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Estimated breeding values and genomic enhanced breeding values for milk production of young genotyped Holstein bulls were predicted using a conventional animal model, ridge regression genomic prediction procedure, genomic best linear unbiased prediction, single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction, and one-step blending procedures. For prediction, the nation-wide database of domestic Czech production records was combined with deregressed proofs from Interbull files through 2008, which had been transformed by multiple across country evaluation to reflect domestic production conditions. 1259 genotyped bulls had already been proven in 2008. Analyses were run that used Interbull values only for these genotyped bulls and used Interbull values for all available sires. Predictions were validated by comparing correlations of breeding value predictions with estimated breeding values and daughter-yield-deviations after progeny test in 2012 of 140 young genotyped bulls and their associated reliabilities. Combining domestic data with Interbull estimated breeding values improved prediction of both estimated breeding values and genomic enhanced breeding values. Prediction by animal model (traditional estimated breeding values) using only the domestic database had 0.29 validated reliability of prediction; whereas combining the nation-wide domestic database with all available deregressed proofs for genotyped and non-genotyped sires from Interbull resulted in reliability of 0.34, compared to 0.36 when using Interbull data only. The highest reliabilities were for predictions from the single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction procedure using combined data, or with all available deregressed proofs from Interbull only (one-step blending approach), which reached validated reliabilities for genomic enhanced breeding values predictions 0.53 and 0.54, respectively.

The breeding value (EBV) of Holstein cattle milk performance from the first lactation was evaluated using a regular Animal Model or by Single-Step Prediction of the genomic breeding value (GEBV). A total of 838 bulls were genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 Beadchip V2. Two overlapping sets of milk performances were evaluated: calving years 1991-2004, with 729 341 lactations and 1 394 487 animals in the pedigree and calving years 1996-2009, with 808 436 lactations and 1 487 608 animals in the pedigree. The older data set included 526 genotyped bulls, in which the daughters' milk performance was known for 210 individuals. All of the genotyped animals were included in the newer data set. Of the young genotyped bulls from the older set, 279 had more than 50 daughters with performance records in the newer set. Genomic relationship matrices (G) were constructed from the allele frequencies of the current genotyped population or by assuming a constant value of 0.5 for all loci. Using current allele frequencies, the correlation of G with the pedigree relationship (A) was 0.74, while it was 0.77 when the constant value was used. G was blended with A with weights of 80 or 99%. The average EBV of the genotyped bulls exceeded the mean EBV of the entire population by 3 SD. Although the number of reference bulls was small, genotyping resulted in an increase of approximately 0.05 in the correlation of the GEBV of young bulls with their results after progeny testing. Only small differences in correlations were found in dependency on the methods used for the determination of G and in dependency on the weight used in blending G with A. Both EBV and GEBV in the older set showed higher correlations with the GEBV of the newer set than the EBV of the newer set.

The present experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and digestive enzyme activities in weaned pigs. A total of 180 weaned pigs (35 days of age, 11.56 ± 1.61 kg of body weight (BW)) were selected and assigned randomly to 5 treatments containing 0, 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg chitosan per kg feed, respectively. Each treatment involved six replicate pens and six pigs per pen. On days 14 and 28, all pigs were weighed and six from each treatment (one from each replicate pen) were killed, and the contents of the stomach, jejunum, and rectum were collected and used for determining nutrient digestibility and digestive enzyme activity. The results showed that supplementation of chitosan improved quadratically average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary chitosan quadratically (P < 0.05) increased apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) on days 14 and 28, and quadratically increased apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM) on day 14 and of Ca and P on day 28, whereas decreased (P < 0.05) apparent digestibility of ether extract in comparison with the control diet. In addition, dietary chitosan quadratically increased (P = 0.062) amylase activity of proximal jejunum and decreased (P < 0.05) lipase activity of distal jejunum compared with the control. These data indicated that diets supplemented with increasing levels of chitosan (0, 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg chitosan per kg) quadratically improved ADG of weaned pigs. The growth-promoting action was achieved probably by improved digestibility of major nutrients (DM, CP, Ca, and P) and increased amylase activity of jejunum.

Genetic and phenotypic correlations between production traits, selected linear type traits, and somatic cell score were estimated. The results could be useful for breeding programs involving Czech Holstein dairy cows or other populations. A series of bivariate analyses was applied whereby (co)variance components were estimated using average information (AI-REML) implemented via the DMU statistical package. Chosen phenotypic data included average somatic cell score per a 305-day standard first lactation as well as the production traits milk yield, fat yield, protein yield, fat percentage, and protein percentage per the standard first lactation. Fifteen classified linear type traits were added, as they were measured at first lactation in the Czech Holstein population. All phenotypic data were collected within the progeny testing program of the Czech-Moravian Breeders Corporation from 2005 to 2009. The number of animals for each linear type trait was 59 454, except for locomotion, for which 53 424 animals were recorded. The numbers of animals with records of milk production data were 43 992 for milk yield, fat percentage, protein percentage, and fat-to-protein percentage ratio and 43 978 for fat yield and protein yield. In total, 27 098 somatic cell score records were available. The strongest positive genetic correlation between production traits and linear type traits was estimated between udder width and fat yield (0.51 ± 0.04), while the strongest negative correlation estimated was between body condition score and fat yield (-0.45 ± 0.03). Other estimated correlations were between those two extremes but generally they were close to zero or positive. The strongest negative phenotypic correlations were estimated between udder depth and milk yield and protein yield (both -0.17), while the strongest positive phenotypic correlations were estimated between milk yield, protein yield, and udder width (both 0.32).

Milk electrical conductivity is employed for mastitis detection in cows due to its automation, low cost, and infection detectability at early stage. Nevertheless, the number of publications about its use in dairy goats is scarce. The aim of this study was to check and compare the detectability of goat mastitis (sensitivity and specificity) using different algorithms, constructed with individual daily conductivity data from glands, in order to improve the know how about the potential of this variable for goat mastitis detection. A total of 18 goats (8 primiparous and 10 multiparous) free of mastitis were used, and gland milk conductivity was daily monitored. After 16 days of monitoring, some unfavourable situations for gland health were simulated in order to increase the cases of infection. Once infection was established (9 goats and 12 glands got infected), the experiment continued for further 16 days. A total of 19 different algorithms that employed conductivity data from gland were designed; they were tested using gland milk conductivity (EC) and ratio of EC of collateral glands in the same goat (RAT_EC). The algorithms were tested in all the animals and intramammary infection detection ability characteristics (sensitivity (SENS), specificity (SPEC), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV)) were recorded. All clinical cases were detected (n = 2, 100% SENS) with all the algorithms. Best global SENS (clinical and subclinical, 33.3-58.3%) and SPEC (77.8-100%) were similar to results reported in previous studies in cows, and obtained with algorithms ARIMA and Rule 1 (3 standard deviations of data). The best algorithms to use in mastitis detection depend on the prevalence and type of mastitis. EC ARIMA and Rule 1 algorithms detected the most severe cases on-line and quickly, with a low proportion of false positives.

Additive, dominance, and permanent environmental variance components were estimated for the number of kits born alive, number of kits born dead, and total number of kits born of a synthetic rabbit line (called Pannon Ka). The data file consisted of 11 582 kindling records of 2620 does collected between the years 1996-2013. The total number of animals in the pedigree files was 4012. The examined traits were evaluated using single-trait and two-trait (number of kits born alive-dead) animal models containing all or part of the following effects: additive genetic effects, permanent environmental effects, dominance effects. Heritability estimates calculated using the basic single-trait and two-trait models were 0.094 ± 0.018 and 0.090 ± 0.016 for number of kits born alive, 0.037 ± 0.010 and 0.041 ± 0.012 for number of kits born dead, and 0.117 ± 0.018 for total number of kits born, respectively. The relative significance of permanent environmental effects was 0.069 ± 0.014 and 0.069 ± 0.012 for number of kits born alive, 0.025 ± 0.011 and 0.023 ± 0.010 for number of kits born dead, and 0.060 ± 0.013 for total number of kits born, respectively. Using the extended single-trait and two-trait models, the ratios of the dominance components compared to the phenotypic variances were 0.048 ± 0.008 and 0.046 ± 0.007 for number of kits born alive, 0.068 ± 0.006 and 0.065 ± 0.006 for number of kits born dead, and 0.005 ± 0.0073 for total number of kits born, respectively. Genetic correlation coefficients between number of kits born alive and number of kits born dead were 0.401 ± 0.171 and 0.521 ± 0.182, respectively. Spearman's rank correlations between the breeding values of the different single-trait models were close to unity in all traits (0.992-0.990). Much lower breeding value stability was found for two-trait models (0.384-0.898), especially for number of kits born dead. Results showed that the dominance components for number of kits born alive and number of kits born dead were not zero and affected the ranking of the animals (based on the breeding values).

The objective of the paper was to classify 50 SNPs (from 17 chromosomes) according to their contribution to the meatness of 293 boars of two breeds (Polish Landrace and Polish Large White) using entropy analysis and standard association analysis. The collected data were classified into two groups (according to the official EUROP procedure) and used for entropy analysis. Associations of single genotypes versus their groups (located at single chromosomes) with the trait studied were estimated by the use of the Generalized Linear Model (GLM). Thus meatness was included as a continuous variable. The most important contributions have been estimated by both approaches for the following SNPs: SULT1A1:g.76G>A (SSC3), PKLR:g.384C>T (SSC4), MYOD1:c.566G>C (SSC2), TNNT3:g.153T>C (SSC2), GAA:g.38T>C (SSC12), LDLRR1:c.459A>G (SSC8), MYF6:g.255T>C (SSC5), CAS:g.499A>C (SSC2), PPARGC:c.678T>A (SSC15). Moreover, interactions among some studied loci are suggested, especially for the loci at chromosome 1.

The aim of this study was to determine the nutrient and energy levels of red clover and lucerne forage. Investigation of forage at different maturity stages of three growths was carried out by chemical analysis, in vitro and in vivo digestibility methods. Generally, maturation caused a significant increase in fibre fractions. With the increasing maturity of forage samples the in vivo, in vitro, and calculated in vivo (in vivo_calcul) digestibilities of organic matter (OM) linearly decreased. The in vitro and in vivo_calcul digestibilities of OM averaged 0.754 and 0.708 for red clover and 0.717 and 0.667 for lucerne, respectively. The in vivo OM digestibility averaged 0.710 for red clover and 0.666 for lucerne. Gross energy (GE), digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), net energy for lactation (NEL), and net energy for growth (NEG) averaged 18.12, 12.41, 9.60, 5.67, 5.50 and 18.09, 11.56, 9.01, 5.26, 4.99 MJ/kg of dry matter for red clover and lucerne, respectively. The effect of a vegetative stage on energy values of both forages was diverged for various growth times. When data were pooled across the estimated season, seven cutting-specific equations for descriptions of GE, DE, ME, NEL, NEG, in vitro, and in vivo OM digestibilities were obtained for red clover and lucerne, separately. The red clover model expression gave similar prediction equations for lucerne. It was possible to predict cutting-specific equations with coefficients of determination R² > 0.719 for red clover and R² > 0.400 for lucerne of the variation in GE, DE, ME, NEL, and NEG. The in vitro and in vivo OM digestibility equations were predicted with R² being 0.840 (in vitro) and 0.707 (in vivo) for red clover, and 0.979 (in vitro) and 0.937 (in vivo) for lucerne. The parameters of these specific equations were statistically preferable than the general model expression which included both forages together.

The objective was to determine effects of equilibration length and freezing curve type as well as their interactions on motility and live spermatozoa proportion in bull sperm after thawing. The ejaculates of 6 sires were repeatedly collected. Fresh semen was diluted with one extender and divided into 3 groups equilibrated for 30, 120, and 240 min. Subsequently, half straws of each group were frozen using standard 3-phase or 2-phase freezing curve differing in the rate of temperature decrease. The spermatozoa motility (M) was evaluated immediately after thawing and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min of thermodynamic test (TDT). Live spermatozoa proportion was evaluated after thawing and at the end of TDT. Average of spermatozoa motility (AM), decrease of spermatozoa motility (MD), average proportion of live spermatozoa (ALS), and decrease of live spermatozoa proportion (DLS) through the TDT were calculated. Significant inter-sire differences in AM (0.45-17.0%; P < 0.05-0.01), MD (0.76-12.57%; P < 0.05-0.01), and ALS (0.99-23.8%; P < 0.01) were detected. The longest equilibration ensured the highest M during TDT and AM (+2.72 and +4.58%; P < 0.05-0.01), however higher MD (+4.06%; P < 0.01) compared to standard length as well. Straws freezed using 2-phase curve achieved higher M through TDT, AM (+7.3%; P < 0.01) as well as ALS (+11.77%; P < 0.01). The 2-phase curve presented higher M compared to the 3-phase freezing curve within all equilibration lengths. Significant differences in AM, MD, and ALS (0.45-6.78%, 0.62-5.35%, and 20.79-21.11%; P < 0.05-0.01) between equilibration length vs freezing curve interactions were determined. Results document the importance of equilibration length, freezing curve, and their interaction effect on live spermatozoa proportion and sperm motility after thawing as well as necessity of individual conditions for bulls semen processing and insemination doses production.

The effects of thermal manipulation (TM) during late ostrich embryonic development on hatchability, body weight, biochemical and hormonal changes, and the ability of hatching chicks to cope with thermal challenge in days 6-8 of age were examined. At 35 days of incubation, two hundred fertile eggs were weighed and divided into two equal groups with five replicates. The first group was exposed to 36.5°C and 25% relative humidity (RH) (control), while the second group was exposed to 38.5°C and 45% RH for 3 h daily in days 35-37 of incubation (thermal manipulation). At days 6-8 of age, the hatched chicks from each treatment were randomly divided into two groups: control group (exposed to 32 ± 1°C), and thermal challenge group (exposed to 40 ± 1°C for 3 h daily). Hatchability rate was significantly lower with high incubation temperature as compared to the normal incubation temperatures. Embryonic TM and thermal challenge in days 6-8 of age reduced significantly total protein, albumin, and triiodothyronin concentrations and elevated uric acid, creatinine, triglycerides, and glucose concentrations as compared with the control. The level of corticosterone was significantly higher in the thermal challenge group as compared to the control. In conclusion, exposing the ostrich embryos to TM (38.5°C) during late embryonic development induced physiological changes that may represent epigenetic adaptation to TM. The same mechanisms are employed for increasing the ability to improve thermotolerance post-hatch.

Selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) play important antioxidant role during the transition period of dairy cattle. However, there is limited information about their blood fluctuations during the entire transition period, especially in heifers. Furthermore, it is questionable whether the use of clinoptilolite, a natural zeolite, affects the availability of these trace elements during this period. The objective of the present study was to monitor the blood concentrations of Se, Cu, and Zn during the transition period of dairy heifers and to investigate whether the dietary inclusion of clinoptilolite has any effect on them. Forty clinically healthy Holstein heifers were used in the experiment. They were randomly allocated in two equal groups (n = 20) formed according to their body condition score. The control group was fed only the basal ration whereas the daily feed of treatment group was supplemented with 200 g clinoptilolite. The experiment started 28 days before the expected day of calving and lasted until day 21 after parturition. Blood samples were taken at the onset of the experiment and then at weekly intervals until parturition, at the day of calving, and on days 7, 14, and 21. All samples were analyzed for blood Se and plasma Cu and Zn concentrations. The results indicate that the levels of Se, Cu, and Zn in blood change significantly (P < 0.05) throughout the transition period in dairy heifers and increase significantly (P < 0.05) immediately after calving. Furthermore, the dietary administration of clinoptilolite does not significantly affect their blood concentration (P > 0.05). Blood levels of Se, Cu, and Zn, although undergoing significant changes throughout the transition period in dairy heifers, remain practically stable until parturition and increase significantly immediately after calving. Clinoptilolite does not impair the dietary availability of the trace elements evaluated when added in heifers' rations during this period.

Two experiments conducted on laying hens, aged 50 and 52 weeks, were carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary Mg and its relationship to the Ca : NPP (non-phytate phosphorus) ratio using a various grain-size of limestone. The Ca : NPP ratio in each experiment was 12.8 and 18, respectively. Two Mg levels were evaluated in the first (1.56 and 4.0 g/kg) and the second experiment (1.52 and 4.0 g/kg). A fine-grained limestone (< 0.5 mm; FL) or a coarse-grained limestone (0.8-2 mm; CL) was used in the first experiment. In the second experiment, a mixture of both the aforementioned limestone forms (FCL) was used as the third alternative. The main parameters estimated in this study were egg production and egg shell breaking strength. In the first experiment, CL significantly increased hen-day egg production (P = 0.043) and Mg (in dietary concentration up to 4 g/kg) increased egg weight (P < 0.001). The addition of Mg to the mixed feed, together with CL, decreased yolk percentage (P = 0.008), increased egg shell percentage (P = 0.044), increased egg shell thickness (P = 0.014), and egg shell breaking strength (P = 0.003). Higher dietary Mg, together with a wider Ca : NPP ratio in the second experiment, increased egg production and egg weight (P < 0.001), but it did not influence egg shell breaking strength. CL increased egg shell breaking strength compared to the addition of FL, as well as FCL (P < 0.05), regardless of the Mg levels. Lower level of Mg with FL decreased ash content of shells (P = 0.004).

Human scent is a complex combination of many chemical substances. Skin is supposed to be one of sources of scent traces. The values of the boiling points of human scent compounds were supposed to be lower than 300°C. The purpose of the study was to determine the temperature at which the human scent is degraded so that a dog would not be able to identify it. In contrast to expectations, eight dogs used in the experiment almost flawlessly identified human scents from five scent donors exposed to temperatures of 100°C, 200°C, 300°C, 400°C, 500°C, 600°C, 700°C, and 800°C. Only two of the dogs were able to identify 5 of 15 scent samples exposed to 900°C. No dog identified a scent exposed to 1000°C. Our study verified heat survivability of human scent far beyond existing expectations. There may be an extremely heat resistant, previously undetected, compound of human scent, unsusceptible to heat which exceeds standard temperatures used for sterilization. We anticipate our results to be a starting point for cardinal change of our view of factors affecting the vulnerability of human scent, resulting in the need to alter the approach of forensic methodology dealing with identification of human scent.

In order to improve the gut microbiome of calves, probiotic bacteria can be fed as active living-cells (fermented milk), or as live but inactive (freeze-dried) cultures. Ten bifidobacterial strains with suitable probiotic properties (as determined in our previous study) were tested for survival during the freeze-drying process, and screened for their ability to ferment cow's milk. The viability of both freeze-dried and live-cell cultures during storage was also tested. All of the strains tested were able to ferment cow's milk, with average counts of 8.26 ± 0.62 log CFU/ml. Eight out of the ten strains were able to survive in milk for 2 months in counts higher than 10⁶ CFU/ml. Bifidobacteria showed high viability following the freeze-drying process, with average numbers of 9.03 ± 0.22 log CFU/vial and did not decrease after 12 months of storage. The mixture of rifampicin-resistant variants of bifidobacteria (RRBs) was fed to 2-day-old dairy Charolais calves in the form of living-cells, or as freeze-dried bacteria. The control group was given no probiotics. Survival of the RRBs administered and the numbers of other bacterial groups in faecal samples was monitored by culturing. Bifidobacteria that were administered passed successfully through the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract, and were found in numbers higher than 10⁹ CFU/g for two weeks. RRBs colonized the intestines of calves for at least 63 days in both treatment groups. Significantly higher total counts of bifidobacteria were found in the treated groups, compared to the control group. Reduction in Escherichia coli and total coliforms numbers, and an increase in lactobacilli counts were observed in both experimental groups following the application of the probiotic mixtures. Our results show that both forms of administering probiotic bifidobacteria to calves are effective, but that the freeze-dried form is more suitable from a practical viewpoint.

In this study, the quality of northern pike eggs collected by the traditional method (hand stripping) and the pneumatic method (air stripping) was compared. Additionally, different activation solutions (Billard solution, hatchery water, and Woynarovich solution) were tested for their effects on egg fertilization under artificial conditions. After the eggs were collected, the Pseudo-Gonado-Somatic Index (PGSI) was measured. Although the values of the PGSI in the samples obtained with use of air stripping were lower (13.8 ± 3.9%), they did not differ statistically from those obtained by hand stripping (16.5 ± 5.4%). Hatchery water and Woynarovich solution were found to be the most suitable solutions for sperm activation using the Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) system as compared to the Billard solution. Hand stripping was found to negatively affect the percentage of fertilized eggs and the percentage of hatched larvae in samples fertilized in hatchery water and Woynarovich solution. When the traditional method of egg collection was used, there were no differences in the percentage of fertilization and the percentage of hatched larvae between Billard solution (54.0 ± 21.5% and 44.1 ± 21.9%, respectively), hatchery water (60.0 ± 22.5% and 55.9 ± 22.8%, respectively), and Woynarovich solution (72.0 ± 25.8% and 69.0 ± 23.9%, respectively) treatments. Air stripped eggs showed a higher fertilization rate when hatchery water or Woynarovich solution was applied (86.2 ± 9.3% and 92.4 ± 3.9%, respectively). Also hatching rate was the highest in these samples (83.0 ± 8.4% and 88.3 ± 6.2%). The application of the pneumatic method and Woynarovich solution to northern pike artificial fertilization resulted in higher fertilization and hatching rates as compared to other techniques. Because this was successful in northern pike, the use of air stripping is a promising option for artificial reproduction in other fish species.

Eggshell quality is one of the most significant factors affecting poultry industry; it economically influences egg production and hatchability. Eggshell consists of shell membranes and the true shell that includes mammillary layer, palisade layer, and cuticle. Measurements of eggshell quality include eggshell weight, shell percentage, breaking strength, thickness, and density. Mainly eggshell thickness and strength are affected by the time of egg components passage through the shell gland (uterus), eggshell ultra-structure (deposition of major units), and micro-structure (crystals size and orientation). Shell quality is affected by several internal and external factors. Major factors determining the quality or structure of eggshell are oviposition time, age, genotype, and housing system. Eggshell quality can be improved through optimization of genotype, housing system, and mineral nutrition.

CpG islands (CGIs) are an important group of CpG dinucleotides in the guanine- and cytosine-rich regions as they harbour functionally relevant epigenetic loci for whole genome studies. As a matter of fact, since there has not been a formal comparative analysis of CGIs in domestic even-toed ungulate genomes, this study was performed to serve this comparison. The Hidden Markov Model was used to detect CGIs in the genomes. The results indicated that the CGIs number and CGI densities had scant variations across genomes. The goat genome had the highest number of CGIs (99 070), whereas the alpaca genome had the highest CGI density (43.39 CGIs/Mb). Significant positive correlations were observed among CGI densities with chromosome pair number, observed CpG/expected CpG, recombination rate, and gene density. When the size of chromosomes increased, the CGI densities decreased and a trend of higher CGI densities in the telomeric regions was observed. Only 10.96% of CGIs were methylated underscoring this postulation that the majority of CGIs remains to be unmethylated. The highest amount of the methylated CGIs was observed in the introns, intergenic, and coding (CDS) regions and the lowest amount of the methylated CGIs was observed in the promoter regions, implying that the DNA methylation of CGIs may control gene expression at the genome level. Detected differences between even-toed ungulate and other vertebrate genomes showed that CGI densities varied greatly among the genomes. These findings would contribute to better understanding the even-toed ungulate (epi) genomes, the role of CGIs in epigenomic functions and molecular evolution.

Breeding of hybrids between wild boars and domestic pigs is in the consumer interest because of the need to ensure food security and diversification via widening the genetic basis of animals reared for meat. To expand the knowledge about their nutritional requirements, this study aimed to investigate hindgut fermentation in these animals. Caecal and colon cultures were incubated for 12 h in vitro with or without wheat bran as a supplementary substrate. Short-chain fatty acids, ammonia, methane, and total gas production were determined. The total concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in unincubated caecal and colon samples were 93.1 and 115 mmol/kg, respectively. The short-chain fatty acid profile in fresh hindgut contents was characterized by a high molar proportion of acetate (74.8-75.0 mol%), followed by propionate (18.2-18.5 mol%) and butyrate (5.4-5.5 mol%). The presence of wheat bran lowered acetate and increased butyrate, propionate, and valerate molar proportions. The ammonia level remained low (1.3-2.43 mmol/kg) regardless of the addition of the substrate. The relatively low pH and ammonia concentration in wild boar/pig hybrids may be caused by the low level of crude protein in diet of these animals. The rate of methanogenesis increased during the fermentation simultaneously with an increase in the production of gases after wheat bran addition. Methane production in the caecal and colon samples incubated with the substrate reached 15.6 and 16.1 mmol/kg, respectively. The hindgut fermentation pattern in wild boar/pig hybrids generally resembled that described earlier in domestic pigs, although some observed dissimilarities may be caused by distinct microbial activity.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of four anaesthetics on haematological and biochemical blood profiles in burbot Lota lota L. Blood profiles of burbot were evaluated 10 min and 24 h after anaesthesia with tricaine methanesulfonate (MS 222) (100 mg/l), clove oil (33 mg/l), 2-phenoxyethanol (0.3 ml/l), Propiscin (1 ml/l) and compared to non-anaesthetized control. The tested anaesthetics had no effect on haematological profile of burbot. The exposure to clove oil, 2-phenoxyethanol, and Propiscin significantly (P < 0.01) influenced the level of ammonia and glucose. The level of lactate was significantly (P < 0.01) increased following anaesthesia with 2-phenoxyethanol and Propiscin. The levels of total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, and calcium were higher (P < 0.01) with clove oil, 2-phenoxyethanol, and Propiscin compared to control. The use of MS 222 showed the lowest effect on haematological and biochemical blood profile and is recommended as a suitable anaesthetic for burbot.

In human and animal genetics dense single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels are widely used to describe genetic variation. In particular genomic selection in dairy cattle has become a routinely applied tool for prediction of additive genetic values of animals, especially of young selection candidates. The aim of the study was to investigate how well an additive genetic value can be predicted using various sets of approximately 3000 SNPs selected out of the 54 001 SNPs in an Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip high density panel. Effects of SNPs from the nine subsets of the 54 001 panel were estimated using a model with a random uncorrelated SNPs effect based on a training data set of 1216 Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls whose phenotypic records were approximated by deregressed estimated breeding values for milk, protein, and fat yields. Predictive ability of the low density panels was assessed using a validation data set of 622 bulls. Correlations between direct and conventional breeding values routinely estimated for the Polish population were similar across traits and clearly across sets of SNPs. For the training data set correlations varied between 0.94 and 0.98, for the validation data set between 0.25 and 0.46. The corresponding correlations estimated using the 54 001 panel were: 0.98 for the three traits (training), 0.98 (milk and fat yields, validation), and 0.97 (protein yield, validation). The optimal subset consisted of SNPs selected based on their highest effects for milk yield obtained from the evaluation of all 54 001 SNPs. A low density SNP panel allows for reasonably good prediction of future breeding values. Even though correlations between direct and conventional breeding values were moderate, for young selection candidates a low density panel is a better predictor than a commonly used average of parental breeding values.

The study was aimed at determining the chemical composition, in sacco ruminal dry matter and organic matter degradability of leaves and fruits of tropical condensed tannin rich multipurpose tree species (MPTS). The MPTS studied were Ekebergia capenesis, Ficus sycomorus, Maesa lanceolata, and Rhus glutinosa. Chemical composition of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC), and condensed tannin (CT) was determined. In sacco rumen degradability was measured using three rumen fistulated Holstein Friesian-Boran cross steers at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. The DM and organic matter (OM) degradability data were fitted to the equation Y = a + b(1 - e^-ct). The values for each chemical constituent ranged 5.43-11.49% (CA), 7.97-17.06% (CP), 1.57-31% (EE), 12.20-27.5% (CF), 5.84-39.30% (NFC), and 7.2-16.72% (CT). Ekebergia capensis leaves had the greatest values for slowly degradable fraction (b), effective degradability (ED), and rate of degradation (c) in DM (P < 0.001) whereas E. capensis fruit had significantly the greatest soluble fraction (a), potential degradability (b), and effective degradability (ED) values as compared to the a, PD, and ED values in the fruits of other plants(P < 0.001). Yet in OM degradation kinetics, the greatest and least values of potential degradability (PD) were recorded for F. sycomorus (89.89%) and E. capensis (55.90%) leaves (P < 0.001). Similar to the rapidly soluble fraction a, ED was found to be the greatest in fruits as compared to leaves of the plants (P < 0.001). Generally variation of plant parts led to significant differences in chemical composition, DM, and OM degradability and the degradable parameters. The leaves and fruits recorded more than 60% DM and OM degradability at 24 h, which implied that they were all greatly degradable in the rumen.

Effects of age at first calving (AFC) on functional longevity of Czech Holstein cows and their reproduction traits in the first lactation were analyzed using the first lactation data of 605 538 Holstein cows first calved from 1993 to 2008. Three classes were formed for AFC: low age class (16-24 months), average age class (25-30 months), and high age class (33-46 months). Effects of AFC on length of productive life (LPL), days open (DO), days between calving and first service (CTFS), and days between first service and conception in the first lactation (FSTC) were estimated by survival and linear model analyses. It was found that LPL was on average slightly shorter for cows with higher AFC who showed also a lower proportion of higher lactations and tended to longer DO and longer CTFS in the first parity. The results of survival analysis indicate that cows with higher AFC had a tendency to shorter LPL (risk of culling 1.118) and to longer DO (risk of conception 0.758), CTFS (risk of conception 0.757), and FSTC (risk of conception 0.754) in comparison with cows with lower AFC. When the effect of fertility traits on LPL was analyzed, it was found that longer DO, CTFS, and FSTC were connected with a lower risk of culling (0.132, 0.183, 0.206) regardless of the particular AFC group. In linear model analysis, the effects of AFC group were estimated from two datasets, where the second dataset included also the missing values of fertility traits. It was found that the cows group with the highest AFC showed worse values of fertility traits (16.75, 19.69, 20.46 days) than the cows groups with lower AFC. Results of all analyses showed that a high AFC is connected with worse cow's fertility at the first lactation and with lower cow's LPL.

Isoflavan equol has recently been assessed in human nutrition as a potent estrogen with various health benefits. It is produced by intestinal microflora from isoflavones (IF) formononetin and daidzein. These dietary precursors are present particularly in soy products. However, only 20-35% of the Western adult population is capable of producing equol from the ingested IF. Cow's milk was proved to be an important source of equol produced from the IF in the rumen and intestines. Among forages, red clover (Trifolium pratense) is by far the most important source of both the IF. Their contents in fresh red clover forage are affected by variety and by several environmental factors. Leaves have the highest IF contents. Available data on changes in IF contents during wilting, drying, and ensiling are ambiguous. Content of equol in milk produced by dairy cows fed fresh or ensiled red clover can be at the level of several hundreds μg per litre.

Oxidant and antioxidant activity in seminal plasma was compared with that in spermatozoa of teleost (common carp Cyprinus carpio and brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis) and chondrostean (Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii, and sterlet Acipenser ruthenus) fishes. No differences were found between seminal plasma and spermatozoa in the level of thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substance (0.24 ± 0.08 to 0.33 ± 0.04 nmol/mg proteins) in Russian sturgeon, Siberian sturgeon, and sterlet. Carbonyl protein concentration was significantly higher in spermatozoa than in seminal plasma of all studied species. Analyzed antioxidants included superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase activity. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were detected between seminal plasma and spermatozoa in total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR). Total glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was significantly higher in brook trout (12.56 ± 3.23 mU/mg proteins) and Russian sturgeon (11.56 ± 3.12 mU/mg proteins) spermatozoa compared to seminal plasma (6.81 ± 1.56 mU/mg proteins in brook trout and 9.56 ± 3.12 mU/mg proteins in Russian sturgeon). This study provides new data on oxidant and antioxidant balance between spermatozoa and seminal plasma that may be of value in the development of methods for artificial reproduction of teleost and chondrostean species.

In association mapping, haplotype-based methods are generally regarded to provide higher power and increased precision than methods based on single markers. For haplotype-based association mapping most studies use a fixed haplotype effect in the model. However, an increase in haplotype length raises the number of parameters in the model, resulting in low accuracy of the estimates especially for the low-frequency haplotypes. Modeling of haplotype effects can be improved if they are assumed to be random effects, as only one parameter, i.e. haplotype variance, needs to be estimated compared to estimating the effects of all different haplotypes in a fixed haplotype model. Using simulated data, we investigated statistical models where haplotypes were fitted either as a fixed or random effect and we compared them for the power, precision, and type I error. We investigated five haplotype lengths of 2, 4, 6, 10 and 20. The simulated data resembled the Danish Holstein cattle pedigree representing a complex relationship structure and QTL effects of different sizes were simulated. We observed that the random haplotype models had high power and very low type I error rates (after the Bonferroni correction), while the fixed haplotype models had lower power and excessively high type I errors. Haplotype length of 4 to 6 gave the best results for random model in the present study. Though the present study was conducted on data structure more frequent in livestock, our findings on random vs. fixed haplotype effects in association mapping models are applicable to data from other species with a similar pedigree structure.

The role of orexin-A in the regulation of prolactin secretion in lambs born in different photoperiods was determined. The experiment was conducted with 30 female lambs. Pituitary glands were collected from 40-day-old lambs in three different seasons (n = 10 per each season) and photoperiods (light (L) hours to darkness (D) hours): long (May - L 14 : D 10), intermediate (August - L 13 : D 11), and short (December - L 10 : D 14). At 40 days of age, the lambs were decapitated, and their pituitaries were dissected and cut in half along the longitudinal fissure so that each half contained both glandular and nervous parts. The in vitro incubation of the glands was performed for 3 h in Parker's medium at 37°C. In each season, the control pituitary glands (K1, K2, K3) were incubated in Parker's medium, while the experimental pituitary glands (Ox1, Ox2, Ox3) were incubated in medium containing 1000 ng/ml of exogenous orexin. The administration of orexin-A during the long photoperiod (May) caused a significant (P ≤ 0.01) increase in prolactin secretion during the first hour of incubation (Ox1: 47.56 ± 8.4 ng/ml vs K1: 36.08 ± 7.8 ng/ml). During the intermediate photoperiod (August), a significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher concentration of prolactin was observed in the first hour of incubation in the Ox2 group than in the control group (K2). During the first hour of incubation in December, the prolactin concentrations were significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher in the Ox3 group than in the K3 group. Orexin-A increased prolactin secretion from pituitary explants collected from lambs born under all investigated time-points. The study results indicate that orexin-A is a stimulatory factor of prolactin secretion in sheep.

The objective of the experiment was to determine the effects of different levels of phytase (0, 150, 250, and 350 phytase units (FTU)/kg; F) produced by Aspergillus niger in the diets of hens fed decreased contents of non-phytate phosphorus (1.8 and 2.1 g/kg; NPP) on the hen performance, egg quality, digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in the ileum, and representation of bacterial species in the ileum and caecum. The diet with 2.1 g/kg of NPP and 350 FTU/kg significantly decreased egg weight (P < 0.001) and egg mass production (P < 0.001). However, this treatment had the highest values for shell percentage (P = 0.002), shell thickness (P = 0.006), and shell index (P = 0.003). The supplementation with F at 350 FTU/kg to the diet with 1.8 g/kg of NPP increased the shell quality to a level that was comparable with the eggs from the hens fed the diet with only 2.1 g/kg of NPP. With the addition of F (350 FTU/kg) to the mixed feed with 1.8 g/kg of NPP, the digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in the ileum increased by 6.1% and 7.4%, respectively, although the increases were not significant. Additionally, the frequency of Lactobacillus spp. was higher in the ileum and caecum of hens fed the diet enriched with F than in those fed a diet without F addition. The dietary manipulations with NPP and F improved some performance and shell quality characteristics, and the addition of 3-phytase at a level of 350 FTU per kg to the low-P diet increased the digestibility of minerals and changed the microflora of the digestive tract.

The objective of the present study was to determine the association between the uterine size and age, body weight, growth rate, and reproductive status in Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred gilts. Genital organs from 310 gilts (302.6 ± 2.9 days of age, 145.2 ± 1.2 kg body weight) were examined. The gilts were classified into two groups according to reproductive status: non-cyclic (n = 86) and cyclic (n = 224). The uterine weight in non-cyclic gilts was lower than that in cyclic ones (128 ± 8.1 and 694 ± 17.9 g, P < 0.001). Likewise, the length of the uterus in non-cyclic gilts was shorter than that in cyclic gilts (123 ± 2.9 and 252 ± 4.6 cm, P < 0.001). The weight of the uteri correlated with the body weight (r = 0.48, P < 0.001) and growth rate (r = 0.33, P < 0.001) of the gilts but not with their age (P > 0.05). For every 10 kg increase in the body weight of the gilts, an increase of 67 g in uterine weight (P < 0.001) and 21 cm in uterine length (P < 0.001) was observed.

Iron (Fe) is an essential mineral for animal development and function. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of replacing FeSO₄ with iron glycine chelate (Fe-Gly) in the equal Fe level in diets on broiler chickens. The broilers were randomly allotted to 6 dietary treatments with 5 replicate pens and 10 birds per pen. The treatments consisted of: Control group (100 mg Fe from FeSO₄/kg diet), Experimental group 1 (80 mg Fe from FeSO₄ + 20 mg Fe from Fe-Gly/kg diet), Experimental group 2 (60 mg Fe from FeSO₄ + 40 mg Fe from Fe-Gly/kg diet), Experimental group 3 (40 mg Fe from FeSO₄ + 60 mg Fe from Fe-Gly/kg diet), Experimental group 4 (20 mg Fe from FeSO₄ + 80 mg Fe from Fe-Gly/kg diet), and Experimental group 5 (100 mg Fe from Fe-Gly/kg diet). The results showed that replacing FeSO₄ with Fe-Gly in the diets did not significantly improve broiler growth performance (P > 0.05). But it significantly (P < 0.05) improved the blood biochemical parameters. Xanthione oxidase activity in blood serum showed no significant difference between all treatments at day 21 except for Experimental group 5 (P > 0.05). In addition, catalase activity in blood serum and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity in liver were increased with the increasing replacement level of Fe-Gly (P < 0.05). But for all of the above indicators, the observed values of Experimental groups 3, 4, and 5 did not significantly differ (P > 0.05). This study indicates that replacing FeSO₄ with Fe-Gly in the equal Fe level in the diets cannot improve the growth performance of broilers. But it can effectively improve the blood biochemical parameters and antioxidative enzyme activity. The least substitution ratio for low feeding cost and beneficial effect on the broilers was 60%.

The objective of the study was to estimate the heterozygosity and phylogenetic relationship between horse breeds in Poland, according to erythrocyte antigens and protein polymorphisms. The study included 15 434 horses: Polish Coldblood, Małopolski, Wielkopolski, Hucul, Polish Konik, Biłgorajski, Felin Pony, and ponies of Shetland origin. A total of 14 loci were studied: seven blood groups and seven protein polymorphism systems. Phylogenetic trees obtained for the erythrocyte antigens and protein variants were mostly alike which suggests that both kinds of markers may be equally used in estimating the similarity of animal populations. The lower polymorphism of the structural and enzymatic proteins, as compared with the erythrocyte antigen, resulted in a lower number of alleles per locus, lower heterozygosity, and closer genetic distances. The level of heterozygosity and phylogenetic trees of the breeds turned out to be mostly concordant with the known history of the populations. Małopolski and Wielkopolski horses are the most homozygous, the Huculs, Polish Koniks, and Biłgorajskis have a middle position, while the Polish Coldbloods and the ponies are the most heterozygous. The Polish Koniks are the most related to other breeds which shows that all the breeds studied, Polish Coldbloods included, have many indigenous ancestors. The Huculs, Polish Koniks, and Biłgorajskis are closely related. In spite of different histories, the Małopolski and Wielkopolski horses have the closest relationship. The Felin Ponies cluster together with the Shetlands. According to the blood groups and protein variation, the genetic diversity of the studied horse breeds is low and mainly due to individual differences. The low genetic variability of the breeds suggests reconsidering the long-term strategies of horse breeding in Poland, particularly of the conserved breeds.