This study examined the effects of supplementation of dietary sodium selenite and sodium enriched alga Chlorella on growth performance, selenium concentration in breast meat and excreta, activity of glutathione peroxidase in meat, and oxidative stability of meat in broilers. Sexed broiler cockerels Ross 308 were allotted to 3 dietary treatments, each comprising 100 chickens. The basal diet was supplemented with 0 (control) or 0.3 mg/kg Se from sodium selenite (SS) or Se-Chlorella (SCH). Dietary supplementation with SCH increased (P < 0.05) body weight. The breast muscle Se concentration was increased (P < 0.05) by SCH (0.70 mg/kg DM; 0.36 mg/kg DM in control) supplementation, but not (P > 0.05) by SS (0.49 mg/kg DM) supplementation. The concentration of Se in excreta was highest in the SS group. The activity of GSH-Px in breast meat was significant P < 0.05) in all treatments (0.16 U/g in control, 0.30 U/g in SS and 0.23 U/g in SCH group). The inclusion of SCH in the diet enhanced the oxidative stability of meat expressed as reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) values in breast meat after 0; 3 and 5 days storage in refrigerator at 3 to 5°C.

Ten weaned rabbits were fed a basal (control) diet containing 0.12 mg Se/kg. In 10 rabbits the basal diet was supplemented with Se-enriched yeast to increase the Se concentration to 0.50 mg/kg. Rabbits were slaughtered at the age of 11 weeks. Samples of meat, liver and hair of 4 rabbits from each group were taken and analyzed. No effect of Se on growth, feed conversion and dressing out percentage was observed. Loin and hindleg meat, liver and hair of control rabbits contained 93, 98, 521 and 267 μg Se/kg, respectively (average values). In treated rabbits the corresponding Se concentrations were 400, 389, 1 414 and 914 μg/kg. Supranutritional Se supply had no effect on the activity of glutathione peroxidase in meat, and oxidative stability of meat expressed as production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in meat stored for 3 and 6 days. Thus, the enrichment of meat with Se is the main benefit of Se supplementation of rabbit diets.

Forty rabbits weaned at 35 d of age were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 10 rabbits each. The rabbits were fed a basal granulated diet containing 0.08 mg Se/kg, or diets obtained from basal diet, supplemented with sodium selenite, selenized yeast (Se-yeast) or selenized algae Chlorella (Se-algae) to increase the Se concentration to 0.40 mg/kg. After 6 weeks rabbits were slaughtered at 77 d of age. Samples of meat, liver and hair were analyzed. The Se supplements did not infl uence rabbit growth, feed intake and weight loss during cooling. The nutrient composition of meat (dry matter, protein and fat concentration) was only marginally infl uenced. The Se concentration in the loin and hindleg meat increased by 23.0% and 19.2%, respectively in rabbits receiving the selenite supplement. In rabbits fed Se-yeast and Se-algae, the Se content in meat doubled from 0.11-0.15 mg/kg to 0.24-0.29 mg/kg. High Se concentrations (=1 mg/kg) were observed in hair and liver of rabbits which had received the Se-supplements. In all supplemented groups, the activity of glutathione peroxidase in the loin meat was higher than in control rabbits by 51.9-72.8% (P<0.001). The oxidative stability of rabbit meat, however, was not infl uenced. It follows from our results that (i) the enrichment of meat with Se is the main benefi t of supranutritional Se supply in rabbits, and (ii) Se-yeast and Se-algae are more effective in increasing Se content in tissues than selenite.

No abstract

In this study the deposition of dietary CLA isomers in loin and hindleg meat, liver and fat, and the influence on performance and fatty acid (FA) profile were investigated in growing rabbits. CLA was supplied as synthetically produced oil at 5 and 10 g/kg diet for the whole fattening period (six weeks) or three weeks before the slaughter. CLA had no or limited effect on feed intake, growth, carcass traits and composition of meat. Treatment with CLA increased the proportion of saturated FA at the expense of monounsaturated FA in meat and liver. Supplementation of the diet with CLA increased (<I>P</I> < 0.05) CLA in lipids of meat from < 1 mg/g FA up to 36 mg/g FA. Adipose and hepatic tissue incorporated the highest (44 mg/g FA) and the lowest (14 mg/g FA) amount of CLA, respectively. The concentration of CLA in tissue lipids increased (<I>P</I> < 0.05) with increasing CLA content in the diet. Duration of CLA feeding had no effect on CLA deposition. Thus, dietary inclusion of CLA at higher concentration (10 g/kg) and feeding CLA-supplemented diet for a shorter period seems to be more suitable for production of CLA-containing rabbit meat. The ratio of the two most abundant isomers of CLA,<I> cis</I>-9, <I>trans</I>-11 and <I>trans</I>-10, <I>cis</I>-12 in tissues differed from that in the CLA-enriched diet. In all tissues the relative proportion of the former isomer was lower than in the diet. The experiment demonstrated that feeding synthetic CLA to rabbits is a means of enriching rabbit meat with CLA, which could provide a healthier product for human consumption.

Nowadays, both many scientists and breeders are interested in the possibilities of the substitution of allopathic medicinal products for animals by some natural alternatives, as plants products, prebiotics or probiotics. Jerusalem artichoke contains non-starch polysaccharide inulin, which can be used, because of its specific properties, as a natural prebiotic. The aim of this study was to incorporate Jerusalem artichoke tops to the feed mixture of growing rabbits as the natural source of inulin. 80 Hyla rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group was fed standard diet, while Jerusalem artichoke group was given diet with 20% tops of Jerusalem artichoke. The experiment took place in commercial farm with standard conditions and was conducted as a preliminary examination, the growth performance and mortality of rabbits were observed. The diet with 20% tops of Jerusalem artichoke decreased feed conversion ratio about 0.39 (11%) and the mortality of rabbits about 10% (P<0.05) compared with control group. Jerusalem artichoke tops (20%) may be incorporated to rabbit diets as an appropriate source of carbohydrates with prebiotic properties for growing rabbits and thus may partly replaces some ingredients (starch sources), which burden the not completely developed digestive system of young animals.

Milk composition of nine lactating German Shepherd nursing females was studied. The experiment took place at the breeding facility of Police of the Czech Republic (breeding centre for service dogs in Domažlice) in days 2−30 of the females’ lactation. Females were given a commercial granulated feeding mixture (starter category). Canine milk samples were analyzed using an infra-red instrument MilkoScan FT 120. Calculated mean values for colostrum (day 2 postpartum) and normal milk (days 4−29 postpartum) were: 23.86 and 24.63% for total solids, 8.14 and 7.22% for protein, 6.04 and 5.76% for casein, 10.22 and 11.32% for fat, 3.40 and 4.48% for lactose. German Shepherd milk showed almost no variation in composition after day 4 of lactation. Differences observed between colostrum and normal milk composition were statistically insignificant but not for lactose. No significant differences in density and other composition parameters between colostrum and normal milk were identified.

ABSTRACT:The present study on German Shepherd bitches bred in the same environment of a private kennel and producing offspring for working purposes aimed to ascertain if any of the parameters: litter size, number of live puppies, stillbirth and mortality of puppies is determined by the month of whelping, parity, number of whelpings for one bitch over the course of one year, pregnancy length or bitch age at the time of whelping. Reproductive records of 73 bitches of German Shepherd breed (GSB) documented since 2001 till 2013 were processed. A total of 298 whelpings resulted in 2075 puppies; mortality of puppies was evaluated within the first 3 weeks of life. A significant seasonal influence on litter size and number of live born puppies, but not on stillbirth or mortality, was found. The parity of GSB significantly influenced litter size, live born puppies, and the incidence of stillbirths. The number of whelpings in one bitch over the course of one year significantly influenced litter size, while puppy losses were the same when bitches were bred once or twice a year. Litter size and number of live born puppies had a significant negative effect on pregnancy length. Furthermore, the number of stillbirths significantly increased when pregnancy was prolonged. Bitch age did not influence litter size, number of live born puppies and stillbirths, however it significantly affected mortality.