No abstract

Máchal L., I. Kfiivánek: Indicators of Semen Quality of Roosters of Three Parental LayerLines and Specific Conductivity of the Semen. Acta Vet. Brno 71, 2002: 109-116. Relations between semen quality and the specific conductivity of the semen was determined in 90 clinically healthy roosters of three parental lines (BPR -04, RIW -06 and RIR -05) in a breeding flock of the Moravia laying hybrids. At the age of 143, 205 and 240 days the volume, sperm concentration and sperm motility was measured in the ejaculates and at the age of 205 and 240 days also the specific conductivity. The average volume of the ejaculate of the cocks of all three parental lines ranged between 0.20 cm 3 and 0.62 cm 3 . On the 143 rd day of age the average volume of the ejaculate was the lowest (between 0.20 cm 3 and 0.30 cm 3 ), and was the highest on the 240 th day (between 0.51 cm 3 and 0.62 cm 3 ). The average sperm motility of the ejaculate was similar; at the beginning of the investigations, i.e. on day 143 of age, it ranged between 31.7% and 54.1%, at the age of 240 days it was higher (66.8% -86.2%). The average sperm concentration was balanced, i.e. between 0.75 ⋅ 10 9 cm -3 and 1.06 ⋅ 10 9 cm -3 . The average total number of sperm (TNS) in the ejaculate and the average total number of motile sperm in the ejaculate of the cocks (TNMS) increased with the age of the cocks. The average TNS increased from the initial 0.16 ⋅ 10 9 -0.32 ⋅ 10 9 on day143 of age to 0.38 ⋅ 10 9 -0.59 ⋅ 10 9 on day 240. The average TNMS also increased from the initial 0.09 ⋅ 10 9 -0.16 ⋅ 10 9 on day143 of age to 0.26 ⋅ 10 9 -0.51 ⋅ 10 9 on day 240. In terms of inter-line difference the lowest average TNMS was reported in cocks of the RIR -05 universal paternal line (between 0.09 ⋅ 10 9 and 0.26 ⋅ 10 9 ) and the highest in cocks of the BPR -04 paternal line (between 0.09 ⋅ 10 9 and 0.51 ⋅ 10 9 ).The average specific conductivity of the ejaculate was measured with four electrodes and ranged between 0.84 S ⋅m -1 and 1.02 S ⋅ m -1 . No marked differences in the average values of the specific conductivity were observed among cocks of the respective lines, but the lowest average specific conductivity was discovered in the ejaculates of cocks with the lowest number of motile sperms (line RIW -06 on the 205 th day of age, i.e. 1.02 S ⋅ m -1 ). Negative correlations were found between sperm concentration and motility and the specific conductivity of the ejaculate in cocks of all the three paternal lines of the domestic fowl (r p = -0.15 to -0.45). The calculated correlations, particularly those that were statistically highly significant or significant (between sperm concentration, sperm motility and specific conductivity of the ejaculate) demonstrated that these properties could be used for complementary examinations of the ejaculate quality. Roosters, sperm, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, conductivityThe qualitative parameters of the ejaculates of roosters are considerably variable. In cocks of the paternal and maternal lines ·teÀo...

Abstract. The mean values of shortening force at fracture of egg found out during the five-month observation period ranged between 0.17 and 0.19 mm in 231 hens of seven initial laying lines and strength of eggshell ranged from 29.05 N to 36.46 N. The mean values of shortening force at fracture decreased with age of hens from 0.18–0.22 mm at 28 wk of age to 0.12–0.15 mm at 46 wk of age. Similarly, strength of eggshell decreased from 31.35–37.68 N to 27.91–34.50 N in same time period. Index of shape, ratio of eggshell and albumen to total egg weight also decreased with increasing age of hens. The highest ratio of abnormal eggs was found in both Bar Plymouth Rock lines (BPR A and BPR B) – 7.5% and 8.3% resp. The lowest ratio was found in lines Rhode Island Red (RIR C) – 2.1% and Susex Light (SU) – 2.4 %. The ratio of cracked eggs ranged from 0.9 % to 3.9 %, the ratio of double-yolked eggs was 0.5%–3.2% and the ratio of eggs without shell was 0.4 %–1.5 %. The calculated coefficients of correlation between shortening of egg and index of shape were mainly positive with rp = 0.41 (P < 0.05) and rp = 0.49 (P < 0.01). The correlations between shortening of egg and total number of eggs were mainly negative with rp = −0. 34 (P < 0.05) and rp = −0. 46 (P < 0.01). Similar correlations existed also between shortening of egg and ratio of cracked eggs, i.e. rp = −0. 44 (P < 0.05) and rp = −0. 46 (P < 0.01). The correlations between shortening and total number of abnormal eggs were mainly negative rp = −0. 39 (P < 0.05) and rp = −0. 53 (P < 0.01). The relationships between strength of eggshell and shortening of egg are characterized by positive correlations – rp = 0. 40 (P < 0.05) and rp = 0.55, (P < 0.01). Positive correlations existed also between strength of eggshell and index of shape (from rp = 0. 37 (P < 0.05) to rp = 0.59 (P < 0.01)). Correlations between strength of eggshell and ratio of eggshell ranged from rp = 0.44 (P < 0.01) to rp = 0.74 (P < 0.01). Mainly negative correlations were found out between strength of eggshell and number of eggs rp = −0. 34 (P<0.05) and rp = −0. 44 (P < 0.01), similarly between the strength of eggshell and cracked eggs rp = −0. 40 (P < 0.05) and rp = −0. 52 (P < 0.01). Negative correlations existed between strength of eggshell and total number of abnormal eggs (rp = −0.45 to rp = −0.53 (P < 0.01)). This means that both eggshell shortening and strength may be used when selecting lines for egg quality.

The mean Cu concentration in blood plasma of bulls of 12 Holstein and 13 Czech Spotted breeds was 22.27 urnol.l" 1 ; P, 1.78 mmol.l" 1 ; Ca, 3.04 mmol.l" 1 ; P:Ca ratio, 0.64. The mean Cu concentration in seminal plasma of bulls was 38.17 u.mol.1' 1 ; P, 12.07 mmol.l" 1 ; and Ca, 3.52 mmol.l" 1 and the P:Ca ratio was 3.31. The relationship between Cu, P and Ca concentration in blood and seminal plasma is expressed by calculated phenotypic coefficients of correlation. Highly significant positive coefficients of correlation (PO.01) were found between the Cu, P and P:Ca ratio in blood and seminal plasma (Cu -r p =0.36, P -r=0.32 and P:Ca ratio r=0.28). In contrast, no positive relationship between the Ca concentration in blood plasma and seminal plasma was found; the calculated coefficient of correlation was negative (r =-0.16). This was probably caused by the higher Ca concentration in blood plasma of bulls.Statistically significant (P<0.05) positive coefficients of correlation were found between the Cu concentration in blood plasma and the total number of sperm in ejaculate (f -0.33), between the Cu concentration in blood plasma and the total number of sperm with progressive motility (r=0.35), and between the Ca concentration and monthly value of sperm motility (r p =0.26).Positive coefficients of correlation were found between the Cu concentration in seminal plasma and the mean monthly volume of ejaculate (r=0.36, PO.01), between the Cu concentration in seminal plasma and sperm motility (r p =0.33, P<0.05), and Cu concentration in seminal plasma and total number of sperm with progressive motility in ejaculate (r p =0.28, P<0.05).The P concentration in seminal plasma of bulls was positively correlated with the sperm concentration in ejaculate collected on test days (r p =0.36, PO.01). The correlation between the P:Ca ratio in seminal plasma and the sperm concentration in ejaculate collected on test days was positive (r p =0.39, PO.01) and so was the correlation between the P:Ca ratio and the mean monthly sperm concentration (r =0.28, PO.05). The calculated coefficient of correlation between the Ca concentration in seminal plasma and the mean monthly sperm motility was negative (r =-0.38, PO.01). It can be concluded that there is a positive relationship between the Cu and P concentrations and P:Ca ratio in seminal plasma of bulls and the quality and quantity parameters of ejaculate of active stud bulls. A higher concentration of Ca in seminal plasma negatively affected mainly sperm motility in this study.

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 characteristics of energy status in porcine oocytes as related to their meiotic competence and in vitro maturation were studied. Cycling pubertal gilts in the early luteal to early follicular phases of the ovarian cycle were used as oocyte donors. The oocytes recovered from medium (MF) or small follicles (SF) were considered meiotically more or less competent, respectively. A half of oocytes from each category was matured by the standard protocol. The oocytes were examined before or after maturation by confocal microscopy, a bioluminescent cell assay and Western blotting. Four experiments, each in triplicate, were performed to assess both SF and MF oocytes in terms of metabolic units formed by mitochondria and lipids, ATP and lipid consumption and lipid droplets with adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) expression. The proportion of oocytes with metabolic units, the mean ATP content and the number of lipid droplets per oocyte, and the relative number of lipid droplets with ADRP expression were significantly higher in the MF compared to SF oocytes before maturation. On the other hand, after maturation, there was an increase in the proportion of oocytes with metabolic units and the relative number of lipid droplets with ADRP expression in the SF compared to MF oocytes. In conclusion, specific differences in energy characteristics between porcine oocytes with different meiotic competence were found. Meiotically more competent oocytes are more advanced in terms of energy reserves before maturation, while meiotically less competent oocytes are more active in replenishing energy stores during maturation.

The efficiency of in vitro embryo production is highly variable amongst individual sires in cattle. To eliminate that this variability is not caused by sperm chromatin damage caused by separation or capacitacion, chromatin integrity was evaluated. Seventeen of AI bulls with good NRRs but variable embryo production efficiency were used. For each bull, motile spermatozoa were separated on a Percoll gradient, resuspended in IVF-TALP medium and capacitated with or incubated without heparin for 6 h. Samples before and after separation and after 3-h and 6-h capacitacion or incubation were evaluated by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) and the proportion of sperm with intact chromatin structure was calculated. Based on changes in the non-DFI-sperm proportion, the sires were categorized as DNA-unstable (DNA-us), DNA-stable (DNA-s) and DNA-most stable (DNA-ms) bulls (n=3, n=5 and n=9, respectively). In DNA-us bulls, separation produced a significant increase of the mean non-DFI-sperm proportion (p

In five herds of purebred Holstein dairy cows, altogether 220 bulk milk samples were collected with the following average parameters: rennet coagulation time (RCT) 265.2 sec., titratable acidity 6.40 °SH, active acidity 6.72 pH, specific density 1.0281 kg.l−1, fat content 3.81 g.100g−1, protein content 3.28 g.100g−1, lactose content 4.72 g.100g−1, and content of solids non-fat content 8.89 g.100g−1; average values of milk batch volume per herd and diurnal air temperature were 6,072 kg and 8.02 °C, respectively. It was found out that the variable “season“ (spring, summer, autumn or winter) significantly influenced nearly all parameters under study (the only exceptions were values of titratable acidity and milk batch volume). As compared with all other seasons, the significantly shortest RCT was recorded in summer. Further it was also found out that the variable “herd” influenced all parameters with the exception of average diurnal air temperature. Regardless to differences existing among individual herds, the shortest average RCT was recorded always in summer.