Lameness is currently one of the most important and economically demanding diseases in cattle. It is manifested in a change in locomotion that is associated with lesions, especially the pelvic limbs. The disease of the hoof is painful, affecting the welfare of dairy cows. Important factors that influence the health of the limbs include nutrition, animal hygiene, stable technology, and genetic and breeding predispositions. Nutrition is one of the basic preventive factors affecting the quality and growth of the hoof horn, and the associated prevalence of hoof disease. The strength and structure of the hoof horn are affected by the composition of the feed ration (amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and toxic substances contaminating the feed ration, or arising in the feed ration as metabolites of fungi).

The aim of the present study was to assess dietary and sex-related effects on selected blood indicators of 40-day-old mallard ducks undergoing fattening. The ducks were divided into three dietary groups (control, L50 and L100). The control (C) group was fed a diet containing soybean meal as the main protein component of the feed. In both experimental groups L50 and L100 soybean meal was replaced with meal of whole seeds of white lupine, Zulika variety, in proportions of 50 and 100%, respectively. With respect to the assessed dietary effect, the serum of the L50 group showed a significantly higher albumin concentration as compared to the C group (P < 0.05) accompanied by a significantly lower proportion of γ-globulins in the L50 group as compared to the L100 group (P < 0.01). As for the blood plasma, the C group showed a significantly higher concentration of total cholesterol as compared to the L100 group (P < 0.05) and a highly significant increase in the triacylglyceride (TAG) level as compared to the L50 and L100 groups (P < 0.01). Concerning plasma mineral indicators, ducks of the C group showed a significantly higher calcium concentration (P < 0.05) in comparison to the L100 group and a lower phosphorus concentration (P < 0.01) in comparison to the L50 as well as L100 group. Further, the C group showed a significantly lower level of potassium (K) as compared to the L50 group (P < 0.05) as well as the L100 group (P < 0.01). The sex of the ducks significantly (P < 0.05) affected the proportion of α-globulins in serum and the magnesium level in the plasma and affected the plasma levels of TAG and K and the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.01).

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of two levels of clinoptilolite administered in feed (2% and 4%) on some selected performance indicators, metabolic utilization of basic nutrients and the health status of laying hens. The selected 24 Bovans Goldline hybrid laying hens were divided into three equal groups, two experimental groups (E1 and E2) and one control group (C). The laying hens were housed individually in cages with an automatic supply of drinking water, manual feeding, in a setting with controlled light and temperature regimens. Hens from individual groups were all fed a complete feed mix of the same composition and the only difference was in clinoptilolite supplementation: feed mixes for E1 and E2 groups contained 2% and 4% of clinoptilolite (commercial additive ZeoFeed) respectively, replacing the same amounts of wheat. The hens received feed mixes and drinking water ad libitum. During this 28-day experiment, feed consumption and the number and weight of eggs laid were monitored individually for each hen. At the end of the experiment, the balance test using the indicator method (Cr 2 O 3 ) was performed in all eight hens in each of the groups. The results of balance tests were then used to calculate the metabolic utilization of selected nutrients (nitrogen, fat, ash, nitrogen-free extracts, starch, gross energy, Ca, P). After the balance tests, blood samples for haematological and biochemical examinations were collected via puncture of the vena basilica. The addition of 2% clinoptilolite to feed mix resulted in a highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) increase in mean egg weight to 64.69 g, but the addition of 4% clinoptilolite in group E2 resulted in a highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) decrease in mean egg weight to 62.20 g compared to the control (63.73 g). Moreover, daily feed mix consumption in group E1 decreased to 114 g per one laying hen/day compared to the controls (118 g per one laying hen/day). In group E2 (4% clinoptilolite), daily consumption of feed mix increased compared with the controls to 124 g. The 2% clinoptilolite supplementation of E1 group feed slightly increased metabolic utilization of fat, nitrogen-free extracts, starch and gross energy compared to group C. Results of haematological test of the hens' blood showed significant changes in haemoglobin, whose values in groups C and E1 were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than in group E2. Differences in the values of the biochemical indicators monitored (total protein, glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerols, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and the AST enzyme) between group C and experimental groups E1 and E2 were not significant and remained within the range of reference values. , nutrient balance, biochemical profile, mineral profile, haematological profile Feeds may be carriers of a number of contaminating exogenous substances that spread to food via food-producing animals and their products. For that reason, suitable approaches are being sought to prevent such substances from penetrating the animal organism and, subsequ...

Vopálenský J., Suchý P., Straková E., Šimek F., Macháček M., Herzig I. (2017): Amino acid levels in muscle tissue of eight meat cattle breeds. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 62, 339-346.Ten clinically healthy bulls equal in weight were chosen from eight meat cattle breeds maintained in the same geographical conditions using the extensive grazing method. After slaughtering, muscle tissue samples were taken from the musculus longissimus and pars thoracis, and dry matter, nitrogenous substances, fat, and the levels of essential (EAAs) and non-essential (NEAAs) amino acids were determined. Significant differences were found between the monitored genotypes in the contents of dry matter, nitrogenous substances, fat, EAAs, and NEAAs (P ≤ 0.05). The highest concentrations of nitrogenous substances in muscle tissue were detected in the Limousine breed and the lowest in the Aberdeen Angus breed; the highest fat content was found in Aberdeen Angus and the lowest in Galloway. Out of the total sum of EAAs, the highest percentage in the dry matter of muscle tissue in all genotypes was found for Lys (8.8-10.4%), the lowest percentage was found for Met (2.4-2.9%). The value of Thr was approximately 4.6, Val 5.1, Ile 4.8, Leu 8.2, Phe 4.1, His 4.2, and Arg 8.0%. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between the monitored breeds were found in all EAAs, except for Val and Leu. Regarding NEAAs, out of the total protein, the highest percentage was found for Glu (13.9-15.1%). Conversely, the lowest values were detected for Ser (3.8-4.1%) and Tyr (3.8-4.4%). The values of other NEAAs were approximately 9.3 for Asp, 4.0 for Ser, 5.3 for Pro, 5.5 for Gly, and 6.1% for Ala. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were found between the monitored genotypes in all NEAAs except for Pro and Ala. In the dry matter of muscle tissue, out of the total protein, the sum of EAAs ranged from 50.6 (Meat Simmental) to 52.0% (Limousine), and NEAAs ranged from 48.0 (Limousine) to 49.4% (Meat Simmental). Apart from its effect on the biological value of meat, representation of individual amino acids is important to enhance its taste or smell.Keywords: meat cattle breeds; musculus longissimus dorsi; dry matter; protein; fat; essential and non-essential amino acids List of abbreviations: EAAs = essential amino acids, NEAAs = non-essential amino acids, Asp = aspartic acid, Thr = threonine, Ser = serine, Glu = glutamic acid, Pro = proline, Gly = glycine, Ala = alanine, Val = valine, Met = methionine, Ile = isoleucine, Leu = leucine, Tyr = tyrosine, Phe = phenylalanine, His = histidine, Lys = lysine, Arg = arginine, AA = Aberdeen Angus, BA = Blonde d'Aquitaine, Lim = Limousine, Char = Charolais, Gas = Gasconne, MS = Meat Simmental, Sal = Salers, Gall = Galloway

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two different types of oils in diet on the fatty acid profile in the eggs of layers and to include a particular type of oil as a supplement of feeding mixtures for layers in order to support the development of functional foodstuffs.