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An experiment was conducted to determine effects of wheat bran (WB) phytase on production performance and nutrient utilization in laying hens. Three hundred and seventy-five Lohmann hens at 32 weeks of age were randomly allotted to treatments of fifteen hens per pen with five pens per treatment. Five experimental diets were formulated. Diet one (control) contained 0.19% inorganic phosphate (Pi) from dicalcium phosphate. On the basis of diet 1, diet 2 and 3 were formulated to contain WB 5% and 10%, respectively. In diet 4 and 5, the WB was fixed at the level of 10% with Pi level adjusted to 0.14% in diet 4 and completely replaced with 500 U/kg microbial phytase in diet 5. The results showed that treatment three improved egg yield (P = 0.142), feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P = 0.011), utilization of crude protein (CP) (P = 0.060) and total phosphorus (tP) (P < 0.001), and serum Pi concentration (P = 0.016) compared with the control. Ten percent of WB replacing 0.05% Pi did not influence either egg yield or nutrient utilization. Compared with the control, treatment five improved FCR (P = 0.011) and utilization of CP (P = 0.060) and tP (P < 0.001), but did not influence either performance or serum parameters. The current study suggests that wheat bran could be used successfully in laying hen diets and wheat bran and microbial phytase supplemented together could replace inorganic phosphate completely.

The results of a study assessing the level of airborne contamination in intensive broiler breeding facilities are presented. The content of corpuscular particulates of various origin (dust, bacteria, fungi), ammonia and carbon dioxide was determined. The investigations were conducted in a poultry house on a family farm in the area of moderate continental climate during spring 2006. The air concentration of bacteria ranged from 1.7 × 104 to 2.2 × 105 cfu/m³, of fungi from 9.8 × 10³ to 8.5 × 10⁴ cfu/m³, of dust from 1.8 to 4.8 mg/m³, and of ammonia from 4 to 27.47 ppm. Total dust and fungi concentrations measured at the end of fattening period were almost identical to the initial ones, whereas the concentrations of bacteria and ammonia showed a sinusoidal rise from the beginning to the end of fattening period. In general, the analyzed air pollutants reached relatively high levels in the mid-fattening period and also show significant differentiation between fattening periods as demonstrated by t-test yielding statistical significance at a level of P < 0.05.

This experiment investigated the effect of olive cake in the feed of weaned Pramenka lambs on their daily gain, carcass traits and on the chemical composition of different groups of muscles. For that purpose, 45 male lambs were divided into three groups with 15 lambs each and fed separately for 50 days. The first group (control) was fed a commercial concentrate, while the second and third (test) groups were fed a concentrate with the addition of 15% and 30% olive cake, respectively. The results showed that the high level of olive cake inclusion (30%) decreased (P < 0.01) daily gain, final weight, empty carcass weight and (P < 0.05) dressing percentage of lambs. The olive cake resulted in a significantly higher (P < 0.01) proportion of stomach and intestines in the carcass compared to the control. The content of fat, proteins and dry matter in all the analyzed groups of muscles was lowest in the carcasses of lambs fed olive cake. The results of this research suggest that the addition of 15% of olive cake to the concentrate had no significant negative effect on daily gain, carcass weight and dressing percentage of lambs.

We compared the results of calf maternal nursing and cow performance in 5 beef breeds managed under equal conditions in the region of West Pomerania. The study involved 549 cows and 1 979 calves (1 007 heifers and 972 bulls) of the following breeds: Red Angus, Salers, Hereford, Limousin, and Simmental. The cows and their calves were managed outdoors for one year. Feeding and management systems were the same for all the breeds during the studied period. The calves remained with their mothers until 6 to 9 months of age. Under intensive feeding, we recorded very good calf rearing parameters with very good or good milk performance of the cows. The best results were achieved by the Simmental cows and calves. Both the heifers and calf-bulls of this breed exhibited significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher weaning weights adjusted to 210 days of age as well as daily gains from birth to weaning. The weaning weights of the calves were higher from 37 to 93 kg and daily gains from 45 to 280 g. The Hereford cows and calves also achieved very good parameters. Relatively poorer in terms of production performance were Red Angus, as compared with the other breeds, and Limousin cows whose calves produced the lowest body weights and had the lowest daily gains as well.

The object of an experiment was inorganic and organic forms of zinc, copper and manganese applied in mineral mixtures to dairy cows. The experiment was carried out on 90 cows with average milk yield for previous lactation of about 9 500 kg milk. The cows received mineral mixtures containing inorganic or organic forms of zinc, copper and manganese for 6 weeks before calving and during the first three months of lactation. The application of microelements as bioplexes in amounts covering 30% of daily requirements of cows had a positive effect on an increase in colostrum dry matter content from 20.9 to 23.35% as well as on the concentration of protein and fat, and the level of minerals - calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and copper. In cows' milk in the 2^nd and 3^rd month of lactation there were no differences in contents of minerals. However in the blood serum of cows in the 1^st and 2^nd month of lactation an increase in calcium concentration from 1.96 to 2.14 g/kg was observed while the content of phosphorus also increased average from 1.76 to 2.22 g/kg in the first trimester of lactation.

In this study, nutritive values of rapeseed (R), rapeseed meal-expeller A (RM-A), rapeseed meal-expeller B (RM-B) and extracted rapeseed meal (ERM) were compared. The trials were performed using the in sacco method with three steers of the Czech Fleckvieh breed, which were fitted with a permanent ruminal cannula. Nylon bags with samples were incubated in the rumen for 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 hours. The effective degradability (ED) of crude protein (CP) was calculated at 0.08, 0.06 and 0.04 1/h of rumen particulate outflow rates (k), and the obtained ED values were 65.4, 70.8 and 77.4% for R, 86.7, 88.1 and 89.7% for RM-A, 82.2, 84.4 and 87.0% for RM-B and 56.3, 62.1 and 69.6% for ERM, respectively. The ED values significantly differed between feeds (P < 0.05) for all rumen particulate outflow rates. Disappearances of amino acids (AA) after 16 hours of incubation in the rumen of R, RM-A, RM-B and ERM were determined. In all cases, the concentrations of AA in the feeds determined after incubation in rumen were lower than in the original feeds. A mobile bag technique was used to determine intestinal digestibility. In the experiment, three dry cows fitted with permanent large ruminal cannula and the T-piece cannula in the proximal duodenum were used. The intestinal digestibilities of rumen undegraded CP (DSI) were estimated 30.0% in R, 15.4% in RM-A, 27.6% in RM-B and 65.3% in ERM. The DSI values significantly differ between the feeds (P < 0.05), except for the difference between R and RM-B.

The study was conducted in a dairy barn and nearby environment to determine the level of air bacterial and fungi contamination. Measurements were performed in morning, noon and evening sampling periods once a week during two autumn months inside the barn and in a 25 m distant barn environment. A Merck MAS-100 air sampler was employed with different medium and incubation combinations for the capture and identification of bacteria and fungi. The results of the study showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the bacterial and fungi counts measured inside and outside the barn, whereby total outside bacterial count was by 97.4% to 98.0% lower, and total outside fungi count by 85.2% to 99.4% lower than the respective indoor counts in various sampling periods. In 125 analyzed colonies, gram-positive bacteria, especially those of the genus Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, were most commonly identified in the air samples from both inside and outside the barn. Gram-negative bacteria were present at a low rate, predominated by enterobacteria and by the genus Moraxella and Pseudomonas. Nine mould genera were identified in 325 fungi colonies, predominated by the genus Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus and yeasts, both in the barn and in the nearby environment.

Three data sets were available: records on conformation and coat traits for the arctic fox from one farm (5 540 observations, collected between 1983 and 1997), and the same traits for the silver fox from three farms (8 199 observations, collected between 1984 and 1999). The third set comprised 5 829 observations on reproductive performance of the arctic fox from one farm, collected between 1984 and 1999. The GLM procedure was used to test the significance of fixed effects on the analysed reproduction traits as well as differences between groups. Phenotypic trends as well as relationship and inbreeding across the studied years were computed. Most of the phenotypic trends were positive. Low relationship and inbreeding coefficients in the arctic and silver fox populations under study were estimated. The average relationship coefficients for the silver and arctic fox populations were 0.015 and 0.010, respectively, whereas the average inbreeding coefficients for the same species were 0.0039 and 0.0016, respectively. No inbreeding was found in the arctic fox breeding females.

The aim of the paper was to prove the accuracy of various statistical models of vari­ance analysis for estimation of systematic factors that influence milk yield and fat and protein content in dairy goats. Data on daily milk production recorded by methods AT, AC or A4 for the population of Czech White Shorthaired Goats over 1992-2002 was used for calculations. A total of 78 736 test day from 6 234 goats were analysed. Average daily milk production was 3.09 kg with 3.72% of fat and 2.84% of protein. Variability of examined traits was significantly influenced by effects of herd-year or herd-test day, litter size, parity, season of kidding, stage of lactation and the combined effect parity-year-season of kidding. The variants of model equations in which complex effects of herd-year were replaced by effects of herd-test day showed higher values of reliability for the three traits analysed.

We evaluated two hybrid slaughter lines, progeny of hybrid parent gilts (LW × L) and D or LW - sire line terminal boars. Within two trials (with a six-month interval between them) the data on 40 animals were acquired; 20 hybrid pigs were sired by Duroc and 20 by LW terminal boars. Post-mortem changes were described by pH, conductivity, redox potential, remission and drip loss. Dry matter, intramuscular fat and myoglobin content were determined. Sensory tests evaluated aroma, flavour and texture. The results can be summarised as follows: post-mortem changes were adequate to normal quality meat. Remission values, drip loss and intramuscular fat content were higher in the hybrids sired by D. The hybrids sired by LW showed higher values of myoglobin content and their meat had better aroma. Total sensory evaluation was in favour of the hybrid progeny of D. The differences between the two trials could be explained by the use of different sires, the interval between the trials (6 months), impact of season and slight differences in feeding technique. However, the majority of the values fell within the category "optimal" quality of pork, therefore this trend in hybridisation could become one of the possible ways of pig breeding in the Czech Republic.

The data on 964 pig carcasses were examined with the objective to determine the relationship between a high carcass lean meat content in currently used pig hybrids and deterioration of the quality traits important for further processing of meat. The average slaughter weight of pigs was equal to 106.2 ± 0.417 kg. Lean meat percentage determined by the FOM instrument with the average value of 54.50 ± 0.139% was used as the main quantitative carcass trait. For the assessment of meat quality, the pH₁ value (average 6.15 ± 0.011) was used in the same way as in the system of breeding animals' progeny testing. The relationship between the mentioned traits is characterised by the low correlation coefficient r = -0.13. This result was further confirmed by correlations determined between pH₁ and loin, shoulder and ham percentages (r = -0.33, r = -0.13 and r = -0.12, respectively). These relationships are rather surprising as the studies from the beginning and the first phase of realization of hybridisation programmes usually emphasized that the increasing lean meat content in carcass was connected with the higher incidence of negative side effects. Our conclusions are also in agreement with the results of the separate analysis of carcasses with pH₁ above 5.8 and equal to or lower than 5.8. The carcasses with pH₁ referring to less favourable technological properties of meat showed somewhat higher average values characterising carcass meat content but the differences between the groups were small and insignificant. We were not able to find any relationships between higher meat contents in carcasses and less favourable pH₁ values when the carcasses were classified according to meat content.

The study presents estimates of heritability for fur coat and reproduction traits in arctic and silver foxes kept on Polish farms. The estimates of variance components were calculated using the DFREML and single-trait animal models. Due to a discrete character of fur coat traits, they were analysed twice: (1) without normalisation of their scores distribution, (2) after the normal probability scale transformation of their scores. Linear models included random additive genetic and common litter environment effects, and fixed effects of farm × year × birth season in the silver fox or year × birth season in the arctic fox as well as the fixed effect of female age when the reproduction traits were analysed. Moreover, the estimation of variance components for fur coat traits was done by a linear model with (Model 2) or without (Model 1) inbreeding coefficients included as linear covariable. In the arctic fox accounting for inbreeding and the data transformation did not markedly influence the estimates of heritability and the portion of litter variation calculated for the fur coat traits. An inbreeding effect was negligible (except for body size - BS) likely due to the low inbred level of the arctic fox population. In the silver fox the comparison of estimates derived using 2 different linear models and 2 data sets revealed more differences than it was found in the arctic fox. Accounting for inbreeding usually led to lower estimates of heritability, mainly when heritabilities were derived from the normal probability scale-transformed data. Most of the estimates of heritability of reproduction traits were found within the range reported by other authors. However, somewhat higher heritabilities were found for litter size at birth - LSB (0.205) and litter size at weaning - LSW (0.250).

The relationship between lysosomal proteolytic enzyme activities involved in skeletal muscle proteolysis of the longissimus lumborum et thoracis muscle (MLLT) of bulls was described. Samples from the same region were obtained post mortem from 7 Piemontese (P) and 54 Black-and-White bulls (B-W) about 18 months old fed ad libitum. The activity of cathepsin D was determined as pepstatin (cathepsin D inhibitor) sensitive activity (PSCatD) towards 1% haemoglobin. Pepstatin-insensitive acid (PIA) and leupeptin-insensitive (thiol proteinase inhibitor) acid (LIA) autolytic activities were measured in the presence of 1 mM Mg⁺⁺. MLLT was also analysed for RNA, DNA and protein content. The data were processed by analysis of variance and differences between sires were tested by the contrast procedure of general linear model. In the examined muscle RNA decreased by 16% in B-W compared to P, CPS by about 14% and FCS by about 39%. DNA content was higher by 64.5% in B-W compared to P bulls (P ≤ 0.01). Some differences were found between P bulls and B-W groups of sires in the percentage of proteins (P ≤ 0.01), CatD and PSCatD (P ≤ 0.01), but the most pronounced differences were determined in PIA and LIA (P ≤ 0.01), and in the percentage of inhibition by pepstatin and leupeptin (P ≤ 0.01) in AAA. In the Black-and-White group of sires the percentage of protein and percentage of inhibition by pepstatin and leupeptin in AAA were lowered by about 10, 17 and 22%, but PSCatD, PIA and LIA were higher by about 23.7, 41 and 57.7%, respectively, compared to Piemontese bulls. The level of aspartic and thiol proteinases was lower in the muscles of B-W compared to Piemontese. The activity was much higher in B-W compared to P. These results indicate the faster turnover of proteins in the groups after Black-and-White sires and higher anabolic increase in degradation in Piemontese bulls.

Muscle fibre formation takes place during embryonic development and is regulated by the MyoD gene family, which consists of four genes, MYOD1, myogenin, MYF5 and MRF4. A relationship was studied between MYOD1, myogenin and MYF5 genotypes and microstructural characteristics of the m. longissimus lumborum in pigs - crosses: Pietrain × (Polish Large White × Polish Landrace). The data included 115 unrelated animals slaughtered at about 105 kg live body weight. Within 45 min after exsanguination, samples were taken from the m. longissimus lumborum, frozen in liquid nitrogen and later analysed for the diameter of slow-twitch oxidative, fast-twitch oxidative and fast-twitch low-oxidative fibres, their proportion in a bundle, the proportion of pathological changes and number of fibres per unit area. The RYR1 and MyoD genotypes were determined using the PCR-RFLP technique. A significant or highly significant relation was observed between the diameter of all types of muscle fibres and genotype RYR1 - the highest values were recorded for homozygotes TT (genetically stress-sensitive). A relation between MyoD genotypes and microstructural characteristics of the m. longissimus lumborum was analysed on a group of 93 animals of the genotype CC or CT at locus RYR1. Sex appeared to have no significant effect on the muscle microstructural traits in this group of animals. The content of fast-twitch oxidative fibres (FTO) was significantly related to the MYF5 genotype, whereas that of fast-twitch low-oxidative fibres (FT) was affected by the MYOD1 and MYF5/DdeI genotypes. The proportion of angular fibres in a bundle was related to MYF5/HinfI genotype. The results showed that MyoD genes could be considered as candidate genes for some microstructural characteristics of m. longissimus lumborum in pigs.

Processing of milk for higher value-added products and milk food chain safety require prevention of higher occurrence of microorganisms that can produce spores. It is important to carry out prevention already during raw milk production by farm hygienic measures. The above-mentioned microorganisms can jeopardize the quality and safety of milk foods. This is the reason why the knowledge of factors, interrelationships and possibilities of milk contamination is assumed. The occurrence of hygienically important groups of microorganisms in mixed rough fodder (F) in feeding trough, in excrements (E) and in bulk milk (M) was investigated on seven farms with a good level of milk yield, management and hygienic conditions for three years in summer (S) and winter (W) feeding seasons. The data set was well balanced in terms of other possible farm factors (such as height above sea level, breed of dairy cows and so on). In total 70 samples of each mentioned material were collected. The investigations were focused on counts of thermoresistant bacteria (TRB), total counts of bacilli (TBA), frequency of occurrence of Bacillus cereus (BCE) and Bacillus licheniformis (BLI), and counts of other bacilli (OBA) in all mentioned materials and on the frequency of occurrence of main mastitis pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae (SAG) and Staphylococcus aureus (SAU) in milk. The means of parameters did not exceed the defined standard limits, in particular in raw milk that was suitable for direct human consumption in raw state or for processing for milk products without heat treatment according to relevant EU food legislation. The variabilities of hygienic parameters were relatively high: from 179% (TBA) to 315% (TRB) in F; from 178% (BLI) to 350% (TRB) in E; from 117% (TBA) to 459% (SAG) in M. S increased TRB in F (P > 0.05). Counts of bacilli were well balanced between S and W. S increased BLI in E (P < 0.05), an opposite trend was observed in BCE. The season did not influence SAG and SAU in M. Higher (P ≤ 0.01) counts of BCE were in S, the trend was opposite for BLI (P ≤ 0.05). The season effect on the occurrence of technologically and hygienically difficult microorganisms was not confirmed in general for M, F and E of dairy cows. Regression analysis of the investigated parameters was done. There were significant positive correlations between bacilli and TRB in F as well as in E (correlation coefficients from 0.32 to 0.65; P ≤ 0.01). The relationships between TRB and occurrence of bacilli in M were less close (0.30; P ≤ 0.05) than in F and E. No significant relationships were found between TRB and occurrence of main mastitis pathogens in milk (SAG r = -0.14 and SAU r = 0.11; both P > 0.05). It confirmed the high pasteurization efficiency at liquidation of mentioned pathogens. The relationship SAU × SAG in M was 0.23 (P < 0.05). It suggests a simultaneous effect of dairy cow health state on the occurrence of both pathogens. The majority of significant relationships (from 0.26 to 0.76; from P ≤ 0.05 to P ≤ 0.001) was in F × E within TRB, BLI, OBA and TBA. 7% to 58% of the changes in E were dependent on changes in F. The occurrences

The analysis was conducted of the national database of station tests carried out between May 1996- February 2001, using the Hungarian Large White breed. Days of test, total amount of consumed feed and valuable cuts were taken into the analysis. Using the method of cross validation, small subsets of the data were excluded and then predicted using the remaining part of the data treating herd × year effects either as fixed or as random. The size of the data excluded was 50 or 10 records at a time and the process was repeated 100 or 500 times, respectively. Mean squared error, bias and correlation between the excluded and predicted observations were calculated for all the excluded subsets. There was no significant difference between the fixed and random models but in the case of valuable cuts the random models showed a lower mean squared error and higher correlation between the excluded and predicted observations than the fixed models.

The study was conducted to compare the carcass conformation and fatness of common slaughter cattle breeds in Turkey. A total of 878 carcasses from pure Holstein Friesian (HF, n = 381), pure Brown Swiss (BS, n = 314) and pure and crosses of Eastern Anatolian Red (EAR, n = 183) males that had been slaughtered in a commercial abattoir between1 October 2000 and1 October 2001 were evaluated. Carcass conformation and fatness classes were evaluated subjectively using photographic patterns according to the SEUROP classification system. According to the data of this study, HF and BS carcasses were heavier and had a better class in fleshiness than EAR. As carcass weight increased, the conformation and fatness class increased. The BS carcasses (-U) had more than one subclass higher fleshiness than HF (+R) carcasses. Conformation of EAR carcasses (-R) was lower than in HF and BS carcasses. However, the fatness scores of HF and EAR carcasses (9.38 = +3) were 0.25 unit higher than in BS (9.63 = -2). The carcass quality was better in HF and BS than in EAR.

The effect of PvuII polymorphism of the oestrogen receptor gene on litter size and production traits in a Czech Large White population (882 sows, 2 455 litters) was evaluated. Data were analysed by four four-trait animal models. The traits analysed were lifetime average daily gain in the field test, lean meat percentage, number of piglets born alive in parity 1 and number of piglets born alive in parity 2 and subsequent parities. The animal models differed in considering the herd-year-season effect as random or fixed and in including or not including the dominance effect. For each model two variants were calculated: the ESR effects were calculated either across herds or within herds. On the genetic level, no significant overall effects of the ESR gene were detected. The effects of the ESR gene within herds were mostly insignificant as well. There was a certain tendency for allele A to increase litter size in parity 1. Nevertheless, on the basis of the present knowledge, the use of the ESR gene for selection for litter size in the Czech Large White breed seems to be of questionable benefit and cannot be recommended.

This paper deals with changes in the basic composition of sheep colostrum within the first 72 hours after parturition on the one hand and with the possibility of determining the major components of sheep colostrum by near-infrared spectroscopy on the other. Levels of essential, nonessential and total amino acids in sheep colostrum were determined by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). ). For each component, sets of 90 samples were used to calibrate the instrument by means of a modified partial least-squares regression. The values of correlation coefficients (r) were as follows: 0.979 for Thr; 0.954 for Val; 0.968 for Leu; 0.918 for Ile; 0.946 for Lys; 0.908 for Arg; 0.845 for His; 0.999 for Trp; 0.915 for Phe; 0.909 for Met; 0.939 for Cys; 0.911 for Σmet + Cys; 0.933 for Tyr; 0.945 for Asp; 0.935 for Glu; 0.986 for Ser; 0.985 for Pro; 0.957 for Gly; 0.949 for Ala; 0.940 for ΣEAA; 0.958 for ΣNEAA and 0.977 for ΣAA. Partial least-squares (PLS) regression was used to develop calibration models for examined samples of sheep colostrum. When using the NIRS method, the following correlation coefficients were calculated: Thr (0.959), Val (0.912), Leu (0.936), Ile (0.855), Lys (0.903), Arg (0.853), His (0.717), Trp (0.667), Phe (0.854), Met (0.867), Cys (0.895), Σmet + Cys (0.868), Tyr (0.886), Asp (0.910), Glu (0.882), Ser (0.968), Pro (0.968), Gly (0.923), Ala (0.916), ΣEAA (0.901), ΣNEAA (0.923) and ΣAA (0.943). Calibration was tested using the same set of samples.NIRS results were compared with reference data and no significant differences between them were found (P = 0.05). Calibration and validation models were constructed in the same way.Results of this study indicate that NIR spectroscopy can be used for a rapid analysis of amino acid contents in sheep colostrum.

We performed intensive rearing of larvae of the nase Chondrostoma nasus (L.) in a feeding experiment until 21 days from the initiation of exogenous nutrition under laboratory conditions at a temperature 26°C. Two dry starter feeds (a feed for salmonids and a starter feed of the artificial plankton type) differing in the composition of nutrients (50% and 60% of proteins, 12% and 16% of fat, respectively) and natural food (Artemia salina nauplii) were used. Cumulative survival rate, individual weight (w), total length (TL), specific weight growth rate (SWGR), specific length growth rate (SLGR) and condition factor (CF) were assessed. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical processing of data. High survival rate 99.3% and the highest (P < 0.01) growth rate of nase larvae (TL = 22.0 mm, w = 69.2 mg) were found when feeding the natural food. The application of dry feed of the artificial plankton type resulted in higher survival (98.8%) and significantly higher (P < 0.01) growth of both length and weight (TL = 17.5 mm, w = 42.5 mg) compared to the nase fed with dry feed for salmonids (survival rate 77.3%, TL = 15.9 mm, w = 24.5 mm). In the course of the experiment the value of Fulton’s coefficient increased from initial 0.57 to 0.79 in fish fed with artificial plankton to 0.65 in fish fed with natural food and to 0.61 if dry feed for salmonids was used. We conclude that with an appropriate starter feed the successful intensive rearing of larval nase can be carried out under controlled conditions.

The aim of this study was to compare two vitrification methods of porcine perihatching blastocysts with regard to the success of transfer of these embryos to the recipients. Expanded, hatching, or hatched blastocysts were recovered post mortem from superovulated donors in 5.5 to 6.0 days after artificial insemination of donor gilts with homospermic doses. In protocol VS I, the embryos in perihatching developmental stage were equilibrated in a culture medium H-MEMD with 10% v/v of glycerol (1.37M solution of glycerol in medium) for 10 min and placed in a vitrification medium for 1.5 min max. (vitrification medium contained 50% v/v 2M sucrose in tridistilled water, 30% v/v of glycerol, and 20% v/v of foetal calf serum - FCS). Then they were dropped with micropipette and stored in liquid nitrogen vapour. For protocol VS II, we used H-MEMD culture medium supplemented with 20% v/v of FCS, 25% v/v ethylene glycol, and 25% v/v dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). Embryos were equilibrated for 10 min in a mixture of the vitrification medium and culture medium (1 : 1), and were kept in the vitrification medium for 1.5 minutes. Then they were dropped with micropipette and stored in liquid nitrogen vapour. Embryos were thawed by immersing the drop with the embryo in H-MEMD culture medium with 0.8M sucrose for 10 minutes. After thawing and washing in the medium with sucrose, all embryos were washed three times in a fresh medium and prepared for transfer. Recipients were synchronized either using Regumate-feeding followed by treatment with PMSG and HCG (gilts) or using piglet weaning (sows - 1st and 2nd parity). Recipients showing standing heat at the time of donor insemination were used for laparoscopic and non-surgical ET on day 5.5-6.0 of the cycle. The fraction of viable embryo vitrified under VS I or VS II protocol was 85% and 80%, compared to 95% in control fresh embryos (P > 0.05). Pregnancy of recipients was 57.3% (5/7), 67.0% (4/6) for VS I or VS II group and 42.7% (10/23) for control (P < 0.001). We can conclude on the basis of our data that both protocols for vitrification yielded similar results and can be used for cryopreservation of porcine embryos.

Ultraweak photon emission measurements were found to be a useful tool for investigating the influence of stress factors on cells. In the present study, induced photon emission of boar spermatozoa was investigated using a luminometer during a 12-day storage at 15°C in Biosolwens extender. It was shown that the day of storage had a significant effect on some photon emission parameters. During storage, a significant increase in the Integral, Peak max. and Slope max. parameters and a decline in the T.-half (fall) parameter were observed. A significant correlation was observed between photon emission parameters and sperm motility. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that the measurement of induced photon emission can be an alternative, sensitive and relatively simple method for assessing the effect of preservation on oxidative damage to boar spermatozoa.

The effect of partial and total replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with extruded chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and partial replacement of SBM with raw chickpeas on pig growth and carcass characteristics was determined in a 17 week experiment. Sixty growing-finishing pigs were allocated to five dietary treatments: CKP0, ECKP100, ECKP200, ECKP300 and CKP100 of 12 animals each, and received a diet ad libitum. The diet for CKP0 treatment had no chickpeas (control), while those for treatments ECKP100, ECKP200 and ECKP300 included 100, 200 and 300 kg/t of extruded (at 120°C for 20 s) chickpeas, respectively, and for treatment CKP100 it included 100 kg/t of raw chickpeas. Body weight (BW) gain linearly increased (P < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) linearly decreased (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of increasing levels of extruded chickpeas during the growing period. However, in both the growing and finishing period, there were no differences between extruded chickpea inclusion treatments in final BW, BW gain, daily feed consumption (DFC), FCR, and carcass yield traits. Partial replacement of SBM with raw chickpeas negatively affected (P < 0.05) BW gain and DFC during the finishing period. Extrusion offers a practical method for the heat processing of chickpeas for use in pig diets. Thus, extruded chickpeas can be used as an alternative protein source to SBM at inclusion levels up to 300 kg/t of diet.

The effect of the length and intensity of feed restriction on carcass quality characteristics was studied in two experiments. In the first experiment rabbits were restricted 1 or 3 weeks. Group 1 was fed ad libitum, group 2 was restricted from 35 to 42 days of age (50 g per day/rabbit), group 3 was restricted from 42 to 49 days of age (65 g per day/rabbit), group 4 was restricted from 56 to 63 days of age (90 g per day/rabbit) and group 5 was restricted three weeks, from 35 to 42 days of age (50 g per day/rabbit), 42 to 49 days of age (65 g per day/rabbit) and from 56 to 63 days of age (90 g per day/rabbit). Rabbits were slaughtered at the age of 84 days. In the second experiment the rabbits were restricted between 42 and 56 days of age and the rabbits were divided into three groups. Group 1 was fed ad libitum, the rabbits in group 2 got 50 g of feed at the age of 42 to 49 days and 65 g of feed at the age of 49 to 56 days and in group 3, 50 g and 75 g of feed in the two periods, respectively. Carcass characteristics were evaluated at the age of 49, 56, 63 and 84 days. Restriction did not affect dressing percentage but reduced the weight of loin. Renal fat was detected in restricted rabbits at the age of 63 days whereas in the ad libitum fed ones at 56 days. Renal fat was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced in rabbits restricted from 56 days of age (experiment 1, 19.71 g, 19.28 g, 26 g vs. 14.33 g and 11.43 g). Kidney and liver weight was influenced by the restriction and realimentation period. The meat colour and pH (measured 24 h post mortem) were not affected by treatments.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary crude protein level and degradability on milk urea nitrogen (MUN) content. In experiment 1, twelve multiparous lactating cows averaging 176 days in milk were divided according to DIM and milk production into three 4 × 4 Latin squares with four 2-week periods. Cows were fed four diets with different crude protein levels (13.0, 14.0, 15.0, and 16.0%, DM basis) with isocaloric, respectively. Crude protein levels had a low effect on milk yield and composition (P > 0.05), but a significant effect on MUN content. There were significant differences in the MUN content of cows fed either of the two diets (P < 0.01). In experiment 2, fifteen multiparous Holstein dairy cows averaging 91 days in milk were classified according to DIM and milk production into five 3 × 3 Latin squares with three 3-week periods. Cows were fed one of the three isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets with RUP being 30.8%, 36.2%, and 41.6% (CP basis), respectively. Milk yield, milk composition, and MUN content were not significantly affected by protein degradability, and there were no significant differences between any two dietary treatments (P > 0.05). These results indicated that MUN might be used as a parameter to monitor the change in dietary protein levels.

Three groups of Brown fattened young bulls were studied, comparing the effects of rearing method (suckled vs. bucket reared) and of slaughter weight (400 vs. 480 kg). Suckled animals had higher fatness scores (2.2 vs. 1.3), more dissectible fat (14.5 vs. 9.1%), and higher intramuscular fat content (7.8 vs. 4.6%DM), accompanied by better scores in sensory tenderness (5.2 vs. 3.8) than did the bucket-reared ones. Animals slaughtered at a heavier weight showed a higher dressing percentage (57.5 vs. 53.8%), conformation score (9.2 vs. 6.2), and fat content (fatness score, dissectible fat and intramuscular fat). The meat from animals in the heavier group had lower a* (12.4 vs. 14.2) and higher b* (10.8 vs. 12.9) indexes, as well as higher scores in most sensory traits than the lighter ones.

Genetic distances were studied among Czech Red cattle, German Red, Czech Pied, Polish Red, Czech Black and White, and German Black and White cattle. DA genetic distances were calculated, and trees were constructed using the neighbour-joining method. Evaluating the genetic distances by microsatellites, the lowest value was between Czech and German Black and White breeds. A surprisingly high value was found between Czech and German Red breeds, and the highest values between German Red breed and both German and Czech Black and White populations came up to expectations. In the phylogenetic tree made using microsatellites, the German and Polish Red breeds clustered, but Czech Red breed was not joined with them. The other cluster was obtained for Czech Black and White and German Black and White. The tree made of protein markers differed slightly. Because the populations of Czech and German Red breeds are small and also because of organizational issues, the common protection of Central-European red populations and breeding them as a gene pool are recommended.

In vitro study of the rumen fluid (RF) and hindgut content (HC) fermentation by microbiota taken from sheep grazing in an area atmospherically polluted from the non-ferrous metal industry was conducted and compared with controls from an uncontaminated area (UA). The experimental sheep were exposed to the prolonged intake of heavy metals by grazing in the contaminated area (CA) for one year. Soil and grass from that area and the rumen content of sheep were analyzed for heavy metal levels. Based on the levels of mercury (4.752 mg/kg), copper (232.9 mg/kg), cadmium (1.167 mg/kg), lead (92.509 mg/kg) and arsenic (74.59 mg/kg) the soil was categorized as profusely contaminated. Meadow hay (MH) from UA was used as a tested substrate of fermentation activity; it was incubated with buffered RF and HC inocula from CA and UA for 24 h. The gas volume in CA was significantly decreased by 50 and 36% in RF and HC, respectively. The methane production in CA was significantly decreased by 77 and 71% in RF and HC, respectively. The significantly decreased values of the fermentation parameters in CA in comparison with UA were accompanied by the reduced (P < 0.01) total concentration of rumen ciliate protozoa.

Live body measurements of weight, height, length, girth, stifle- and hip-width and a measure of muscularity (ratio of stifle to hip width) were monitored on 258 Yankasa sheep stratified into age categories of 1 to over 3 years determined mostly from records and partly by dentition. These animals are from purebred Yankasa sheep kept as a part of the open nucleus-breeding scheme of the National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria. The effect of sex, type of birth and age group of lambs on live measurements and muscularity were analyzed by least-squares procedures. All variables examined, except sex, had significant (P < 0.001) effects on all body measurements. At birth, male and single-born lambs were significantly heavier than female and twin-born lambs. At early age, most factors significantly (P < 0.01) influenced the body weight, body dimensions and muscularity traits with single-born lambs being 31% heavier, 10% taller and 11% bigger in girth; more highly muscled than the twin-born lambs. This advantage of male over female born lambs (except in hip-width and girth) for growth and developmental traits was maintained reasonably well to the advanced ages. All phenotypic correlations between body measurements were positive and significant (P < 0.001). The highest correlation coefficient was found between chest girth and body weight. The polynomial equation using chest girth as an independent variable predicted body weight more accurately as compared to the linear equation.

The quality of produced milk and piglet growth were investigated in three groups of lactating Large White sows fed three mixtures containing different levels of lysine, threonine and crude protein. Piglets were weighed immediately after delivery and then in weekly intervals. At the age of 21 days the litter weight was the highest in group B (67.96 kg; P < 0.05), i.e. in the group with the highest dietary content of amino acids. Milk from lactating sows was sampled and analysed. An increased level of dietary amino acids became evident in milk at the first milk sampling (i.e. three days after delivery), when the content of lysine and threonine in milk was significantly the highest in group B (lysine 11.96 g/16 g N; threonine 6.72 g/16 g N; P < 0.05). The level of amino acids in milk and the differences between groups diminished in the following samplings. The changes of crude protein in milk were similar.