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The aim of the study was to analyze the pattern of oviposition time in laying sequences in broiler breeder hens and to determine a relationship between egg position in the sequence and egg quality. The sequences were described using mean oviposition time (hour) within a sequence, mean lag of oviposition time between successive ovipositions, and mean and cumulative lag of oviposition for a sequence. Egg weight, percentage of egg components and shape index were determined for successive eggs in a sequence. The 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- to 6- and 7- to 9-egg sequences were considered. The light/dark regime was 16 h/8 h (05:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m.). Hens laid the first egg in a sequence about 3.5 h after the beginning of the photoperiod. With increasing sequence length, the first egg was laid sooner after the beginning of the photoperiod and the intervals between successive ovipositions shortened. This suggests that when planning the frequency of egg collection in a flock of broiler breeder hens, one should account for changes in the egg sequence length during the production period. No significant relationship between egg position in the sequence and quality of egg components was observed.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of organic acids and the prebiotic fructans on egg production and eggshell quality when added to the layer diet with different levels of calcium and phosphorus. The experiment was carried out on 168 Bovans Brown hens, allocated to 14 groups of 12 replications. Each hen (replication) was kept in an individual cage 40 cm × 40 cm in size. A 2 × 7 factorial arrangement, with two dietary levels of calcium and phosphorus (normal - 3.70% Ca, 0.65% P, and reduced - 3.25% Ca, 0.60% P) and with diets supplemented by selected additives (none, 0.75% inulin, 0.75% oligofructose, 0.50% volatile fatty acids (VFA), 0.25% medium chain fatty acid (MCFA), 0.30% VFA + 0.20% MCFA, 0.75% inulin + 0.50% VFA) was used. The experiment was carried out over 34 weeks, from the age of 26 to 70 weeks. There were no statistically confirmed effects of the factors studied in this experiment on egg performance, i.e. laying rate, egg mass, feed intake and feed conversion. Reducing the dietary levels of Ca and P significantly decreased eggshell percent, thickness, density and breaking strength. The additives used had a considerable effect on eggshell quality at 46, 58 and 70 weeks of age, and these positive effects were most pronounced in the case of inulin and MCFA. There was no significant interaction between Ca and P dietary levels and the additives used. It was thus concluded that selected feed additives which lower the pH of the diet and intestinal content can beneficially influence eggshell quality in older high-producing laying hens.

Technical information and data on the physical and mechanical properties of agricultural and animal products are necessary to design various equipments for agriculture and industry. In this study some physical properties such as mass, length, diameter, geometric mean diameter, surface area, sphericity, volume, coefficient of friction and packaging coefficient were determined for Japanese quail eggs. Furthermore, the mechanical behaviour of Japanese quail eggs was determined in terms of average rupture force, deformation and toughness (energy absorbed by the Japanese quail eggs per unit volume). Egg samples were compressed along their X and Z-axes. The average values of their mass, length, width, shell thickness, geometric mean diameter, surface area, sphericity, volume and packaging coefficient were measured to be 12.69 g, 34.87 mm, 26.20 mm, 0.27 mm, 28.82 mm, 2 608.5 mm², 1.10, 359.17 mm³, 0.469, respectively. The values of the coefficient of friction for quail eggs on the surfaces of plywood, glass, galvanized steel and fibreglass were 0.301, 0.282, 0.274 and 0.266, respectively. The highest rupture force, deformation and toughness were obtained when Japanese quail eggs were loaded along their X-axis. Compression along the Z-axis required the least compressive force to break the eggs as compared to the other compression axes. Rupture force, deformation, absorbed energy and toughness for the X-front axis were determined to be 10.51 N, 1.5 mm, 7.88 Nmm and 0.219 Mj/mm², respectively.

Our study deals with a possibility of determining true protein and casein in cow's, ewe's and goat's milk and in ewe's colostrums by FT NIR spectroscopy. Samples of milk were analysed by FT NIR in the reflectance mode with the transflectance cuvette. The values of correlation coefficients of calibration were as follows: cow's protein 0.943; cow's casein 0.964; ewe's protein 0.997; ewe's casein 0.977; goat's protein 0.989; goat's casein 0.890; ewe's colostrum protein 0.983. Calibration was tested using the same set of samples by the cross validation method. The values of correlation coefficients of validation were as follows: cow's protein 0.923; cow's casein 0.910; ewe's protein 0.994; ewe's casein 0.963; goat's protein 0.972; goat's casein 0.814; ewe's colostrum protein 0.871. The NIRS results were compared with reference data and no significant differences between them were found (P = 0.05). Results of this study indicate that FT NIR spectroscopy can be used for a rapid analysis of protein and casein in cow's, ewe's and goat's milk and ewe's colostrum.

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

In this study the change in amino acid profile in cow's colostrum and transient milk during the first week after parturition was examined in a Hungarian Charolais herd. Experiments were carried out with n = 37 Charolais cows in the same herd in the spring (March-April) of two consecutive years (Experiment 1: 2002, n = 15; and Experiment 2: 2003, n = 22). Colostrum and milk samples were taken by hand milking immediately after delivery, and in 24, 48, 72, and 168 hours post partum. Amino acid contents (%) in samples were measured in milk protein with an automatic amino acid analyser. Data were processed by the software of SPSS.10 statistical program package. In the postpartal period, among essential amino acids significant increases were recorded in methionine, isoleucine, lysine, and phenylalanine, and among non-essential amino acids glutamic acid and proline increased significantly. Simultaneous decreases were recorded in valine, cysteine, aspartic acid, serine, glycine, and arginine. Inconsistent figures were determined for histidine, leucine, tyrosine, and alanine content between Experiment 1 and Experiment 2.

Fish fauna and macrozoobenthos were surveyed at 51 and 32 sampling sites, respectively, in mountain and submountain streams of the Vlara stream drainage area in the Bílé Karpaty Mountains. The aim of the study was to bring wide knowledge of their aquatic communities with their indicative value of the ecological quality of particular sites. Fish were sampled by electrofishing and macrozoobenthos was collected by kick-sampling using a bottom net (mesh size 500 μm) at the majority of the respective sites. In total, 15 fish species were registered in all profiles. At four headwater sites no fish were recorded at all. Brown trout (Salmo trutta m. fario) and stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) were the most frequent species at the sites under study (73% and 67%, respectively). A similar frequency (41%) was documented for chub (Leuciscus cephalus), gudgeon (Gobio gobio) and minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus). The species richness increased downstream in the mainstream of the Vlára stream with the maximum of 10 species found at the lowest study site. Qualitative data on fish assemblages did not fully correspond with the environmental stress. On the other hand, macrozoobenthos indicated a minor decrease in water quality downstream of small villages and farms. Larvae of dipterans (Chironomidae and Simuliidae in particular) and mayflies (Ephemeroptera) dominated among the temporary water macroinvertebrates while numerous populations of Gammarus fossarum (Amphipoda) and in some cases also of Asellus aquaticus (Isopoda) were recorded as permanent inhabitants of clean and polluted stretches, respectively.

The objective of this study was to provide some data on concentrations of seminal plasma free amino acids (FAAs) in order to compare these values with different total contents of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (MAS) in the semen of 37 experimental adult boars. The boars were kept in the same housing, feeding and breeding conditions. Immediately after collection, semen gel free volume, sperm concentration and total MAS were determined microscopically. The boars were divided into two groups (A - n = 24, B - n = 13) according to the significantly different total MAS content (x: A = 9.46 ± 4.95, B = 46.00 ± 14.54%, P < 0.01). Deproteinized seminal plasma samples (supernatant) were analysed for concentrations of 13 FAAs: Tau, Asp, Thr, Ser, Glu, Gly, Ala, Val, Met, Ile, Leu, Tyr and Lys by liquid chromatography (AAA 339 M analyser). A highly significant correlation was determined between total MAS and total FAA content in all experimental boars (n = 37, r = -0.60, P < 0.01). Glutamic acid was a predominant FAA in seminal plasma in both groups of boars (x: A = 28.49 vs. B = 17.60μM/100 ml) but its concentration was significantly higher in group A (P < 0.01). The proportion (%) of glutamic acid concentration in the total content of FAAs in both groups of boars was nearly equal (A = 38.1 vs. B = 38.9%, P > 0.05) as well as the proportion index of the individual FAAs calculated from glutamic acid (= 100%). The differences in the particular FAAs recorded between group A and group B were statistically significant for 11 out of the 13 FAAs observed (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) in favour of group A as well as in the total calculated content of FAAs per boar (x: 74.70 vs. 45.23μM/100 ml, P < 0.01). A significantly negative relationship between the MAS content and the concentration of seminal plasma FAAs (r = -0.60, P < 0.01) is the main result of this study with regard to the markers for potential boar semen fertility estimation.

This study compares the genetic variation in seven cattle breeds from theterritory ofCentralEurope. Eleven polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to detect differences in the polymorphism of genetic markers in Czech Pied (Simmental), Slovakian Pied (Simmental), Slovakian Pinzgau,Holstein, Polish Red, German Red, and Czech Red breeds. For these loci, allele frequencies, heterozygosity, polymorphism information content, effective population size, and genetic distances were evaluated. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean and it showed that the Central European Red breeds tended to cluster together, whereas theHolstein was the most divergent from the remaining breeds. These data are discussed in the context of the known origin of respective breeds.

Two-year data from terminal study conducted to evaluate post-weaning growth and carcass traits of Texel, Suffolk and Columbia sired offspring were used to evaluate the effect of breed on cultural energy expenditure of lamb production. Each year whiteface ewes (n = 82) composed of primarily Polypay × Dorset ewes were exposed to Texel, Suffolk or Columbia rams for 35 days in the breeding season. The ewes were wintered outdoors on average-quality lucerne hay according to NRC (1985) requirements and were not provided any concentrate during late gestation or lactation. A total of 279 lambs were born with an average of 1.7 lambs per ewe and weaned lambs were used in the study. The lambs were weaned on average at 70 days of age and lambs from each sire breed were placed either in feedlot or on pasture. Texel and Suffolk sired lambs had higher weaning weight than Columbia sired lambs (P < 0.01). Lambs in the feedlot were fed shelled maize and pelleted protein supplement. Lambs on pasture grazed for 63 days and received 455 g concentrate daily and later they were placed in the feedlot. For the cultural energy analysis, pasture establishment and maintenance, feed in feedlot and on pasture, transportation, labour, machinery, electricity and other inputs were calculated and corresponding values for each input were obtained from literature. It was assumed for the analysis that 20 percent of ewes were culled and lambs sold after weaning were included in the analysis. Texel and Columbia breeds had a higher energy input per kg live weight than Suffolk breed (P < 0.04). There was no difference between breeds in terms of energy input per kg carcass (P > 0.4). Suffolk breed had a lower cultural energy ratio for the protein energy output than Columbia and Texel breed (P < 0.02). Energy output ratio defined as kjoule input/kjoule output was better for Suffolk breed and it was different from that of Columbia and Texel breed (P < 0.03).

Forty samples of grass silages, made from the five most widely used grass species in ruminant nutrition (Dactylis glomerata L.,Phleum pratense L., Lolium perenne L., Festuca arundinacea L. and hybrid Felina) were tested in the present study. These grass species conserved by an ensiling process were compared among each other according to dry matter (DM) rumen degradability parameters (a = portion of DM solubilized at initiation of incubation, b = fraction of DM potentially degradable in the rumen, c = rate constant of disappearance of fraction b and ED_DM = effective degradability of DM, estimated for each ingredient assuming the rumen solid outflow rates of 0.02 (ED_DM2), 0.05 (ED_DM5) and 0.08 (ED_DM8) h^-1). Based on the chemical composition of grass silages the regression equations for prediction of ED_DM were evaluated. The influence of the ensiling process on dry matter degradability parameters was also assessed. The best values of ED_DM were determined for Lolium perenne (ED_DM2 = 753.2, ED_DM5 = 631.1 and ED_DM8 = 567.7 g/kg DM). The best predictor was NDF (R²-values of 0.757 (ED_DM2), 0.863 (ED_DM5) and 0.906 (ED_DM8)). Using two predictors the accuracy level increased. The combination of CF and NDF gave R²-values 0.892, 0.920 and 0.929 for ED_DM2, ED_DM5 and ED_DM8, respectively. The regression equations based on the most important grass species harvested in different vegetation periods seem to be a useful tool for practical use. No significant P < 0.05) effect of the ensiling process in relation to dry matter rumen degradability parameters was proved.

The aim of the paper was to analyse congenital disorders in the Czech cattle population in 1986-2001. The offspring of 474 sires - 215 Czech Simmental, 236 Holstein, and 23 beef - were diagnosed with congenital disorders which were unevenly distributed because only 18 occurred in the progeny of 10 and more sires, in contrast to 88 occurring in the progeny of 1 sire only. Umbilical hernia was the most frequently noted disorder, and 136 sires fathered progeny with limb anomalies. The most frequent gestational accident was schistosomus reflexus, the results suggesting a familial burden. Three sires fathering offspring with the afflicted spinal column and limbs were heterozygous for Complex Vertebral Malformation (CVM) though they had not been reported as such. Foetal defects and stillbirth were quite frequent, and the calves affected were fathered by 56 sires. In rare disorders with a low incidence, an accurate genetic analysis or even simple discrimination between inherited and acquired defects is problematic. It would be our recommendation that those sires with a higher incidence of defects among their offspring should be disqualified from fathering stock bulls, or culled.

In this study genetic diversity, population structure and genetic relationships of Tsigai populations in Slovakia were investigated using microsatellite markers. Altogether 195 animals from 12 populations were genotyped for 16 microsatellites. 212 alleles were detected on the loci. The number of identified alleles per locus ranged from 11 to 35. In the majority of the populations heterozygosity deficiency and potential risks of inbreeding could be determined. High values of F_ST (0.133) across all the loci revealed a substantial degree of population differentiation. The estimation of genetic distance value showed that the Slovak Vojin population was the most different from the other populations. The 12 examined populations were able to group into 4 clusters. With this result our aim is to help the Slovak sheep breeders to establish their own mating system, to avoid genetic loss and to prevent diversity of Tsigai breed in Slovakia.

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

The contamination of bulk samples of cow's raw milk (n = 491) by psychrotrophic lipolytic bacteria (PLiBC), total count of psychrotrophic bacteria (PBC) and mesophilic bacteria (TBC) was monitored for two years on eight dairy farms and the correlations among these groups of bacteria were analysed. An increase in TBC, PBC and PLiBC and in the values of free fatty acids (FFA) was tested experimentally in three milk samples in relation to time (analyses were done in 24-hour intervals until 96 hours) and storage temperature of milk samples (4; 6.5 and 10°C). Bacterial contamination of milk was determined by culture methods in accordance with IDF standards, the values of FFA were determined by an extraction-titration method. These mean values were determined in the set of samples (n = 491): PLiBC 659 CFU/ml, PBC 2 932 CFU/ml and TBC 18 932 CFU/ml. A high correlation was proved between values of PBC and PLiBC (r = 0.87; P < 0.001) while the correlation between TBC and PBC (r = 0.65; P < 0.001) and between PLiBC and TBC (r = 0.59; P < 0.001) was on a medium level. The proportional index p_I for PLiBC/PBC was 0.20, for PLiBC/TBC 0.03 and for PBC/TBC 0.16. In seasonal dynamics a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001; P < 0.05) between the increased values of TBC in the summer season was proved compared to the winter and spring season. The differences in the seasonal variation of PBC and PLiBC values were not significant. Experimental investigation of an increase in the values of tested parameters showed that at temperatures of milk sample storage 4 and 6.5°C TBC did not exceed the permissible hygienic value (100 000 CFU/ml) even after 96 hours while at 10°C it amounted to 90 000 CFU/ml after 48 hours and the limit for TBC was exceeded several times after 96 hours. PBC, which is not inhibited by cold storage to such a large extent, did not exceed the hygienic limit value for PBC (50 000 CFU/ml) even after 96 hours when milk samples were stored at 4°C, but at 6.5°C after 72 hours and at 10°C already after 48 hours the values 6 and 20 times higher, respectively, than the hygienic limit were recorded. A similar trend was observed in PLiBC, which exceeded the hazardous limit (43 000 CFU/ml) at 6.5°C after 96 hours and at 10°C already after 48 hours whereas at 4°C the limit value was not exceeded even after 96 hours. The content of FFA also increased in relation to the storage time and temperature of milk samples but in comparison with the increase in the tested groups of microorganisms the increase in FFA showed a higher correlation with storage time compared to storage temperature. A medium correlation was calculated between PLiBC and/or PBC and FFA content (r = 0.52; r = 0.57; P < 0.001).

: In chick hatcheries, males of laying hybrids are considered to be "waste" and the majority of these males are killed just after hatching. On the other hand, the interest of consumers in products from alternative systems (organic, free-range) is increasing. The idea was to evaluate the meat quality of these males when they have access to free range because there is not such a study available. The aim of this study was to compare the physical and sensory quality of the meat of layer males with fast-growing broilers at the same age when they had both access to free range and when they were fed to 49 and 90 days of age. Slow-growing ISABROWN (IB) layer males and fast-growing Ross 308 (RS) chickens were kept in free-range conditions to evaluate carcass and meat quality at 49 days and 90 days of age. Live weight, carcass yield, breast meat yield and the proportion of abdominal fat were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in RS at both ages. The proportions of fat in the breast meat were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in IB at both ages. The value of pH 24 h was significantly higher in IB and the meat was darker (P < 0.001) in these chickens. The overall acceptability was significantly better (P < 0.01) in IB at 90 days of age. The laying males are acceptable for an alternative system of poultry meat production from the aspect of meat quality. The quality was comparable or even higher in comparison with fast-growing chickens.

The relationships between conformation and longevity traits were analysed in 58 493 Czech Fleckvieh cows first calved from 1994 to 2003. All cows were scored for conformation during the first lactation. Genetic correlations between longevity and conformation traits were estimated by bivariate runs using the VCE 4.0 program for variance component estimation. The values of heritability for conformation traits were in the range from 0.06 to 0.63 and for longevity traits from 0.04 to 0.05. Low or intermediate genetic relationships between recorded linear traits and longevity trait were found. The correlations were lower for functional longevity. Body measurements showed negative genetic correlations with real as well as functional longevity (-0.12 to -0.29). The dairy character negatively correlated with longevity traits (-0.18 to -0.26). The muscularity and udder showed a zero correlation with functional longevity, while the feet and legs were not correlated with real longevity. The highest positive genetic correlations between real longevity and objectively scored linear type traits were found for hock (0.24), rear udder attachment (0.28), fore udder length (0.16) and central ligament (0.11). On the contrary, the correlation between the udder depth and the milk-corrected longevity was positive (0.28) and higher than in the case of real longevity.

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

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

Pig oocytes matured in vitro were parthenogenetically activated using nitric oxide donor SNAP (2mM). Continuous treatment successfully activated the oocytes only after more than 12 hours of exposure. Pulsatile treatments during which oocytes were repeatedly exposed to 2mM SNAP for a short time (10, 20 or 30 minutes) were more efficient with regard to the activation rate, even when the total exposure time did not exceed 4 hours. Parthenogenetic development was very limited after continuous treatment with 2mM SNAP. A significantly higher proportion of developing parthenogenetic embryos was observed after the pulsatile treatment (development to the morula stage 0 vs. 18%; development to the blastocyst 0 vs. 7%; P < 0.05). However, this developmental rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the development induced by conventional activation treatment with calcium ionophore (development to the morula stage, 23%; development to the blastocyst stage, 18%). When we combined pulsatile SNAP-treatment with the effect of protein kinase inhibitor 6-dimethyl aminopurine (6-DMAP) (2mM 6-DMAP for 2 hours) or with the inhibitor of protein synthesis cycloheximide (CHX) (10 µM CHX for 2 hours), we observed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the activation rate when compared to the respective pulsatile SNAP-treatment without 6-DMAP or CHX (63 vs. 78% of activated oocytes for 6-DMAP; 63 vs. 83% of activated oocytes for CHX). However, the development of parthenogenetic embryos was not enhanced when the pulsatile SNAP-treatment was combined with 6-DMAP or with CHX.

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

The aim of the study was to compare parameters of passage of nylon capsules and digesta represented by Cr-labelled maize silage through the digestive tract of dairy cows. The capsules were made of nylon cloth (42 µm pore size, 10 mm outside diameter) and applied orally. The evaluation was carried out in dairy cows with milk yield of 19.0 kg/day. The diet (17.6 kg DM/day) consisted of maize silage, lucerne hay and concentrate. Total mean retention time (TMRT), delay time (τ), summarised compartmental mean retention time (CMRTS), and mean individual compartmental retention times (CMRT1 and CMRT2) were calculated. TMRT, τ, CMRTS, CMRT1 and CMRT2 values of nylon capsules and Cr-labelled silage were 36.2 and 45.4 h (P < 0.01), 16.2 and 8.3 h (P < 0.01), 20.1 and 37.2 h (P < 0.01), 7.8 and 8.5 h, 12.2 and 28.7 h (P < 0.05), respectively. The calculated mean retention time of nylon capsules in the reticulo-rumen (CMRTS) was shorter and in the intestines (τ) was longer than that of digesta. For this reason the estimation of digestibility using the nylon capsule method can be questionable.

Milk urea concentration (MUC) is a suitable indicator of the health and nutrition state of dairy cows. MUC is in relation to their reproduction performance, longevity and technological milk indicators. The interpretation correctness of results depends on their reliability. There are a lot of principles of MUC analyses. Their results can be affected by a number of interferential factors. Disproportions were noticed in practice. Therefore the sources of variation in results are studied. The goal of this study was to investigate relationships between different methods of MUC determination with the use of standard samples of native milk with an artificial urea addition. After evaluation I (n = 7) the results of methods BI-1 and BI-2 (photometrical ones with diacetylmonoxime) were disqualified because of poor recovery (R), poor correlation (C) with other methods, higher random error (RER) and highest systematic error (SE). Evaluation II is more effective with stricter discrimination limits. Cs of all methods mutually (0.977 up to 0.998; P < 0.001) confirmed the methods as effective with the exception of BI-2 with poor Cs (0.713 up to 0.774), poor R (16.0 up to 69.0%) and high RER ±5.292 mg/100 ml. R of better methods was 44.0 up to 96.7%. The BI-1 method had good Cs (0.986 up to 0.994; P < 0.001), higher SE -7.546 mg/100 ml and poorer R (48.5 up to 75.3%). BI-1 method was a case of mistaken performance. BI method could be improved by the use of more samples in calibration. FT-MIR method (infra-analysis) has good addition R 69.5 up to 95.0% and Cs 0.981 up to 0.994 (P < 0.001). EH method (photometrical one with Ehrlich's agent) has good R 59.0 up to 96.7%, higher SE 4.755 (I) and 2.556 (II) mg/100 ml and close Cs 0.977 up to 0.994 (P < 0.001). UR method (ureolytical difference-conductometric) showed the best combination of results about R, C, SE and RER. MUC measurement was almost independent of fat in milk (r = 0.16 for UR and 0.01 for FT-MIR; P > 0.05) and MUC of both the methods did not increase significantly with lactose increase ((r= 0.16 and 0.27; P > 0.05), which increased logically ((r = -0.88; P < 0.001) during the fat concentration increase. The relationship of MUC results between UR and FT-MIR was significant (validation (r = 0.96; P < 0.001) at average difference -0.93 ± 1.663 mg/100 ml. It is possible to see the result reliability as good after calibration performance of FT-MIR according to results of UR. It is not necessary to see the effects of fat, protein and lactose on MUC methods as substantial. FT-MIR method for MUC has good result reliability at the use of native milk samples, incidentally with urea additions. It is suitable to calibrate the FT-MIR method according to specific determination of MUC (UR). However, the most important for elimination of disproportions is the calibration method with concrete audited R, though nonspecific.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the economic structure of different dairy farm sizes in Burdur province in Turkey. Data were acquired by conducting a survey on 132 dairy farms selected by the stratified random sampling method. Dairy farms were divided into three groups according to their sizes and were analyzed accordingly. It was found that production cost decreased and profit increased as animal unit per farm increased. Production costs per animal unit for the first, second, and third group were 2 634.09, 2 252.01 and 1 930.52 YTL, respectively (1 USD = 1.42 YTL), whereas the net profit was -267.36, 25.95 and 405.99 YTL, respectively. When the average profit of all farms was considered, it was found that the profit was not high enough to sustain a farm household's living. In the study area the retail sale price of 1 kg of milk was 0.468 YTL and production cost of 1 kg milk was 0.455 YTL. Hence it could be said that the profit margin (0.013 YTL/kg), defined as the difference between these two prices, was small. It was found that besides milk production, the cattle value appreciation increased farm income.

The relationship between type traits in Holstein cows over generations was analysed. The analysed data set included a total of 12 157 dam-daughter pairs with linear scores of 14 type traits including a final score and general characteristics of type. Significant relationships existed between linear type traits in dams and their daughters. Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from r = 0.20 to r = 0.63 except the rump angle. A negative correlation (r = -0.02) was found for this trait. A similar tendency resulted from the analysis of the relationship between values of general characteristics and the final type score.

The purpose of this study was to find out whether abilities to win races of different distances are different traits. Data included information on 14 665 starts of 1 646 Thoroughbreds, aged 2 to 9 years and on 10 862 starts of 1 145 Arab horses, aged 3 to 10 years. The data comprised seven racing distances for Thoroughbred horses, i.e. 1 000, 1 200, 1 300, 1 400, 1 600, 1 800, >1 800 m, and five for Arab horses, i.e. 1 400, 1 600, 1 800, 2 000 + 2 200, >2 200 m. Placings at the finish (square root) of different racing distances were treated as different traits and analysed by a two-trait animal model. The highest heritability (0.16) was obtained for the shortest distance in Thoroughbreds. Heritability for longer distances was much lower (0.04-0.09). The heritability estimates for Arab horses are very low for all distances (0.02-0.08). Genetic correlations between racing distances ranged from 0.54 to 0.98 in Thoroughbreds and from 0.95 to 0.99 in Arab horses. Genetic correlations in Thoroughbreds decreased as the differences of each racing distance increased whereas they remained high and constant in Arab horses. It means that we discuss very much the same trait measured only at different race distances for Arab horses but a little bit different in the case of Thoroughbreds.

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of the time of oviposition on egg quality characteristics in two different housing systems (cages vs. litter). ISA brown hens from 20 to 64 weeks of age were housed in battery cages (550 cm²/hen, 19 526 laying hens in the house) and on deep litter (7 hen/m², 4 652 laying hens in the house). In both houses, eggs were collected daily at three oviposition times 06:00, 10:00 and 14:00 h. Every four weeks, 90 eggs for each house (30 eggs for each oviposition time) were used for egg quality assessment. The results indicated that in cages the highest percentages (P ≤ 0.001) of normal (74.47%), non-standard (0.85%) and cracked (1.80%) eggs were laid in the early morning (06:00 h). On deep litter, however, the highest percentages (P ≤ 0.05) of normal sound eggs were produced at10:00 h (35.43%) and at14:00 h (33.03%). In the cage system, the heaviest eggs (63.01 g) were laid in the early morning (06:00 h) and the highest shell percentage (10.33%) was in eggs laid in the afternoon and also at 10:00 h (10.31%). On the other hand, in the litter housing system, the time of oviposition had no significant effect on egg weight and eggshell quality characteristics except for shell thickness. Morning eggs had greater shell thickness (0.398 mm) than afternoon eggs (0.390 mm). In cages and on litter, statistically significant differences in albumen height, albumen index and Haugh Units were observed between early morning eggs and afternoon eggs and data showed a pattern of relatively higher albumen quality for eggs collected in the afternoon in both systems.

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

Sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1) has been implicated as a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. The pattern of SREBF1 gene expression in different growth stages and the relation with adipose deposition is studied. Fifteen female Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire pigs in five groups, each group of three pigs at live weight 1, 30, 50, 70 and 90 kg, were used to study the developmental gene expression of SREBF1 in the subcutaneous adipose tissue by means of semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that porcine SREBF1 mRNA was present in a very low concentration at birth and continually increased to the highest expression at 90 kg growth stages, SREBF1 mRNA levels increased as pigs grew and deposited fat from 1 to 90 kg live weights (P < 0.05). The present data indicated a close positive correlation between the levels of SREBF1 gene expression and the fat deposition rate in pigs (P < 0.05).

Iodine deficiency and related risks of medical and/or developmental disorders in humans are a worldwide problem. In the last years, Czech endocrinologists and paediatricians have observed a significant increase in the occurrence of goitre in children and adolescents caused by a low dietary intake of iodine. Given the low consumption of seafood, milk and dairy products are the main sources of iodine in theCzechRepublic. Iodine contents of milk of dairy cows of different breeds from seven farms located in Central andNorthern Bohemia were studied over a period of 17 months (April 2000 through August 2001). Iodine content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) based on IDF Standard 167 (1994), following alkaline mineralization of the sample. An analysis of the certified reference material CRM 063 was used to examine the accuracy of determination. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with and without replications, including Scheffe's comparison at a 5% level of significance, was used for statistical evaluation of experimental data. The iodine content of milk ranged from 147 to 605 µg/kg (mean 251 ± 110 µg/kg) during the winter season, and from 35 to 484 µg/kg (mean 212 ± 104 µg/kg) during the summer season. The mean iodine concentration in all samples of milk during the studied period was 225 ± 109 μg/kg.The wide range of iodine concentrations is connected with differences in iodine saturation of dairy cows and it is a result of multiple factors. Iodine reserves in the soil play an important role and influence the content of iodine in feeds for dairy cows and thereby the iodine levels in milk. The presence of goitrogenic substances in feed for dairy cows is another important factor. The iodine content was found to be statistically significantly lower in the milk from dairy cows fed a diet enriched with rapeseed cakes compared to that of dairy cows on a diet without rapeseed cake. Dairy cows on farm F6, which were fed maize silage without added rapeseed cake during winter, had a statistically higher iodine content in milk during the winter season compared to summer, when they were fed fresh fodder. Fresh fodder is supposed to contain goitrogenic substances which significantly reduce iodine levels in milk. This opinion is supported by experimental findings that the date of milk sample collection has no statistically significant influence on milk iodine levels if the dairy cows are fed a diet containing added rapeseed cake (farms F1, F2, F3, and F4) throughout the year. Compared to the other farms, statistically significantly higher milk iodine content was found on farm F5. The mean iodine content in milk from farm F5 was 425 ± 74 μg/kg during the studied period. The main cause is probably that the diet contained no rapeseed cake.