Native breeds of farm animals, despite their unique characteristics and adaptability to diverse and often adverse environmental conditions, are at risk due to their lower profitability and corresponding declining use. According to FAO data, there are currently around 8800 livestock breeds in the world (http://www.fao.org/dad-is/en/ update: 09.11.2019), of which 17% have been assessed to be endangered. The objective of the study was to develop a model for estimating the risk status of Polish native breeds. The proposed new model is based on 3 factors: demographic, genetic, and socio-economic. The last factor is composed of 6 elements: geographical concentration, demographic trend over the last 5 years, cultural value of a breed, parentage control, ex situ conservation and anthropogenic factors. Using the factors and elements above, among the examined 30 breeds of cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and goats, 1 was assessed as being critically endangered; 24 were determined to be endangered and in need of conservation; 5 were less endangered, but in need of constant monitoring. Out of 35 populations of poultry 29 were assessed as endangered as they were being kept in only single public collections. Six flocks of ducks were given a critical risk status, due to a very low number of females.
The aim of the study was to characterize carcass and meat quality of lambs of native sheep breed, which were fed a diet containing maize dried distiller's grains with solubles (DDGS). The experiment involved 20 ram lambs of the native sheep breed Polish Heath Sheep (Wrzosówka sheep), which were selected from a conservation herd. The lambs received meadow hay and straw ad libitum as well as about 0.4 kg of concentrate per animal. The control group (C) received a standard diet based on cereal components and soybean meal, and in the experimental group (D), soybean meal and part of barley and wheat were replaced with DDGS (the addition of 45% DDGS to the lamb concentrates). The fattening was carried out for 60 days (up to 8 months of age). The diet had no effect on carcass quality, proportion of cuts, basic chemical composition of the meat and cholesterol content. The intramuscular fat of lambs fed the DDGS diet had a higher proportion of linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) and conjugated linoleic acid, and a lower proportion of linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3), which had a negative effect on the polyunsaturated fatty acids n-6:n-3 ratio in the intramuscular fat. The addition of DDGS to the diet had a beneficial effect on the sensory properties of lamb meat, in particular its taste.
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of replacing barley grain or dry maize (50% by weight) in feed mixtures for calves with ensiled high-moisture maize grain on ruminal and postruminal digestibility of starch, rumen development parameters and rearing performance of calves. The experiment was carried out with 40 bull calves aged between 10 ± 3 and 90 days divided into 4 groups of 10 animals per group. The main source of dietary starch was barley in the control group (B), dry maize grain in group M D , 50% barley and 50% ensiled maize grain in group BM S , and 50% dry maize grain and 50% ensiled maize grain in group M D M S . The results obtained show that rolled ensiled maize grain can be successfully used in diets for calves reared from 10 to 90 days of age to replace (50% by weight) dry rolled barley or maize grain. However, slightly better production results were obtained when feeding a barley and ensiled maize grain diet, which is probably due to the better intestinal digestibility of protein and starch, as shown by higher intestinal digestibility coefficients of protein and starch as well as lower faecal starch losses. The addition of ensiled maize grain to the diets did not cause significant changes in rumen fermentation, although there was a slight increase in total VFA concentration and proportion of butyric acid, a reduction in pH of rumen fluid, and calves tended to have higher serum 196 ENSILED MAIZE GRAIN AFFECT CALF PERFORMANCE β-hydroxybutyric acid concentrations at 10 and 12 weeks of age. The replacement of dry grains with ensiled maize grain in the diets for calves did not have an unambiguously favourable effect on rumen papillae development while improving wall thickness of the ventral ruminal sac.
The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that eggs from native breed laying hens fed a diet containing increased amounts of local feed materials are not inferior in quality to eggs from laying hens receiving a standard diet but raised without outdoor access. The study involved Greenleg Partridge (Z-11) and Rhode Island Red hens (R-11). Within each breed, the control group (C) consisted of 60 hens kept on litter without outdoor access, stocked at 5 birds/m2 and fed a diet containing 65.3% of local feed materials. The experimental group (E) contained 60 layers maintained on litter with access to an outdoor area (11 m2 per bird) and fed a diet containing 77.1% of local feed materials. Eggs from hens of both breeds, which received diets containing increased proportions of local feed materials had lower weight but higher yolk percentage. The quality of eggshells from hens fed the diet with increased amounts of local materials was similar to that of eggshells from confined hens. Egg yolk lipids from experimental groups were characterized by a more beneficial n-6/n-3 acid ratio and elevated vitamin A levels. These eggs had better sensory scores for colour, flavour and aroma, which suggests that it is appropriate to raise native breeds of chickens with outdoor access and local feed materials can be used in extensive husbandry systems.
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