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The aim of this study was to appraise the effect of humic substances (HS) in different concentrations on external and internal egg quality of laying hens. In total, 20 Oravka hens were allocated to 4 treatments, each containing 5 birds. The control birds were fed a diet without additives (0.00% HS), other treatment birds were fed with diets containing HS at 0.50%, 0.75 and 1.00%. The birds in all groups had available drinking water and feed mixtures ad libitum. The experimental period lasted 16 weeks. Also, 20 egg samples from each group were randomly every 2 weeks to assess egg quality parameters. Adding HS in different concentrations significantly increased (P<0.05) egg weight, albumen index, Haugh unit and yolk index and decreased yolk percentage (P<0.05), compared with control. There were no differences (P>0.05) in egg shape index, egg volume, eggshell weight, eggshell percentage, eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, albumen weight, albumen percentage, yolk weight and yolk colour among treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to appraise the effect of humic substances (HS) on laying performance. In total, 20 Oravka hens were allocated to 4 treatments, each containing 5 birds. The control birds were fed a diet without additives (0.00% HS), other treatment birds were fed with diets containing HS at 0.50%, 0.75 and 1.00%. The birds in all treatments had available drinking water and feed mixtures ad libitum. The experimental period lasted 16 weeks. Feed consumption and egg production were determined daily, egg weight was measured biweekly, and live body weights were recorded at the beginning and the end of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, the supplementations of HS had a significant effect (P<0.05) on live body weight, egg production and feed efficiency. In liver, gizzard, spleen, ovary and oviduct relative to live body there were no significant differences (P>0.05) among the among treatments. Carcass weight and oviduct weight were the highest (P<0.05) in Oravka hens fed HS diets compared with control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we studied the influence of time intervals of egg formation on some egg quality parameters in descending part of laying curve in pure Oravka chicken breed. We studied the daily dynamics of egg production from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for 30 days on 66 hens. Experiment was realised in deep litter system in pens with automatic egg nest. Feeding of hens was providing by feed mixture for laying hens (crude protein 158.06 g/kg, metabolic energy 11.32 MJ/kg). Feeding and watering were ad libitum. Birds were exposed to natural light as a practiced in rural areas of South-West Slovakia. The results showed that prolonging the time intervals of egg formation increased of egg weight, eggshell weight and eggshell proportion. At the same time, albumen weight and albumen proportion decreased during period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analysed daily the time intervals of egg formation in pure chicken breed Oravka in the second half of egg production on 66 hens for 30 days, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Experiment was realised in deep litter system in pens with automatic egg nest. Feeding of hens was providing by feed mixture for laying hens (crude protein 158.06 g/kg, metabolic energy 11.32 MJ/kg). Feeding and watering were ad libitum. Birds were exposed to natural light as a practiced in rural areas of South-West Slovakia. There were observed that in Oravka chickens the egg forming on average 25.78±0.39 hours, while the range was from 17 to 32 hours. Intervals between successively laid eggs were shortened by the clutch length. Time intervals of egg formation were 26.92±1.87 hours in short clutches (1 to 3 eggs), 25.31±1.65 hours in medium clutches (1 to 8 eggs) and 24.67±1.54 hours in long clutches (more than 9 eggs). Time intervals of egg formation were shortened by prolonging the clutch. The clutch length can significantly affect egg weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of various disinfectants on hatchability, egg weight loss and embryonic mortality of chickens. Eggs were incubated in medium hatchery Bios midi at standard hatching conditions. All eggs were incubated for 21 days. Five treatments, with 300 hatching eggs each, were evaluated: eggs not submitted to disinfection (negative control), formalin gas fumigation by mixing 40 ml formaldehyde of 40 % concentration and 20 g potassium permanganate on 1m3 room capacity (positive control), ozone concentration of 0.45 ppm for 12 hours, Aldekol DES 03 air aerosol dosing by 0.5 l of Aldekol DES 03 to 3 l of water and Virkon S in 1% solution. Hatchability of fertile eggs and embryonic mortality were significant not affected (P>0.05) by disinfectants, but there were significant lower (P<0.05) values in eggs without disinfection. None of the treatments affected (P>0.05) egg weight loss throughout the first 18-days of incubation. The results obtained for hatching traits indicated that alternative disinfectants may be used as an alternative to formaldehyde fumigation for the disinfection of hatching eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A research was carried out to determine effect of probiotic and humic acids on external and internal egg quality parameters of Japanese quail housed in 3-floor cage technology. A total of 60 animals were divided into 3 groups. In the control group (n=20) birds fed on basal diet without any additive. Japanese quails in experimental group no. 1 (n=20) were received addition of probiotics preparation in a single dose of 1 g.kg-1 of feed mixture. In the experimental group no. 2 (n=20) received a preparation of humic acids in a single dose of 3 g.kg-1 of feed mixture. Feed mixture contained 11.7 MJ ME and 200.0 g crude protein. Feed and water were given ad libitum. We recorded statistically no significant differences (P>0.05) among groups in egg weight, egg shape index, eggshell weight, albumen weight, albumen percentage, albumen weight, Haugh units, yolk index and yolk colour. The yolk weight and yolk percentage were significantly lower (P≤0.05) in the group with the application of humic acids in feed mixture compared with the control group and the group with the addition of probiotics to feed. The parameters of eggshell quality (percentage, strength, thickness) were recorded significantly higher values (P≤0.05) in both experimental groups compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study was to compare laying characteristics and egg weight of three different Oravka hen lines (OR 1, OR 2, OR 3) during two years. Hens were kept outdoor in a heatless hen-house with a covered yard. Feeding and watering were ad libitum. They were fed with a standard feed mixture with 11.7 MJ ME and 200.0 g NL. Basic statistics for average laying per hen and laying intensity (%) was done for each Oravka line indicating that these characteristics tended to be higher in year 2017 than in year 2018. The statistical model for egg weight included effects of line, month of laying and interaction line x month of laying. Data were analysed separately for each year. Only line (genotype) had significant effect on egg weight, the remaining effects were not significant. In year 2017 the highest egg weight had line OR 3 (58.61 ± 0.30 g), the lowest egg weight had line OR 1 (57.32 ± 0.31 g), (P = 0.010). In year 2018 the highest egg weight had line OR 1 (60.64 ± 0.33 g), the lowest egg weight had line OR 3 (58.72 ± 0.37 g), (P = 0.005). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work was to analyse of changes in external and internal characteristics of eggs of autochthonous chicken breed Oravka during laying cycle. A total of 350 eggs were collected to study for egg weight in g, egg shape index in %, shell thickness in mm, yolk, albumen and shell weight in g and their proportion in the egg mass, yolk index in % and Haugh units score in 26, 31, 36, 41, 46, 51 and 56 weeks of age (60 eggs for each age). The results showed that as the laying cycle of hens progressed, the egg weight and egg shape index were increased (P<0.05). During laying period increased (P<0.05) yolk weight and yolk proportion in the egg mass, whereas the albumen proportion and Haugh unit score decreased (P<0.05) with age of hens. The quality of yolk and albumen decreased (P<0.05) as the laying cycle advanced. The other results showed that eggshell proportion and thickness were reduced (P>0.05), especially by the end of laying cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of relocation from a tie-stall barn to the facility with free-stall housing on adaptation of cows measured by behaviours latency and lenghts of the first episodes. Cows were observed at 10-min intervals for 48 hours after relocation on the first and second days. Second parity cows and non-pregnant cows lied down sooner than those in the first lactation and pregnant cows (532.2±274.6 min vs. 678.3±278.9 min; 588.5±237.0 min vs. 603.8±326.1 min). Primiparous and pregnant cows had shorter lying episodes following the relocation (25.0±12.9 min. vs. 51.4±31.8 min, P<0.001; 38.3±24.8 min vs. 46.0±35.8 min). Latencies for total lying (first time lying down regardless of which side cow lays) and lying on the left side were progressively shorter from the first milking session to the fourth milking session. Cows in second lactation and non-pregnant cows began ruminating sooner than cows in first lactation after the first and fourth milking sessions. The results of this study suggest that relocation may alter behavioural measures. However, behaviour after milking sessions observation indicate that older and non-pregnant cows are more able to adapt quickly to environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dairy cows removing from tie-stall building to cubicles on milk yield and behaviour. In the tie-stall housing barn cows were milked by pipeline milking system, after removing to a herringbone parlour. Decrease of milk was higher in not pregnant cows (8.08 kg vs. 6.38 kg, P<0.05), these cows showed higher increase of milk yield on the 14th day (11.12 kg vs. 5.81 kg, P<0.05). Cows on the second lactation demonstrated higher milk yield before the move (35.31 kg vs. 25.42 kg, P<0.001), after removing (25.79 kg vs. 21.15 kg, P<0.05), and also on the 14th day (36.63 kg vs. 26.44 kg, P<0.01). Milk production differed significantly in the stage of pregnancy; the highest decrease after removing was found in cows in the second stage (9.49 kg) and the lowest decrease in cows in the third stage (4.04 kg) of pregnancy. The increase of the amount of milk on the fourteenth day was the greatest in non-pregnant cows (11.11 kg) and the lowest in cows in the third stage of pregnancy (3.40 kg, P<0.01). There were no differences in behavioural parameters, order at milking, preference in side at milking, and social index. These results indicate that removing influences the milk yield but not behaviour at milking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of gender, and sire on behaviour of dairy cattle. The study included 40 animals (23 males and 17 females) which descended from 3 sires. An open-field test was applied to animals aged 12 months kept in a 10 x 10 m arena marked off into 9 squares. A manger was placed in square 8. The animals were exposed to isolation and silence on the first day, and to an unfamiliar person sitting in square 4 on the second day. On the first day of observation, heifers were more mobile than hogs. The number of grid crossings during the first 5 minutes of the 1st run on the first day and the movement time on the second day (P<0.05) were statistically different for different sire lineage groups. In terms of human presence, a significant difference between genders was recorded in the time of staying at the 4th square border and frequency of staying in square 4 (P<0.05). The genotype significantly influenced the vocalization (P<0.001). The results of used behavioural tests indicated that locomotor behaviour and relationship to humans are affected by the gender and sire lineage of cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]