Search

The global demand for protein is on the rise owing to the exponential increase in the world population and to meet the global protein requirements, it is imperative to seek alternative sources of proteins in farm animal feeding. Recognizing the importance of proteins and the fact that a major portion of human protein requirements is derived from livestock in the form of meat, milk, and eggs, the available protein-feeding stuff in the form of soybean meal cannot be regarded as sufficient for feeding to livestock. Oil seeds such as rapeseed meal and canola meal have a crude protein content of 30%-40% and are widely used and hence a potential alternative protein source to soybean meal. Going forward, Grain legumes such as peas, faba beans, and lupins, another alternative source of proteins have the potential to replace traditional protein feeds completely or partially such as bone and fish meals. Duckweed with a protein content of 20%-45% is another plant-based potential protein source that can be employed in livestock feeding particularly pigs owing to its huge potential as a growth promoter as evidenced by studies in pigs and piglets. Because of their nutritional qualities and possible environmental advantages, insects represent another class of alternative protein sources that have enormous potential to function as sustainable protein sources. Several insect species have been assessed for use as animal feeds; the most promising ones include the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor, TM), the common house fly (MD), and the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI). Byproducts from aquaculture and fisheries are abundant in macro- and micronutrients, and their utilisation can provide fishmeal and fish oil, which can then be further adapted for use as a source of protein in animal nutrition. Employing microalgae as an alternative source of protein in animal feeding is somehow a new concept. Many nutritional and toxicological studies have demonstrated the potential of algae, info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

The aim of this experiment was to find out whether the taurine supplementation in daily ration had an effect on quantity or quality of Duroc boar ejaculate. The experiment duration was from June to August, when it could assumed the possible occurrence of heat stress. For the study was chosen 12 Duroc boars of approximately the same age and condition. The control group of 6 Duroc boars was fed only by basic diet and the experimental group of 6 Duroc boars was fed by the same basic diet with supplementation of 15 g taurine/boar/day. Ejaculate was collected once a week by hand glowed technique. From ejaculate parameters were monitored volume of ejaculate, sperm concentration, total amount of sperm, morphologically abnormal sperm, taurine concentration and GSH/GSSH concentration. From microscopic analysis, results were statistically significant in motility in June and July (P<0.05). In biochemical results, a significant difference (P<0.05) has been found between the experimental groups in the concentrations of taurine as well as GSH/GSSG in ejaculate which indicates the effect of heat stress on boars during the experimental period., info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

The publication Cableways in forestry discusses the basic technical solutions of cable transport installations, cables, chains and chokers. It also focuses on appropriate work procedures and work safety. At the end of the publication, the production program of the Czech cableways manufacturer Křtiny research station is mentioned. The publication is divided into seven chapters: Technical development of cable transport installations, Terminology, Classification of cable transport installations, Main parts of cable transport installations, Work technique at timber yarding by means of CTIs, Designing CTI and Cable transport installations of the Křtiny research station (Czech Republic). The publication is intended for the professional public and students of high schools and universities.

The publication Harvesters and forwarders in forestry discusses the basic technical solutions of harvesters and forwarders and their measuring and control system. It also focuses on appropriate work procedures and work safety. The publication is divided into five chapters: Short wood logging system as a starting point for the deployment of logging and hauling machines, Construction characteristics of contemporary logging and hauling machines, Control and measuring systems of logging and hauling machines, Planning of tree felling by logging and hauling machines and Felling and forwarding of timber by logging and hauling machines. The publication is intended for the professional public and students of high schools and universities.

The publication Tractors and skidders in forestry discusses basic energy devices in forestry for mechanised ground-based timber skidding. It also focuses on appropriate work procedures and work safety with these machines. The publication is divided into six chapters: Classification of energy devices, Basic quantities of tractor mechanics, Basics of terramechanics, Basic principles of hydraulic mechanisms, Mechanized ground-based timber skidding and Occupational safety and health. The publication is intended for the professional public and students of high schools and universities.

The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of Duroc, Pietrain and Duroc x Pietrain terminal boars on individual live weight of piglets and average daily gain of piglets from birth to weaning. The effect of sex was also taken into account in the observation. A total of 306 piglets were evaluated. The experiment proved, that terminal boar significantly affects (p < 0.001) birth weight of piglets, their live weight at the age of 14 days and at weaning. Statistically significant effect of terminal boar was also proved for average daily gain from birth to the age of 14 days and average daily gain from birth to weaning. As demonstrated, the piglets of Duroc and Pietrain boars reached higher live weights in all the observed intervals than the piglets of Duroc x Pietrain hybrid combination boar. The same trend was observed for the values of average daily gain in piglets., info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Předmětem monografie je technologický postup údržby dřevinných porostů v ochranných pásmech podél železničních dopravních cest a následný transport a úprava vytěžené dendromasy. Těžba dříví je dosud řešena na bázi použití přenosné motorové pily. Na strmých svazích pracovníci užívají poutací arboristické systémy. Je vyřešena nová technologie těžby náletových dřevin harvestorem umístěným na plošinovém železničním vozu, kterým je po železnici dopraven na pracoviště. Detailní postavení harvestoru ke kácenému stromu zajišťuje jeho pojezd po plošině železničního vozu. Soustřeďování a odvoz vytěžené dendromasy na úložné skládky pomocí forwarderu, umístěného a stabilizovaného na plošinovém železničním vozu, tvořícího součást zvláštní soupravy, do níž je zařazen minimálně ještě jeden železniční vůz s postranicemi. Vytěžená dendromasa je sbírána drapákem hydraulického jeřábu forwarderu a ukládána na jeho ložný prostor a do úložného prostoru sousedního vozu soupravy. Po naplnění ložných prostor souprava odjíždí na železniční stanici, kde je dendromasa desintegrována přistaveným štěpkovacím strojem a ukládána do ložného prostoru odvozní automobilové soupravy. Konečným produktem technologického postupu je energetická štěpka a v některých případech i výřezy pilařské, agregátové a vlákninové. Navrženým technologickým postupem je zkrácena doba uzavírky tratí, zvýšena bezpečnost pracovníků v těžbě náletových dřevin, požadováno vybavení pracovníků kvalifikačními osvědčeními pro dané práce. Dříví vytěžené z nárostů je zpeněženo se současným úklidem pracovišť a je zajištěna ekologická čistota prací., The monograph subject consists in the technological procedure of care of tree stands in protected zones along railway lines and the subsequent transport and adjustment of felled dendromass. So far, felling is carried out on the basis of portable power saws. On steep slopes, workers use arboristic equipment systems. A new technology has been worked out of self-seeding trees using a harvester placed on a plateau wagon, which is transported to a workplace by railway. The detailed position of the harvester to a felled tree is provided by its movement on the wagon plateau. Skidding and hauling the exploited dendromass to landings is carried out by means of a forwarder placed and stabilized on a plateau wagon creating the part of a special unit where another wagon with side boards was included. The felled dendromas s is collected by a grab of the forwarder hydraulic crane and placed on its loading space and into the stowage space of the unit neighbouring wagon. After filling the loading capacity the unit leaves for a railway station where the dedromass is disintegrated by a chipping machine and placed into the loading space of a logging truck-and-trailer unit. Final products of the technological procedure are fuel chips and in some cases also saw, aggregate and pulp logs. Through the proposed technological procedure, the time of the line closure is shortened, the safety of workers felling self-seeding trees is increased and the equipment of fellers by qualification certificates for given operations is required. Wood obtained from advance growth is realized together with cleaning the workplaces and the environmentally friendly operations are provided.

Background: Selenium is an essential element; however, at higher doses, it can be toxic. Therefore, alternative nanotechnological solutions are required to overcome toxicological issues, rather than conventional alternatives. Nanoparticles show new and promising properties that may be able to suppress toxicity while maintaining the positive effects of selenium on an organism. The aim of the experiment was to determine the influence of sodium selenite and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on the antioxidant status of rats. Methods: The males of the outbreed rat strain Wistar albino were selected as a model organism. Animals were fed different forms of selenium. The control group was given a mixture without selenium addition, whereas other groups were fed a mixture containing sodium selenite, Se-49, and Se-100 SeNPs respectively. The duration of the trial was 30 days. Results: Analysis of blood and liver was performed where the concentration of reduced (GSH) and oxidised (GSSG) glutathione, and total selenium content were measured. In the liver, a significant reduction in GSSG was found for all experiment groups. Blood samples showed a significant reduction in GSH and an increase in GSSG. Discussion: These results show that SeNPs may be an alternative to dietary selenium for animal organisms.

The aim of this experiment was to find out, if is it possible to eliminate the impact of heat stress on quality of Duroc boar ejaculate by the addition of complex of antioxidants (Selenium, Zinc, Vit. C and Vit. E) into the basic diet. The experiment was carried out at the station of insemination in Velke Mezirici (Czech Republic) from May to September. For the study were chosen 12 Duroc boars, of approximately the same age and weight, and were divided into two groups. The control group (n = 6) was fed only by basic diet, the experimental group (n = 6) was fed by basic diet with the supplementation of antioxidants in amount: 0.5 mg selenium (seleno-methionine), 70 mg zinc (zinc-methionine), 70 mg vit. E (alpha-tocopherol) and 350 mg vit. C (L-ascorbic acid) per kilogram of basic diet. Monitored parameters of ejaculate was volume of ejaculate (ml), concentration of sperm (106/ml), total rate of sperm (109), motility of sperm (%) and amount of morphologically abnormal sperm (%). The control group reported slight increase in volume of ejaculate (of 19 %), which is common in summer months. At the same time was the concentration of sperm unstable, during August there was an increase of 15 %, but during September concentration decreased below the initial amount. Motility was around 69 % during whole experiment. There was an increase (of 15 %) in amount of morphologically abnormal sperm, but the result was insignificant. The experimental group had a higher volume of ejaculate, but the diagram of volume of ejaculate was almost the same with the control group. Concentration of sperm increased after the supplementation of antioxidants (of 23 %) and during the experiment decreased only slightly. Motility was about average amount 70 % and was not various during the experiment. In amount of morphologically abnormal sperm there was an increase about 12 %. According to the results, the supplementation of antioxidants had no significant effect on improving of semen quality. But the, info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

The objective of the performed experiment was to evaluate growth performance and selected carcass traits and meat quality parameters in pigs of a native Czech breed Prestice Black-Pied pig (PB) and a commercial hybrid (H) used for meat production. The observation included 40 pigs, 20 pigs of the native breed PB and 20 pigs of the hybrid combination. The PB piglets showed higher (P LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO 0.05) birth weight than the H piglets. The lifetime weight gain was higher (P LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO 0.01) in the H pigs than in the PB pigs. The results also showed higher (P LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO 0.01) backfat thickness in the PB breed than in the H pigs. Lean meat content was higher (P LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO 0.01) in the hybrid pigs than in the PB breed. Higher (P LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO 0.01) values of intramuscular fat content were found in the PB pigs than in the H pigs. Drip loss value was higher (P LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO 0.01) in the H pigs by 1.3 % than in the PB pigs. The PB pigs showed more favourable (P LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO 0.05) values of pH45,24 in comparison with the hybrid pigs., info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

The aim of this study was to assess an effect of breed on frequency of morphological changes in boar spermatozoa. A total of 1080 semen samples were used in this study. The samples were collected from January to December 2017 from 90 boars of the Duroc, Czech Large White and Czech Landrace breeds. Sperm cell abnormalities were evaluated microscopically from dyed smears of native semen on glass slides. Defects of spermatozoa were divided according to their impact on fertility of boars into categories of "major defects" (with a great negative effect on fertility) and "minor defects" (with a mild effect on fertility). The overall frequency of spermatozoa with morphological defects ranged from 11.62 % in Czech Landrace to 20.96 % in Duroc. Statistically significant differences were found in the frequencies of both major and minor defects among the breeds. The results of this study document that there are great inter-breed differences in the occurrence of morphologically defective spermatozoa that significantly affect fertility of boars., info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Our experiment examined the effect of feeding a protein concentrate supplement on the composition of amino acids in milk from dairy cows managed in an organic farming system. The experiment included two groups of cows. Animals in both groups received an identical basic feed ration composed of maize silage, clover-grass haylage from the first cutting, grass haylage from the first cutting, winter wheat and spring barley. The first group of dairy cows (n = 10) served as a control without the addition of protein concentrate to the feed ration. The second experimental group (n = 10) received in addition to the basic feed ration a protein concentrate composed of soybean, sunflower and linseed cakes at rate 1 kg per head per day. The experiment lasted 30 days. Milk analysed for amino acid content was sampled at 10-day intervals. Addition of the protein concentrate significantly increased milk contents of aspartic acid, proline, threonine, glycine, alanine and glutamic acid. A significant decrease of valine also was recorded in milk from the experimental group. The results of our experiment show that a protein concentrate supplement can affect concentrations of some amino acids in milk from dairy cows., info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

The aim of the experiment was to analyze selected reproductive characteristics in sows and losses of piglets according to their age and to evaluate the effect of sex on survivability of piglets before weaning. The experimental observation involved 80 sows with their second litters (40 sows of genotye I and 40 sows of genotype II). The sows were mated with a boar of Danish Duroc. No significant difference was found between the evaluated genotypes of sows in numbers of live-born piglets and reared piglets, however it is evident that better results were reached by the sows of the genotype II. Also the losses of piglets per litter were lower, by 0.65 piece (P <- 0.05). In sows of the genotype I a high correlation (P <- 0.01) was confirmed between the number of live-born piglets and the number of reared piglets per litter (r = 0.750). Another correlation was found between the number of live-born piglets and their losses before weaning (r = 0.716). Similar trend was observed in the genotype II, however without significant correlation between the number of live-born piglets and the losses of piglets before weaning. The results also revealed that the piglets died mostly before the 14th day of age, while the losses of male piglets were more frequent than of female piglets. Losses of female piglets of the genotype I before the 14th day of age were 6.82 %, in the genotype II they were 3.01 %. In this period, the losses of male piglets reached 9.56 % in the genotype I and 4.49 % in the genotype II. From the 14th day to weaning the losses of female piglets counted 2.39 % vs. 0.75 %, the losses of male piglets 1.37 % vs. 2.88 %. The total losses from birth to weaning were 9.22 % vs. 3.76 % in female piglets and 10.92 % vs. 7.37 % in male piglets.

The aim of the experiment was to assess the effect of selenium on the qualitative and quantitative parameters of goat milk. The experiment was conducted on an organic farm in June and July of 2016. The experiment lasted for 30 days. The breeds were chosen shorthaired. Twelve goats were categorized into the experimental group (n = 6) and the control group (n = 6). At the beginning and at the end of the experiment, milk samples were taken from each goat for the analysis. The results showed that the addition of selenium proved an effect on selenium concentration in goat milk. However, the effect of the milk components (fat, protein, lactose, urea, number of SB) and milk yield were not observed. These results confirmed that a functional food can be produced by adding selenium to the goat diet.

The aim of the present study was focused on analysis of reproductive traits in the painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala). The analysis of partial reproductive traits was intended to complete the knowledge necessary for ensuring reproduction of the painted stork in captivity on the required level. The observation was performed in the Zoo Zlín - Lešná from 2011 to 2014. The eggs were measured and weighed after laying and then in several-day intervals. Other observed traits were hatchability of the eggs, number of raised young birds and their weight after hatching. During whole observation period, a total of 90 eggs of the painted stork were evaluated from 12 parental pairs. The average share of fertilized eggs was 38.9 %. Average length of eggs was 68.57 mm, average width was 46.43 mm and average weight was 79.79 g. Average weight loss of eggs during their incubation was 9.87 g. Average hatchability of all the laid eggs was 27.8 %. Average hatchability of the fertilized eggs was 71.4 %. A total of 23 young painted storks were hatched during the observation period. Their average hatching weight was 57.04 g. The overall number of 11 individuals were raised during the four years of observation.

The aim of this study was evaluation of reproductive performance in sows from herds with minimal disease. Total number of 40 sows were included in the observation and evaluated from the 1st to the 4th parity. The highest reproductive performance was recorded at the 3rd parity. Statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between the 1st and the 3rd parity and highly statistically significant difference (P < 0.01) was recorded between the 2nd and the 3rd parity in number of live-born piglets. Comparison of numbers of stillborn piglets showed statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the mean values of the 1st and the 4th parity. The results also showed highly statistically significant difference (P < 0.01) in number of reared piglets between the 3rd and the 4th parity. The conclusions of this study indicate that creation and maintenance of herds of sows with high health status lead to excellent results in the area of pig reproduction.