The aim of the study was to determine the changes in the selected biochemical serum parameters in male Ross 308 broilers during the fattening period. The birds were kept under standard farm conditions and they were fed on commercial mixtures. The blood for analysis was taken from the jugular vein on the 14 th , 21 st , and 42 nd days of age. The concentration of serum protein (total protein, albumins, uric acid, creatinine), lipid (TG, TCHL, HDL) and mineral (Ca, P i , Mg, Fe) indices were determined. The measurements were carried out with the use of Epoll 20 photometer. The content of LDL and VLDL lipoprotein fractions was calculated on the basis of the Friedewald equation. Most of the estimated parameters, except for LDL and P i , were age-dependent (P<0.05). Total protein, albumins and total Ca levels showed a constant increase between the 14 th and 42 nd days of life. A lower (P<0.05) concentration of TG, TCHL, HDL, VLDL, Mg and Fe was determined at the end of the fattening period compared to 14-day-old broilers. A significant decrease of TG, VLDL, Mg and Fe content was noted already in the first age range (days 14-21) while in the case of TCHL and HDL a significant decrease was found between the 21 st and 42 nd days of fattening. The obtained results may be helpful in the evaluation of changes in the metabolic profile, health condition and production patterns in growing broiler chickens reared under farm conditions.

No abstract

This study compared apparent ileal and total tract digestibility of macronutrients and amino acids in blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) fed dry extruded diets. The control diet contained fish meal as the main protein source, while in the other diets 50% of the fish meal protein was replaced by not de-hulled solvent-extracted soybean meal, meat meal or bacterial protein meal. Ileal digestibility was obtained with animals modified with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA method). There were no significant differences in the average digestibility of CP, Lys, Trp, Val, Ala or Glu between IRA modified and intact animals. Average ileal digestibilities of His, Thr, Asp, Cys, Gly, Hyp, Pro, Ser, starch and total carbohydrates (CHO) were significantly lower compared with total tract values. Average ileal digestibility of Arg, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Tyr and crude fat was significantly higher than total tract digestibility. Digestibility measured in IRA modified animals showed less variability compared with values from intact animals. There were significant differences among diets in ileal as well as total tract digestibility of orude protein, most amino acids, starch and CHO, and in ileal digestibility of crude fat. Ileal crude protein digestibility of the diets ranged from 81.0-86.4% and total tract digestibility from 82.5-86.4%. Ileal amino acid digestibilities ranged from 70.1 (Asp) to 93.3% (Arg) and total tract values ranged from 72.8 (Cys) to 92.2% (Arg). Both ileal and total tract digestibilities of crude protein and most amino acids were significantly lower for diets containing meat meal or bacterial protein meal compared with the control fish meal-based diet and the diet with soybean meal. Although ileal digestibility may be more accurate than total tract digestibility in estimating the protein and amino acid supply in blue foxes, total tract digestibility may be acceptable because of numerically small differences between ileal and total tract digestibilities for protein and most amino acids. It was further concluded that ileal digestibilities of starch and CHO in the blue fox are lower than corresponding total tract digestibilities.

The study was conducted to determine and compare the resting values of haematological and biochemical blood indices in clinically healthy horses competing in show jumping and used for leisure activities. The experiment included twenty adult horses of Polish half-bred and Wielkopolska breed which were subjected to a daily training programme typical of their type of use. Blood samples were collected at rest before feeding from the jugular external vein. Show jumpers had higher (P<0.05) red blood cell count, haematocrit value and haemoglobin concentration as well as the serum level of total protein, albumin, α 2-and γ-globulin, HDL and iron. The level of βglobulin, magnesium and activity of creatine kinase were significantly higher in recreationally used horses. There were no differences in the values of red blood cell parameters (MCV, MCH, MCHC), number of leucocytes and the percentage of their respective kinds, platelets, concentration of urea, creatinine, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, activity of AST, ALT, LDH and in the content of Na, K, Cl, P, Ca between the tested groups. The results of the present study indicate that the type of training influences some of the resting haematological and biochemical indices in adult horses. Horses used for show jumping have higher aerobic capacity and show a more beneficial lipid profile compared to horses used for recreation.

The results of research on the apparent ileal and total digestibility of nitrogen and amino acids in mink and polar foxes are presented. The research reveals lower values of apparent nitrogen and amino acid digestibility coefficients in the small intestine than in the whole alimentary tract of these animals fed on diets containing different sources of animal protein. Fresh fish proteins showed higher ileal and total digestibility of nitrogen and amino acids than fish meal proteins. The increase or sole content of fish meals in the diets caused more rapid digesta passage, a rise in the amount of voided faeces and lower apparent ileal and total digestibility of nitrogen and amino acids. After diets containing whole fish and beef, the amino acids with the highest digestibility were methionine and lysine. After the diets containing fish meal, meat meal, meat-and-bone meal, and poultry by-product meal, arginine was the amino acid that was the quickest to be absorbed from the small intestine in mink and polar foxes. The amino acids of the lowest availability in the small intestine, as well as in the whole alimentary tract of these species appeared to be threonine and cystine. The lowest apparent digestibility of these amino acids probably resulted from their high content in endogenous nitrogen released in the digestive tract of mink and polar foxes.

The aim of the experiment was to compare the effect of different dietary fat sources on performance, biochemical indices and fatty acid profile in the blood serum of broilers. The study was carried out on 96 male Ross 308 chickens from 1 to 42 day of life, fed diets supplemented with soyabean oil (SO), Nowitol 30 (N) and lard (L). The ratio of UFA/SFA in fat sources was: 4.55 (SO), 4.27 (N), 1.75 (L). There was no effect of dietary fat on performance indices, protein and fat metabolism parameters, Ca, P and chloride concentration in the blood. The highest (P<0.05) Mg concentration was found in N group. A higher percentage (P<0.05) of SFA (34.16%) and lower (P<0.05) level of PUFA (54.01%) was found in chickens from group L in comparison with broilers from the SO (SFA -33.18%, PUFA -55.84%) and N (SFA -33.30%, PUFA -55.99%) groups. The results indicate that performance and biochemical indices were not negatively affected by tested fat sources.

The aim of the research was to determine lipid metabolism indices and fatty acid profile in the blood serum of Ross 308 chickens (n = 48), fed a finisher mixture supplemented with 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% of lignocellulose. The feeding trial lasted from 21 to 42 d of the birds' age. Blood samples were collected from each chicken at 42d of age from the pterygoid canal vein. In the blood serum the content of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TCHOL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction was determined by the spectrophotometric method. The fatty acids concentration was estimated with the use of the gas chromatography method. Lignocellulose in doses of 0.5 and 1.0% significantly reduced the concentration of triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) content was not affected by dietary treatments whereas lignocellulose significantly influenced the profile of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from n-3 and n-6 families. Insoluble fiber decreased (p<0.05) serum concentration of α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) and increased share of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3), dihomogammalinolenic acid (C20:3n-6) and arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) in total PUFA, compared to the control birds. The results of the present study have shown that the incorporation of limited amounts of lignocellulose into the broiler diet can influence the lipid metabolism in the chickens.

The aim of the study was to determine the changes in the content of major proteins, glucose and selected hormones in the blood of piglets during the first 7 days of neonatal life. The study involved an entire litter of eight newborn piglets of F1 hybrids (Polish White Large x Polish Landrace) delivered from one sow in the second gestation. In blood samples collected directly after parturition (before colostrum intake), in the 12 JD , 24 JD and 48 JD hour and in 7 JD day of life, the content of total protein and its fractions, glucose concentration and the level of insulin, T ! (total and free), T " (total and free), leptin, resistin and ghrelin (total and active) was determined. In the blood serum of newborn piglets a low content of total protein, albumins, gamma globulins and a high share of alpha-and beta globulins was found. In the 12 JD hour of life, after colostrum intake, a significant (P<0.05) increase in the content of total protein, albumins, beta-globulins and a rapid increase of gamma globulins as well as decrease of alpha-globulins level were observed. In the consecutive periods of postnatal life a significant (P<0.05) decrease of total protein, beta-and gamma globulins as well as a steady increase in the content of albumins in the blood serum of piglets was observed. The content of glucose, insulin, leptin, resistin and ghrelin in the blood serum of neonates increased significantly (P<0.05) after colostrum intake. During the successive experimental periods a progressive increase (P<0.05) of glucose and T ! as well as systematic decrease of insulin, T " , ghrelin and resistin in the blood serum was observed as compared to the 12 JD hour of life.