Abstract. This study presents the application of BovineSNP50 BeadChip for genome-wide screening of two taurine breeds (Bos primigenius taurus) and Zebu (Bos primigenius indicus), and two species from the family Cervidae: red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama). The aim of the paper was to evaluate the use of bovine array for cross-species genotyping and analyse single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distribution, diversity within groups of animals and genetic distance among analysed species. The number of polymorphic SNPs decreased with the increase of phylogenetic distance between species, which also reflected a decrease in call rate (from 99.54 to 61.19 %). The minor allele frequency (MAF) values were significantly different between species and ranged from 0.18 ± 15 (Zebu) to 0.26 ± 0.14 (Pinzgau). The subsequent analyses of genetic diversity were based on the polymorphic loci detected in cervids. Differences in the expected heterozygosity was low (0.06), on average 0.34. In analysed groups the F IS values were close to zero, which suggested low SNP variance within them. The value of F IT indicated homozygote excess in evaluated individuals. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that most of the variability was distributed within all individuals. Observed genetic distances within and across groups of animals suggested that taurine cattle and cervids were more distant. The study results showed that genotyping array prepared for model species can be applied not only to organisms for which was developed, but can be also successfully used in closely related and more phylogenetically divergent species.

Blood analyses can be used to assess the health and physiological conditions of wild animals and may provide a precise picture of disease, habitat quality, and other environmental factors. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the age and the selected biochemical parameters of the female mouflon (Ovis musimon L.). This study creates a possible reference range of biochemical parameter concentrations in mouflon and aims to extend the knowledge of this wild game species within our geographical region. There have not been many studies dealing with this issue in our geographical region. A total of 57 female mouflons aged between 1 and 6 years (1–3 years n = 32, 4–6 years n = 25) and in good physical condition, with an average live weight between 32 and 40 kg were included in the research experiment between the two years. A total of 15 selected biochemical parameters were analyzed. Using statistical analysis, we noticed significant effects of age on almost three-quarters of analyzed biochemical parameters. A statistically significant correlation was observed between age and the parameters of glucose, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, cholesterol, creatinine, high-density lipoprotein, calcium, triglycerides, and urea. An evaluation of the European mouflon’s biochemical parameters during the whole year may be a reliable method for judging a herd’s condition, diagnosing medical disorders, and preventing the etiology of their occurrence. An analysis of biochemical parameters tells us about the functioning of individual organs as well as the animals’ metabolism. Knowledge of the values of blood parameters is of special importance because they allow us to gather more information on mouflons.

Deer (Cervidae) recently belongs to the most important species. The aim of presenting study was evaluation of genetic diversity and relationship within and among seven red deer populations from different origins - Czech Republic, Hungary, hybrids Hungary x New Zealand, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland and Slovak Republic. This study was conducted to determine the levels of genetic variability and relationships among deer populations from a total of 637 animals originating from seven countries Czech Republic (50), Hungary (35), Hungary x New Zealand hybrids (67), Lithuania (26), New Zealand (82), Poland (347) and Slovak Republic (30).  We used the hair bulbs as a source of DNA.  In total, 213 alleles were observed from the 10 loci surveyed. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 11 (IOBT965) to 35 (T156, RT13). Genetic diversity and relatedness among red deer populations has been performed on a total of 637 animals. A panel of 10 microsatellite markers used in deer were optimized. On the basis of this panel of microsatellites we were investigated genetic variability and relationships by using statistical and graphical programmes. We evaluated how close populations are to each other and their genetic admixture. Molecular genetic data combined with evaluation in statistical programmes could lead to a complex view of populations.

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Polymorphic SNPs were identified using BovineSNP50 BeadChip in three groups of cervids: farmed Red deer (n = 3), and free range Red deer (n = 5) and Fallow deer (n = 2). From the total of 54 609 SNPs, 53.85% could be genotyped. Out of 28 502 successfully genotyped autosomal SNPs only 5.3% were polymorphic. The average minor allele frequency within cervids was 0.23 (number of polymorphic SNPs ranged from 467 to 686). Results of the molecular variance analysis showed that 67.38% of variation occurred within individuals and the rest was explained by a species difference (F ST = 0.32). The value of F IT (0.33) indicated a higher proportion of homozygote genotypes in the analyzed dataset. Pairwise F ST values showed very clearly the genetic differentiation between Red and Fallow deer which ranged from 0.06 (farmed and free range deer) to 0.74 (farmed Red and Fallow deer). A similar result was found for Nei's genetic distances that ranged from 0.01 (among Fallow deer) to 0.79 (among farmed Red and Fallow deer). The genetic differentiation of the analyzed cervid species was evaluated also by the principal component analysis with the involvement of 6 other species from the family Cervidae, which showed a division of the Cervidae cluster into 7 subpopulations. The panels of SNPs primarily produced for a model species are becoming the marker of choice for the application in other species, but the best methods of their discovery, validation, and genotyping in non-model species need further investigations.