Všechny tituly 402 výsledků

The objective of this study was to analyse eight milk yield and longevity traits in dependence on feeding (grazing) system. Data of purebred Slovak Spotted dairy cows (35,812 heads) culled in the period between 2006 and 2019 were evaluated. Only herds those feeding (grazing) system was known were taken into account. Dairy cows were assigned to four groups: (1) heifers not grazed, cows not grazed (17,628 heads), (2) heifers grazed, cows not grazed (13,056 heads), (3) heifers not grazed, cows grazed (156 heads) and (4) heifers grazed, cows grazed (4,972 heads). The highest average 305-day milk yield (6,139.22 kg) and lifetime milk yield (18,606.78 kg) were found in animals of group (1). Contrariwise, longevity traits were found more favourable in animals of group (4). Their productive life was by 102.78 days longer and average parity was by 0.14 higher in comparison to group (1). The differences between groups were found significant.

The use of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data had become commonplace in animal breeding activities and management of livestock populations. The cost-effective genotyping allowed us to assess entire populations and learn about their history on the genomic level. This paper reviews several approaches that are commonly used in the context of genomic diversity in livestock, such as the linkage disequilibrium (LD) and assessment of autozygosity via runs of homozygosity (ROH). Both methods, however, are being used to assess the impact of natural or artificial selection on the livestock genome. Apart from these selection signatures, both the LD and ROH are used to assess the effective population size (Ne), which likewise, serves as a diversity management tool and describes the historical events in populations.

Since the mucilage is released by specialized cells on the surface of the seed coat of the flax seed, some of the DNA from these cells is transferred into the mucilaginous mass. The isolation of DNA from the mucilage is greatly influenced by the conditions of mucilage extraction as well as the conditions of DNA extraction. When extracting the mucilage, it is necessary to separate the mass from the seeds by centrifugation, as pressing in gauze is likely to cause mechanical damage to the cell molecules. The temperature of the mucilage extraction is also an important factor, 40 °C was ideal for our studies, as higher temperatures release additional metabolites into the mucilage and thus make it more challenging to isolate DNA. For the actual extraction of DNA from the mucilage, a low temperature is essential as the mucilage has a higher solubility with increasing temperature. Thus, the lower the temperature, the easier it is to separate the mucilage polysaccharides from the nucleic acids. DNA purification is key for the amplification efficiency of the DNA isolated from the mucilaginous mass of flax seeds. The initial consistency of the mucilage before the isolation itself does not affect this result, although it should be noted that it acquires a consistency similar to that after the lyophilization process even by the action of liquid nitrogen on the extracted mucilage. We demonstrated the amplification efficiency of the extracted DNA using the random primers (RAPD) and sequence-specific (microRNAs).

This research was conducted on 147 cows of purebred Montbéliarde dairy cattle during their first to seventh lactation. On average, each dairy cow provided 161 values on live weight during lactation via the automatic milking system (AMS). The average live weight of a dairy cow of said herd was 699.94 kg, the daily milk yield was 33.67 kg on average and the average day of lactation (DIM) was 111.75. This research discovered a statistically significant decrease of live weight in dairy cattle before the 60th day of lactation in every observed lactation. On the contrary, the changes in live weight in the last 60 days of standardized lactation proved to be inconclusive. Between days 60 and 240 of the lactation, an increase of live weight of varying intensities was observed, mainly in cows who had undergone less lactation cycles in the past. Similarly, the research has proven an impact of the number of lactation cycles the cow has undergone in the past on the live weight of the cow during the first, second and third lactation (645.21 kg, 700.35 kg and 752.10 kg respectively). On the contrary, there was no conclusive difference in live weight between the third and more lactation cycles. The results have also shown that the changes in live weight during lactation were significantly different in first-calf heifers, as opposed to cows after more lactation cycles, similarly to the differences in milk yield.

Different trials demonstrated lactoferrin (LF) to possess antimicrobial, antiviral, antimycotic and anti-inflammatory activity. This molecule is an iron-binding protein that could have preventive effects on calf diseases. Several authors studied the effects of LF at doses between 1 and 10 g/calf/day as a supplement in milk administrated to weaning calves. The results are variable and not always consistent. Twenty-two female replacement calves divided into 2 groups (Control-C and Treated-LF) during a 56-d experimental period were employed to investigate the effect of the use of 0.1 g/d of LF during weaning on growth performances, feed efficiency and health status. The field trial was conducted employing an early weaning protocol (49-d of length, excluding the colostral phase). After parturition, density and immunoglobulin G (IgG) content of dam colostrum were measured as a colostrum quality indicator. Only colostrum with at least 50 mg/mL of IgG was bottle-fed to the calf. Morphometric measurements and feedstuff intake were recorded weekly. Health status and milk consumption were evaluated daily. Calves receiving low doses of LF had numerically less incidence of diarrhoea than the C group (P > 0.05). From a statistical point of view, any significant difference was observed between groups both on growth performances and feed efficiency. A trend for an increase of the FCR was found for LF group at weaning (P = 0.099). More researches are needed to define the optimal dose and the real action of LF in weaning calves.

The administration of high quality colostrum reduces preweaning morbidity, mortality and, therefore, economic losses related to replacement animals. It also stimulates and improves calf growth, increasing milk production and longevity of the future dairy cows. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of breed and parity of the dam on colostrum quality, and of breed and gender of the calf, and time from calf birth to the administration of the first colostrum meal on the transfer of passive immunity to the calf by the field test of the Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) on calf serum. A further objective was to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the field FPT test through a second laboratory phase improving the turbidity evaluation. The amount of IgG fed to calves (IgG concentration multiplied by the volume of colostrum administered) was influenced by dam parity as significant differences (P < 0.05) were detected between first- and fourth-parity cows, and between second- and fourth-parity cows. The administration of good quality colostrum (IgG > 50 mg/ml) between 5 and 9 h of life was able to reduce the risk of FPT more effectively than the administration performed within the first 4 h of life. However, further studies on larger sample size is needed to confirm the present findings. The spectrophotometric measurements confirmed the results obtained by the field turbidity test at 14% sodium sulphite dilution. It would be interesting in future to expand the dataset and validate the spectrophometric method.

This paper provides an overview of advances in the analysis of the genetic structure of populations, focusing on the evolution of statistical approaches and their applications in conservation genetics. Understanding genetic relationships among populations is crucial for assessing evolutionary processes such as gene flow, genetic drift, and selection, which fundamentally affect genetic diversity over time. Traditionally, studies relied on a limited number of genetic markers and summary statistics; however, the advent of high-throughput genomic technologies has dramatically enhanced both the resolution and accuracy of these analyses. Whole-genome sequencing and dense SNP arrays now provide unprecedented insights into neutral and adaptive variations, enabling fine-scale detection of population subdivisions and historical demographic trends. In parallel, the development of advanced statistical models has refined genetic analyses, allowing for more precise estimations of genetic differentiation, admixture, and ancestral relationships. These innovations are particularly valuable in conservation genetics, where robust assessments are essential for optimising strategies to maintain genetic diversity, identify populations at risk, and mitigate the effects of inbreeding and effective population size decline. Despite these improvements, challenges remain, including computational demands and the need to account for complex demographic histories and selection pressures. Given the continuous evolution of analytical techniques, selecting appropriate methods tailored to specific research questions is critical for producing reliable insights into population structure and effectively guiding conservation efforts. In conclusion, the continuous advancement of genomic analysis tools enhances the ability to study population dynamics in greater detail and supports more effective conservation planning.

Milk fat is a source of not only nutritionally valuable but also biologically active ingredients that are involved in various regulatory processes, thus participating in a functioning organism. These compounds have been studied and various beneficial effects on the health and development of the organism have been described. Ingredients such as fatty acids (monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid) and phospholipids (glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids) may have a beneficial effect on human health or can prevent various diseases. Some candidate genes that are significantly involved in milk fat metabolisms, such as diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, thus contribute to the composition and concentration of the individual components of milk fat. This review deals with the composition of the collected bioactive components of milk fat and their impact on health and their potential to produce functional foods.

Milk is considered not only a source of nutrient for the offspring but also a font of immunoregulatory compounds capable to predispose the naïve intestinal immune system of the new-born to react to the external environment. In the present study we evaluated the composition of milk microbiome from cows classified according to milk total and differential somatic cell counts. A total of 34, 13 and 13 milk samples of healthy, at risk and subclinical or chronic cows, respectively, were collected during the same milking from a local dairy herd. Through Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of bacterial 16S rRNA gene, the differences of taxa in terms of relative abundances (RA) and alpha and beta biodiversity were analysed. The RA of several genera were statistically significant in the three groups, such as Arcanobacterium (p=0.001), Rhodococccus (p<0.05) and Rubrobacter (p<0.05), while at species level the presence of Propionibacterium granulosum, Pseudomonas alcaligenes and Prosthecobacter debontii were found. Shannon and Evenness indices computed at the genus level were not significant, while beta biodiversity showed a clear clusterization between groups. The results highlighted that milk microbiome is associated to a different cellular response at udder level, although more specific studies are needed to assess the source of bacteria species identified in milk microbial population of healthy animals.

The accuracy of genomic breeding values (GEBV) for clinical mastitis (CM) of Czech Holstein cattle was analysed. The single-step genomic method and mixed genomic reference populations were employed. Dataset included 92,388 Holstein cows and 160,426 lactations. CM lactation incidence was 19.05%. Cows calved between 2017 and 2022 in 119 herds. A total of 4,969 Holstein sires and 35,814 Holstein females were genotyped. Three genomic matrices were used, two of them encompassing females. The linear animal model with repeatability included fixed effects of herd,year-season and parity_age at calving. The highest average accuracy of GEBV occurred for genotyped cows. SD of GEBV accuracy for bulls was significantly higher than these for cows. The accuracy of genotyped cows with health phenotypes ranged from 0.06 to 0.51. For the genotyped bulls born in 2021 and 2022, maximal accuracy was 0.37; for genotyped heifers, maximal accuracy was 0.42. The highest average GEBV accuracy occurred for the reference population with genotyped bulls and genotyped cows with phenotypes. The average accuracy for the young genotyped bulls increased by 1p. p. when phenotyped cows were considered in the reference genomic population. The cow's GEBV accuracy benefited from including their genotypes in the prediction. It has been confirmed that due to the expansion of the genomic reference population to include a group of genotyped cows with phenotypes, the individual reliability of GEBV for CM has increased.

Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler is one of the main causal agents of leaf spot on potato in Iran and worldwide. In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and pathogenicity assay were employed to analyze 28 A. alternata isolates obtained from potato plants. The isolates were collected from main potato growing regions of Iran, including Ardebil, Hamedan, Isfahan and Fars provinces. Cluster analysis of genotypes produced by RAPD marker, using UPGMA method indicated that the isolates have been clustered into different groups with no correlation to geographical origins of the isolates. Pathogenicity assay indicated that all A. alternata isolates were pathogenic on potato;however, virulence variability was observed among the isolates. The findings revealed that because of extant diversity in pathogenicity and genetics of A. alternata isolates, a single isolate should not be used for evaluating resistance of potato.

According to census accomplished in 2001, only 9% of Italian poultry breeds are still widespread. This project aims to describe morphological variability and genetic background among 13 Italian autochthonous chicken breeds, 10 from Northern Italy and 3 from Central Italy. An updated biometrical measurement protocol was established starting from phenotypic characterization guidelines released by FAO. Six traits were registered on each animal: live body weight (LBW), body length (BL), shank length (SL), shank width (SW), breast width (BW), and wingspan (WS). Moreover, all breeds were genotyped using the Affymetrix 600 K Chicken SNP Array, in order to evaluate genetic variability and population structure. Means of BL and BW showed low variability among breeds, with the lowest value in Pepoi (BL = 32.29 ± 1.57 cm and BW = 28.92 ± 1.93 cm), and maximum in Robusta Lionata for BL (46.79 ± 1.66 cm) and in Robusta Maculata for BW (42.33 ± 3.60 cm). On the contrary, average LBW varied notably among breeds, with the highest value for Robusta Maculata (♂ 4,221.7 ± 450.6 g; ♀ 2,831.7 ± 253.2 g) and the lowest values for Modenese males (1,695.0 ± 128.1 g) and Pepoi females (1,293.3 ± 219.2 g). The lowest observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) were obtained for Padovana Argentata (Ho: 0.151 ± 0.198; He: 0.146 ± 0.185) and the highest for Millefiori di Lonigo (Ho: 0.293 ± 0.199; He: 0.291 ± 0.178). Furthermore, multidimensional scaling plot showed clear genetic identity for each breed, with clusters formed according to geographical and historical origin of the breeds, which were confirmed in neighbor networks. In conclusion, local breeds have conserved authentic genetic patterns and these results can help improve conservation strategies.

In this study we investigated the changes of reproductive organs and duration of egg formation in autochthonous Oravka hens. The changes of ovary and oviduct in defferent time were investigated on 66 hens at the top of the laying. Reproductive organs have to change their weight and morphological structure depending on the dynamics of egg formation. From ovulation to laying the ovary weight increased from 47.29 to 51.55 g, oviduct weight from 71.89 to 76,31 g. Oviduct length varied from 67.39 to 68.51 g, thee functional parts were changed depending on their activity. Length of the individual oviduct parts was – infundibulum from 3.46 to 3.59 cm, magnum 36.89 to 39.98 cm, isthmus 8.87 to 10.78 cm, uterus from 10.39 to 11.97 cm and vagina from 4.89 to 5.41 cm.

In this paper, morphological features, such as the number of pyrenes in pome and the number of pomes in infructescence, were used for determination of closely related tetraploid Cotoneaster species. Samples were collected from various localities in the Western Carpathians. The collection of samples, designed for counting of pyrenes in pome, included 2353 pomes of >130 individuals. Number of pyrenes in pome ranged from 1 to 5. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in pyrenes per pome mean values between C. integerrimus (3.01), C. melanocarpus agg. (2.46; including C. matrensis) and C. tomentosus (3.93). The collection of samples, designed for counting of pomes in infructescence, included 1019 infructescences of 141 individuals. Number of pomes in infructescence ranged from 1 to 5. Statistical analysis also revealed a significant difference in pomes per infructescence mean values between C. integerrimus (1.14) and C. melanocarpus agg. (1.54; including C. matrensis), and between C. integerrimus and C. tomentosus (1.50).

The paper presents results of a microscopic study of the wall of the esophagus, stomach, and intestine and their lymphoid tissue in birds of the blackbird species. The material was selected from 10 adult blackbirds. It was embedded into paraffin according to the conventional method. The results of the study revealed that the general structure of the tunics of the esophagus, stomach, and intestine in the blackbird is similar to other birds, but exhibits certain characteristics. In the mucosa and submucosa of these organs, lymphoid tissue is noted, which is represented by different levels of structural organization. “Lymphocyte tracks” in the form of small diffuse lymphoid tissue cords are observed in the esophagus. Small accumulations of diffuse lymphoid tissue are also found in the muscular stomach. Solitary lymphoid nodules in the glandular stomach were found not only in the mucosa but also in the subserosa of the serosa. The largest accumulations of lymphoid tissue are observed in the esophageal and cecal tonsils and aggregated lymphoid nodules of the intestines, which are areas of significant penetration of antigens into the body of birds. In the places where they are located, infiltration of surface epithelium and crypts by lymphoid cells is observed. The smallest area of these immunocompetent structures is occupied by diffuse lymphoid tissue and much larger – by lymphoid nodules. The results of the research allowed to assess the morphofunctional status of lymphoid formations in the organs of the digestive canal of the blackbird and, accordingly, to determine the state of their immune system.

In the 2015 - 2017 period, we evaluated the morphometric variation of traits and Ellipsoid biovolume (EV) in 478 individuals (226 ♂, 252 ♀) of Abax parallelepipedus (Piller and Mitterpacher, 1783) in forest habitats and riparian stands. We confirmed, lower average of EV values in the rural compared to the urban areas (Kruskal-Wallis test – p = 0.037). The Friedman test showed a shortening of the morphometric features length (p = 0.030), height (p = 0.016), width (p = 0.011) and EV (p = 0.01) in the urban-rural direction. Spatial modeling of dispersion confirmed a significant change between 2016–2017. These changes may be affected by the food supply.

β-glucans are biologically active polysaccharides derived from natural sources, especially mushrooms, renowned for their immunomodulatory, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds can be safely consumed as dietary supplements or as part of one's daily diet. Chemoprevention is a crucial approach in reducing cancer development and tumor progression including the use of natural substances to impede, arrest, or reverse carcinogenesis. β-glucans, especially those from mushrooms, have been recognized as effective chemopreventive and adjuvant agents when combined with standard chemotherapy. They appear to operate through various mechanisms and may exhibit additive or synergistic effects. While in vitro and animal studies have consistently demonstrated their medical potential, clinical investigations into the precise mechanisms of action remain limited. Therefore, understanding the specific molecular changes that drive cancer development and progression, and developing anticancer and adjuvant chemotherapeutic drugs, which improve cancer treatment is still a main challenge in this field. Therefore, this review aims to summarise recent research findings on the anticancer effects of selected mushroom β-glucans, covering a range of preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) and several clinical studies, with a focus on their chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic potential. We also discuss their potential molecular mechanisms of action and provide a brief overview of the classification, structural characteristics, sources, and origin of β-glucans derived from various edible mushrooms.

Peach is a popular sweet fruit with a very good climate adaptation and high production. It offers many health benefits determined by its biochemical composition. However, sensitive people can be sensitised by Pru p 3 non-specific lipid transfer protein family directly or through cross reaction as a member of Bet v 1 homologues. The majority of research is focused on the protein, less data can be found in genomics or transcriptomics. This study performed RFLP analysis by chosen restricted enzymes (BfaI, MseI, NlaIII) for non-coding region of Pru p 3 (NCBI: KC311811.1) as a tool to distinguish closely related isoforms of the allergen. BfaI cut amplicon into 5 fragments corresponding to the Yulu variety in silico cleavage and polymorphism was not detected. For MseI and NlaIII polymorphisms were found in the cleavage sites, two types of restriction profiles were created for both. None of the NlaIII profiles corresponds to the restriction profile of in silico cleavage. The study confirms the varietal differences in Pru p 3 gene and supports a hypothesis that allergenicity depends on both qualitative and quantitative factors that are different and specific to each variety.

The aim of the study was to compare improved bedding composition with conventional straw bedding under farm conditions, regarding its effects on the indicator microorganisms influencing hygiene levels. Dairy cows were housed in newly-built stables divided into two parts each with four sections and bedded cubicles arranged in three rows. In the first part, the bedded cubicle floors were layered with straw up to a height of 20 cm. In the second part, the cubicles were layered to a height of 20 cm with improved bedding composition consisting of recycled manure solids (RMS; 10 kg), ground limestone (200 kg), straw (40 kg) and water (110 l). After layering the bedding was treated with a concrete selector to provide strength and sufficient resistance. Samples for microbiological examination were taken from four sections according to the time interval of production and bedding. From three sections were taken bedding samples according to a new recipe in intervals of 1-3 months after its use. A control sample of bedding, consisting of straw, was taken from the last, fourth section. Comparing classical straw bedding with the improved recipe bedding, the total viable count (TVC) and coliforms bacteria (CB) in a first and second month after laying were found to be reduced. In addition to TVC and CB, decreased numbers of faecal coliforms (FC) and faecal streptococci (FS) were observed in the first, second and third months after layering. In addition to reducing the number of microorganisms, the improved bedding showed a stabilizing effect by keeping the litter thickness up to the bedding threshold (200 mm), which has a beneficial effect for increased purity of the body and udder.

The present study aimed to evaluate the performances of Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy technique to determine the chemical and the fatty acid composition of different types of cheeses. A total of 95 cheeses from sheep and goat raw milk were produced in small local dairies of Siena province (Tuscany). For each cheese, spectrum was collected in intact slices of the sample and fatty acid profile was determined in ground samples. Outliers were identified and different mathematical pre-processing treatments (SNV, MSC, baseline correction and de-trending) were applied when necessary. Considering traditional chemical analysis and raw cheese spectral data, calibration and cross-validation models were carried out using partial least squares regression (PLS). The best results were evaluated in terms of coefficient of determination in calibration and cross-validation (R2cv), and root mean square error in calibration and cross-validation, and residual prediction deviation (RPD). Moisture, protein and ash showed the best R2cv (0.89, 0.74 and 0.72, respectively) and RPD values (3.0, 2.6 and 2.1, respectively). Saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids showed R2cv which ranged from 0.75 to 0.67, and RPD <2.0. Intermediate results in terms of R2cv (0.62 as mean) were obtained for medium chain saturated fatty acids (C8:0 to C14:0), whereas for C18 series only oleic acid reached good accuracy of prediction (R2cv >0.70). Obtained results are promising and additional samples could strongly increase the predictive ability for small dairy farms.