamin D supplementation during in vitro culture on bovine embryo development and post-thaw recovery. Oocytes were matured and fertilised in vitro and presumptive zygotes were cultured with 0 (control), 25, or 50 ng/ml of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃. Supplementation of 25 ng/ml vitamin D did not significantly alter cleavage or blastocyst rates; however, it increased the expression of IGF2R and SOD2. In contrast, 50 ng/ml impaired embryonic development. the VD/VD group showed higher blastocyst hatching rates, lower mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, increased IGF2R expression and reduced BAX expression and BAX/BCL2L1 ratio (P < 0.05). Overall, these findings suggest that the low-dose vitamin D supplementation may support embryonic recovery from cryo-induced stress, potentially through the modulation of the oxidative balance and growth-related pathways, rather than by enhancing the pre-freezing developmental competence.

In this study, we examined whether serum-free and serum-containing media affect matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity with respect to embryonic development, and whether MMP expression is correlated with the development of in vitro fertilized eggs. When oocytes were cultured in serum-free medium (containing polyvinylpyrrolidone) and serum (foetal bovine serum)-containing medium, the generation of meiosis 2 (MII) oocytes was 76% and 87.5%, respectively (P < 0.05). After in vitro fertilization using mature oocytes, we observed 39.72% and 64.05% of cleaved oocytes in serum-free and serum-containing groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Our analysis revealed differential expression and activity of MMPs. The serum-containing group showed high MMP-9 activity during oocyte maturation and development of in vitro produced embryos, with particularly high activity in the inner cell mass zone of the embryos. Therefore, this study suggests that the presence or the absence of serum will affect the activity of MMPs, which can be used to measure the rate of embryonic development.

In the last decade, the pig sector in Slovakia has been changing continuously, especially in regard to the proportion of pigs coming from foreign breeding programs. These changes lead to changes in carcass characteristics and to a change in the distribution of carcasses within the classes of the Union scale for the classification of pig carcasses. Therefore, this study was undertaken to analyse the actual state of pig carcass classification in the Slovak Republic and to investigate the needs of updating the equations for the classification methods and possible steps to improve the quality of pork produced within the country. Results showed that an increased number of pig carcasses originated from Danish breeding program, and also from the Czech Republic and Poland. When compared to carcasses in 2009, these changes resulted in lower backfat thickness and higher muscle thickness of the longissimus dorsi muscle and thus higher lean meat content of carcasses. This results in a higher number of carcasses classified in the S and E classes. Slight differences between two instrumental classification methods were calculated. The study showed the need for updating the equations for classification methods, and also suggested possible further steps in order to improve the quality of pork.

In the experimental section of the barn (which made up 25% of the barn), 103 cubicles in free stall barn were selected in three rows, housing 98 dairy cows of Czech Fleckvieh cattle. Monitoring was done for one calendar year, once a week. From this period, 16 days with temperatures from 0.5–15.0 °C were selected for quantification. Observations were continuously recorded at 10:00 am (one hour after the coming of the last cow from the milking parlour), at hourly intervals until 7:00 pm. Ten observations were carried out every day of the monitoring period. In total, 15 680 individual observations were recorded. The microclimatic parameters (temperature, relative humidity) were monitored within the barns continuously at 15-minute intervals using three data logger sensors. Changes in the proportion of lying to standing dairy cows were observed during the day. A steady trend of a reduced ratio of lying dairy cows during the day (from 70% to 40%) in favour of standing dairy cows was observed. The optimal value of the cow comfort index – CCI (85%) was not reached in any monitored part of the day. The number of dairy cows lying on their left sides increased from 50.4% to 56%, especially after feeding (at 4:00 pm). Differences were found in the proportion of lying and standing cows (P < 0.05) at an optimal microclimate during the day. A significant preference for the left side when lying down was also found.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the internal factors of ram age and litter-of-origin on semen quality during the cryopreservation process in Sumava sheep rams. This breed is included in the protected genetic resources of the Czech Republic. The sires were systematically divided into four groups according to age (under 1.5 years, 1.5 to 2.5 years, 2.5 to 3.5 years, and over 4.5 years) and according to litter frequency (singletons vs twins). Semen was evaluated after equilibration, and after cryopreservation using iSperm^® mCASA and flow cytometry. During cryopreservation, there was a significant decrease in total sperm motility by 53.5%, progressive motility by 38%, and cells with intact plasma membrane and acrosome by 47%. Frozen-thawed sperm kinematic parameters showed significant age-related variations, with rams aged 4.5 and older displaying notably higher total and progressive motility (16.2% and 6.24%, respectively). Rams born as twins exhibited 3.77% (P < 0.05) higher progressive motility and 5.5% (P < 0.05) higher total motility compared to those born as singles. The sperm of older rams (> 4.5 years) exhibited higher viability (10.1%) and lower damage to the plasma membrane after freeze-thawing (23.6%), (P < 0.05). Twins showed significantly higher sperm viability (4.98%, P < 0.05) than singletons. These rams produce a larger quantity of higher-quality insemination doses after cryopreservation. For Sumava rams, in particular, broadening the sire selection base helps to select suitable rams for breeding. As the sire ages, his genetic value within the production herd may decline with time. This contrasts with genetic resource protection, where the aim is to preserve and store as many high-quality semen samples as possible.

Corrigendum in: Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2024 May 31;69(5):209. doi: 10.17221/83/2024-CJAS

This study was conducted to evaluate the protective impacts of green tea extract (GT) against cypermethrin-induced (CYP) neurotoxicity parameters such as acetylcholinesterase activity, oxidative stress, immune response, histopathology, apoptosis, and DNA damage in the brain tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The trial was divided into four groups (group 1, 2, 3 and 4). Group 1 was the control, while group 2 was treated with 0.1 mg/l of CYP, group 3 was treated with 0.1 mg/l of CYP + 100 mg/l of GT and group 4 was treated with 0.1 mg/l of CYP + 200 mg/l of GT for 14 days. While the level of malondialdehyde increased, the exposure to CYP in group 2 resulted in a reduction in acetylcholinesterase, lysozyme, total immunoglobulin, white blood cell, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels in the brain tissues, as compared to group 1. Furthermore, CYP exposure in group 2 resulted in severe hyperaemia in meningeal and parenchymal vessels, accompanied by significant degeneration and necrosis. In addition, neurons in group 2 exhibited pronounced cytoplasmic expressions of 8-OHdG and caspase-3. On the contrary, both doses of 100 mg/l and 200 mg/l of GT demonstrated remarkable neuroprotective impacts against CYP toxicity across all parameters as mentioned above. In summary, this study conclusively showed that the administration of 200 mg dose of GT yielded more pronounced neuroprotective impacts, surpassing the impacts observed with the 100 mg dose of GT. The higher dosage effectively reduced CYP-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage, while exhibiting an enhanced immune response.

Antibiotics in poultry feed are banned in many countries owing to their side effects, and insects containing antimicrobial peptides are proven to have potential as antibiotic alternatives in such feed. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary housefly maggot extract (HME) as the biofunctional material for antibiotic replacement in laying hens. The biofunctional properties of HME on egg production, egg quality, blood biomarkers of immune function, and microbiota were evaluated over a period of 40 to 50 weeks in laying hens under a digital livestock system. A total of 120 forty-week-old Hyline Brown laying hens were randomly divided into four groups with thirty replicates as follows: no added HME (CON), positive control (PC, 8 ppm of avilamycin), 100 ppm of HME (HME100), and 150 ppm of HME (HME150). Egg production and egg weight increased significantly in the HME150, HME100, PC, and CON groups (P < 0.05), but there were no differences between the HME and PC groups. Egg quality, such as eggshell thickness, eggshell strength, Haugh unit, and albumin height, were significantly improved in the HME and PC groups than in the CON group (P < 0.05). A blood biomarker of immune function, IgG, was significantly higher in the HME and PC groups than the CON group (P < 0.05), but there were no differences between the HME and PC groups. Blood corticosterone and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio were significantly lower in the HME and PC groups than in the CON group (P < 0.05). Microbiota Lactobacillus in the faeces were significantly higher in the HME and PC groups than in the CON group (P < 0.05). The faecal total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, and coliform counts were significantly lower in the HME and PC groups than in the CON group (P < 0.05). Consequently, the HME showed the same significant effects as antibiotics on improving egg production and egg quality in laying hens. These results show that 100 ppm of HME can be used as a biofunctional material for an effective alternative to antibiotics in laying hens under a digital livestock system to improve egg production and quality by stimulating their immune functions and balancing the microbiota populations.

The rise in demand for animal products associated with global population growth has driven the world toward precision livestock farming, where convolutional neural networks (CNN) have gained increasing attention due to their potential to enhance animal health, productivity, and welfare. However, the effectiveness and generalizability of CNN applications in cattle production are limited by several challenges and limitations, which require further research and development to address. This systematic literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the applications of CNN in cattle production. It identified some potential applications of CNN in this field and highlighted the challenges and limitations that need to be addressed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of CNN applications in cattle production. It also provides valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in the use of CNN to enhance cattle production practices, animal welfare, and sustainability. Additionally, it also provides the reader with a summary of the literature on the fundamental concepts of convolutional neural networks and their commonly used model architectures in cattle production. This is because agriculture digitalisation is going more multidisciplinary and people from different areas of expertise may find it helpful to learn more from a combined source.

Applicability of cryopreserved insemination doses is dependent on the quality of the semen after thawing. The aim of the study was to check the options of new markers for the assessment of sperm quality to predict their fertilisation ability. In five bulls of the Pinzgau breed, the sperm fertilising ability was determined using the in vitro fertilisation. Bulls were divided according to the achieved blastocyst rate: bulls with good fertilising ability (NOB – 38.6%, KAZ – 28.9%, GAL – 29.3%) and bulls with low fertilising ability (LOH – 19.4%, NUS – 22.1%). In addition to the sperm motility and morphology, we monitored common physiological sperm characteristics: viability, apoptosis, acrosomal status, capacitation, mitochondrial activity and generation of reactive oxygen species using the flow cytometry procedure. Novel fertility-related biomarkers, such as ubiquitination, overexpression of MKRN1, SPTRX-3 and PAWP proteins or histone modification (H3K4me2), were also analysed by flow cytometry. From all monitored parameters, more proper characteristics of impaired in vitro fertilising ability proved to be high incidence of apoptotic markers (YO-PRO, Caspase 3/7) and higher counts of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. Although the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) test can be an advantageous method for evaluating the sperm fertilising ability, there are still differences between the in vivo and in vitro fertilisation processes, which must be considered for example, when evaluating the sperm capacitation status.

The study tested the effect of daily feed ration (DFR: 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%, 1.25%, and 1.5% of fish biomass) on juvenile pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) with an initial body weight of 21.5 ± 5.1 g and total length of 144.5 ± 8.5 mm. The pikeperch were fed floating feed at 8-hour intervals for a duration of 84 days. By the end of the experiment, the group fed DFR of 1.5% exhibited the highest body weight (51.5 ± 16.1 g) and total length (188.2 ± 17.8 mm). The weight heterogeneity, measured as the coefficient of variation (CV), ranged between 30.29 and 33.24%. The specific heterogeneity rate (SHR) ranged from 304.44 to 334.94‰/day. The group with DFR of 1.0% exhibited the highest degree of heterogeneity. Minor fin erosion was observed in the caudal fin by the end of the experiment. No significant differences were revealed in selected biochemical parameters indicating the liver, spleen, and intestinal function. All the fish tested were adequately fed, being provided sufficient nutrients for the proper growth of pikeperch. The DFR of 1.5% was evaluated as the most favourable. This amount of feed supported a higher number of values for Fulton’s coefficient (FC), specific growth rate (SGR), thermal growth rate (TGR), fish weight heterogeneity, growth of total fish biomass (BG), and optimum level of biochemical parameters in blood plasma.

Seaweed has an important role in the mitigation of enteric methane (CH₄) production by ruminant animals. The utilisation and its effectiveness in enteric CH₄ reduction require a preservation process. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different drying processes on the effectiveness of seaweed Gracilaria spp. in reducing CH₄ production assessed through an in vitro method. Three drying techniques, sun-drying, oven-drying, and freeze-drying, were applied to produce a dried product of Glacilaria spp. Rice straw basal diets combined with concentrate at the 70 : 30% were used to test the inclusion of 4% of three differently dried products of Gracilaria spp. compared to the basal diet without seaweed (control group). Measurements were conducted on in vitro total and CH₄ gas production, nutrient degradability, ammonia (NH₃) and VFA concentration, and microbial population. Results showed that the three dried products of Gracilaria spp. significantly reduced in vitro CH₄ production compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05). All drying techniques gave a similar effect on in vitro CH₄ reduction, but they did not affect dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability (P ≤ 0.05) and significantly reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the control group, with oven-dried treatments having the lowest NDF degradability among the treatments. It is concluded that the three different drying techniques had similar effects on enteric CH₄ reduction.

Decision support systems (DSSs) enable dairy farmers to make informed and timely decisions on herd health management. However, the lack of a disease scoring system by category and severity limits the application of this approach. In this study, we developed an innovative approach to dairy herd health management by establishing a novel scoring system for dairy herd health management aimed at providing a more nuanced understanding of disease impact. For this purpose, we retrieved 5-year data from 2 558 disease diary records of 798 primiparous and multiparous cows housed on a Czech farm and classified 125 production diseases into six categories, namely lameness, mastitis, postpartum diseases, digestive system, reproductive diseases and other diseases. Based on this metric, we developed a data-driven DSS for farm management. Using this DSS, we identified markers of disease categories for efficient veterinary monitoring on dairy farms. This DSS highlighted a decreasing trend of average monthly disease scores, yet the prevalence of postpartum and other diseases increased during the same period, due to changes in reproduction management within the herd. These findings underscore the need for data-driven targeted interventions for promoting the herd health. Therefore, our scoring model not only provides a comprehensive framework for dairy herd health monitoring and improvement but also advances dairy farming by providing a decision support system easily applicable to dairy farms based on available data recorded in disease diaries.

Abstract: Management of inbreeding is one of the crucial parts of breeding programs in livestock populations. Traditionally, the inbreeding coefficient is calculated using pedigree data; however, it can also be estimated from genomic data. Nowadays, various approaches to estimating genomic-based inbreeding coefficients are increasingly integrated into research and breeding practices. These genomic estimators can supplement or replace pedigree-based coefficients. Each genomic-based inbreeding coefficient has its own properties and different ranges of values, and some of them need specific settings for calculation. Moreover, depending on the methodological approach, genomic estimators are sensitive to the population structure, genotyping technology applied, and the quality control of obtained genomic data. It is important to consider all these factors when calculating and especially when interpreting the final genomic inbreeding values. For these reasons, using genomic-based inbreeding coefficients can be more challenging than using pedigree-based ones. In this review, we comprehensively evaluate the most commonly used genomic estimators of individual inbreeding in livestock, providing an in-depth analysis of their advantages and limitations while offering insights into the methodological considerations and best practices for their accurate calculation and interpretation.

This study evaluated test-day records of clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell count, and nine udder conformation traits. Somatic cell count was log-transformed into somatic cell score (SCS) in 10 periods, each 30 days long and overall, for the first lactation. CM is a complex disease closely connected with somatic cell count. The optimum udder conformation traits significantly affect dairy cattle health. The CM binary trait was monitored in seven periods throughout lactation, each 50 days long, and for the whole lactation. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the risk of CM. The model included a fixed effect of herd-year-season, age at first calving, and a fixed effect of the linear type traits of the random effect of the animal. The phenotypic correlations for udder conformation traits, CM, and SCS ranged from –0.13 to 0.69 and standard errors were 0.01–0.99. The highest CM incidence and SCS were observed for the medial ligament scores 1–2: convex base of the udder. According to the logistic regression assessment, the medial ligament scores 1–2: convex base of the udder and the CM incidence to 50 days in milk reported a 3.79 times higher probability of the CM incidence at the reference level (extremely deep medial ligament) at the same stage of the lactation. CM incidence and SCS significantly decreased with decreasing udder depth. Udder depth below the hock was associated with the highest risk of CM. For udder depth and the whole lactation, the CM ODDS ratio was 1.00–2.56, CM least squares means were 0.18–0.44, and SCS least squares means were 3.20–4.10. Our study confirmed that the start of lactation is critical for the onset of CM, and somatic cell count is manifested throughout lactation. The effect of the udder conformation is then observable in somatic cell count and CM during the whole lactation.

Optimising the feed composition, especially the forage choice, and reducing costs are essential for improving dairy production efficiency. Different forage sources and proportions were used to formulate rations containing equal energy and protein, and their effects on rumen microbiota and milk production performance of dairy cows were evaluated in two experiments. In experiment 1, thirty lactating cows (235 ±13 d postpartum; milk production 29.1 ± 1.0 kg/day) were divided into Pangola and Bermuda groups. In experiment 2, twenty lactating cows (79.9 ± 8.1 d postpartum; milk production 34.7 ± 0.6 kg/day) were divided into Pangola and oat groups. In experiment 1, the Simpson index for rumen microbiota of the Pangola group was significantly higher than in the Bermuda group (P < 0.05). Analysis of the weighted unique fraction (UniFrac) distances indicated significant differences in the beta diversity of the community composition of rumen microbiota between Pangola, Bermuda and oat groups in both experiments (P < 0.001). The relative abundance of Prevotella brevis was significantly higher in the Pangola group than in the oat group in experiment 2 (P < 0.05). The somatic cell counts (SCCs), C18:0, and C18:1 in milk were significantly higher in the Bermuda group than in the Pangola group (P < 0.05) in experiment 1. On the other hand, milk crude protein (CP) and solids-not-fat (SNF) were significantly higher in the Oat group than in the Pangola group (P < 0.05) in experiment 2; however, milk urea nitrogen (MUN) was significantly higher in the Pangola group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a switch of forage (Pangola vs Bermuda) at a lower proportion of the diet under the high forage level condition (experiment 1) caused only minor changes in rumen microbiota diversity (Simpson index, beta diversity) and milk production performance (milk SCCs, C18:0 and C18:1). On the other hand, a switch of forage (Pangola vs oat) at a higher proportion of the diet under the low forage level condition (experiment 2) resulted in greater changes in rumen microbiota diversity (beta diversity, relative abundances of bacterial taxa, P. brevis relative abundance) and milk production performance (milk CP, SNF, and MUN).

This study compared the efficacy of the egg yolk (EY) and soy lecithin (SL) semen extender during 72-h storage at 4 °C in the presence/absence of streptomycin, penicillin, lincomycin, and spectinomycin. Bull semen samples (n = 12) were obtained and stored in either ANDROMED^® (SL extender) or TRILADYL CSS^® (EY extender). After 24, 48, and 72 h of storage at 4 °C, bacterial colonies (CFU – colony forming units) were grown and counted on tryptic soy and blood agar, and the bacterial isolates were identified using the MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper. Sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), membrane and acrosome integrity, sperm DNA fragmentation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were analysed. The results showed that the type of semen diluent could be crucial for the efficacy of used antibiotics, since significantly decreased bacterial occurrence following 48 h or no bacterial growth after 72 h was recorded in the SL-based groups. Even the SL medium itself did not favour bacterial growth, as significantly decreased bacterial load was observed after 48 h (P < 0.01) and 72 h (P <0.000 1). In contrast, the bacterial load in the EY medium without antibiotics significantly increased (P < 0.05). In contrast, an improved ability to preserve sperm quality parameters was observed in EY-extended semen. In particular, sperm motility was significantly higher (P < 0.000 1 and P < 0.001) after 24 h in each EY-based group in comparison to the control (Ctrl), whereas among the SL-based groups, only the spectinomycin-supplemented group presented with a significant motility improvement (P < 0.01) when compared to the Ctrl. Although the EY semen extender provided enhanced sperm quality preservation during the 72-h storage, in the future, the SL medium composition should be improved to match the sperm preservation ability of the EY medium while maintaining its microbial safety.