The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional and dietetic values of the meat of chickens of the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.) intensively fattened until 90 days of age to the meat of broiler chickens fattened until 40 days of age. Breast muscles in pheasants contained higher protein content on a dry matter basis ( in females and 9.23 g·kg -1 in males. Breast and thigh muscles in both female and male pheasants contained higher protein content and lower fat content compared to broiler meat. The calcium content in pheasant meat was lower whereas the phosphorus and magnesium contents were higher compared to broiler meat. Pheasant meat with high content of protein and low fat content is very valuable foodstuff and its dietetic value exceeds that of broiler meat. There is a lack of scientific literature on this subject which has not been studied in detail yet. This study extends the current scope of scientific knowledge in this field. Common pheasant, broiler, breast and thigh muscles, chemical analysisThe present study compares the chemical composition of pheasant meat and broiler meat from fattened broiler chickens, and evaluates the dietetic value of both meats with regard to human nutrition. The chemical composition of meat is determined genetically, being also affected by major external factors such as the diet. This is confirmed by a study of Kokoszyński et al. (2008) who reported differences in the carcass value of pheasants reared at different levels of nutrition. There are differences between pheasants raised in captivity and wild pheasants not only in the carcass value but also in the chemical composition of muscles as reported by Saeki and Kumagai (1990). Tucak et al. (2008) found that the meat of wild pheasants contains more protein and less fat, thus having a higher biological value than the meat of artificially reared pheasants. Differences between breast and thigh muscles in pheasants are also discussed by Petkov (1984) who found based on the chemical analysis that breast muscles have a higher nutritional value than thigh muscles. The effect of sex on the carcass value in pheasants was investigated by Adamski and Kuzniacka (2006) who reported that pheasants can be slaughtered at the age of 16-20 weeks. Kuzniacka et al. (2007) reported that no significant differences were found between both sexes at this age in the protein content in breast muscles (24.53 and 25.19%) and of fat in thigh muscles (2.31 and 2.78%). Večerek et al. (2005) found an increase in dry matter content in thigh muscles in pheasants on days 50 and 90. They also found low fat content on days 40 and 90 of the fattening period. The chemical composition of partridge meat was studied by Gaglianone et al. (2006) who found that breast muscles in partridge are characterized by increased contents of protein, ash and phosphorus, and decreased contents

Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and the content of individual amino acids (AA) were determined in the bodies of Ross 308 and Cobb 500 hybrids including feathers after 40 days of fattening. Percentages for the content of individual AA were then calculated from the total sums of AA. The level of CP, irrespective of sex, was 453.16 ± 5.916 g/kg of DM for the Ross and 470.94 ± 5.404 g/kg of DM for the Cobb hybrid (P ≤ 0.05). For both hybrids, the content of CP was significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher for cocks as opposed to hens. The AA levels in DM, irrespective of sex, were higher in the Cobb hybrid except for Glu; it was significantly higher for Asp, Ser, Ala, Lys (P ≤ 0.01), and Thr and Arg (P ≤ 0.05). The values for the majority of AA were higher for cocks than for hens in both hybrids. For the majority of essential AA, significant (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05) differences were recorded between sexes. For non-essential AA except for Ser and Ala, significantly (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05) higher values were found in cocks. Of the total sums of AA in DM of Ross broilers, the largest presence (here and after in %) was that of Glu (14.92), followed by Leu (8.80), Asp (8.73), Gly (8.71), Arg (7.21), Val (6.33), and Pro (6.09). The lowest contents were those of Met (2.41) and His (3.28). For the Cobb hybrid, the AA were Glu (13.90), Asp (9.12), Gly (8.48), Leu (8.43), Arg (7.48), Lys (6.44), and Pro (6.09). The AA lowest contents were those of Met (2.30) and His (3.16).Keywords: broiler chickens; chemical analysis; essential amino acids; nonessential amino acids; AA spectrum List of abbreviations: DM = dry matter, CP = crude protein, AA = amino acids, EAA = essential amino acids, NEAA = nonessential amino acids, Lys = lysine, Thr = threonine, Try = tryptophan, His = histidine, Phe = phenylalanine, Leu = leucine, Ile = isoleucine, Met = methionine, Cys = cysteine, Val = valine, Arg = arginine, Asp = aspartate, Ser = serine, Glu = glutamate, Pro = proline, Gly = glycine, Ala = alanine, Val = valine, Tyr = tyrosine

Over the course of Ross 308 hybrid broiler chick cock and hen rearing, whole chicken bodies including feathers were monitored for changes in the levels of nitrogenous substances, essential amino acids (EAA) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA). At five-day intervals (Days 1, 5, 9, 15, 20, 26, 30, 35 and 40 of rearing), randomly selected chickens were slaughtered after 24 h of fasting. Over the course of rearing, N-substance levels ranged from 629.1 to 429.0 g/kg dry matter in hen bodies and from 616.0 to 477.3 g/kg dry matter in cock bodies. N-substance levels were statistically significantly different in the two sexes on rearing Days 35 and 40 (P ≤ 0.01). The levels of all amino acids (AA) in dry body matter of chickens up to 15 days of age dropped significantly over time, while in the period from Day 20 to Day 40, some AA levels increased or reached the baseline. With most AA, the levels were lower in hens than in cocks over the course of the trial. At the end of the trial (Days 35 and 40), statistically significant differences between the sexes were found for most EAA (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05). NEAA, except for Ser and Ala, were also significantly higher in cocks on Days 35 and 40 (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05). Among the monitored EAA, the dry matter of the bodies of hens exhibited the highest levels of Leu, 8.70% on average, followed by Val 6.54%, Lys 5.26%, Ile 5.25%, Thr 4.84%, Phe 4.30%, Tyr 2.51% and Met 2.21%. Leu was also the most abundant in the cock bodies, 8.42% on average, followed by Val 6.30%, Lys 5.36%, Ile 5.06%, Thr 4.57%, Phe 4.45%, Tyr 2.88% and Met 2.17%. Knowledge of the levels of nitrogenous substances, EAA and NEAA in the whole bodies of broiler chickens including feathers will help to determine optimal rearing conditions.

SummaryAim: To describe effectiveness of orlistat and phentermine in soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic.Methods: In ambulatory patients, some anthropometric and biochemical parameters were compared before administration with 120 mg of orlistat three times a day or 15 mg of phentermine once a day. The same parameters were compared after a three-month therapy. This group included 289 patients (238 males and 51 females) who were administered the same dose of orlistat or phentermine for the entire period of time.Results: Statistically significant weight loss in both genders, on average by 4.6 ± 4.2 kg in males and by 5.3 ± 4.3 kg in females, was observed in patients taking orlistat within three months. Statistically significant weight loss, on average by 6.5 ± 6.0 kg in males and by 5.2 ± 4.3 kg in females, was also observed in patients taking phentermine for the same period of time. As for monitored biochemical parameters, a decrease of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and glucose at a statistically significant level (p<0.05) was observed in the group of females, the same statistically significant decrease, but in triglycerides, was proved in the group of males. Then a decrease of total cholesterol and increase of HDL cholesterol at a statistically significant level (p<0.001) was observed in the group of males.Conclusion: We can state that in our patients we have proven a positive effect of orlistat or phentermine substitution on their weight reduction.