Malnutrition is one of the main problems related to the global mass collapse of honey bee colonies, because in honey bees, malnutrition is associated with deterioration of the immune system and increased pesticide susceptibility. Another important cause of mass bee colonies losses is the use of pesticides. Therefore, the goal of this study was to verify the influence of polyphenols on longevity, food consumption, and cytochrome P450 gene expression in worker bees intoxicated by thiacloprid. The tests were carried out in vitro under artificial conditions (caged bees). A conclusively lower mortality rate and, in parallel, a higher average food intake, were observed in intoxicated bees treated using a mixture of phenolic acids and flavonoids compared to untreated intoxicated bees. This was probably caused by increased detoxification capacity caused by increased expression level of genes encoding the cytochrome P450 enzyme in the bees. Therefore, the addition of polyphenols into bee nutrition is probably able to positively affect the detoxification capacity of bees, which is often reduced by the impact of malnutrition resulting from degradation of the environment and common beekeeping management.

The aim of the study was to estimate genetic characteristics for important qualitative and quantitative parameters of Czech Fleckvieh bulls' ejaculate and to define factors which influence these parameters. a total number of 2,929 entries about samples from 163 bulls of a selected artificial insemination centre were used for calculation. the analysed ejaculate characteristics were: volume of ejaculate, sperm concentration, total sperm count, native sperm activity and activity after thawing. In all evaluated semen characteristics, the age of individual, coefficient of inbreeding, interval between colection and year of colection were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the case of season of colection, statistically significance (P < 0.01) was proved in all monitored semen parameters, except concetration of spermatozoa where statistically significant difference was not found (P > 0.05). Estimated coefficients of heritability correspond to the values standardly specified for reproductive parameters (h 2 = 0.003 -0.14), except for the volume of ejaculate (h 2 = 0.31). the highest value of genetic correlation was recorded between the volume of ejaculate and the total sperm count (rG = 0.9), on the contrary, the lowest value was between the volume of ejaculate and the sperm concentration (rG = 0.32).

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a calving season on the Wood's model parameters of the lactation curve and its characteristics in Czech Fleckvieh cows.The observed Czech Fleckvieh cows (with minimum of 75 % of Czech Fleckvieh breed in the genotype) born between 1994-2007 formed three parity groups: parity 1 with 350853 cows, parity 2 with 269276 cows and parity 3 with 175029 cows. All the parity groups were further classified by the calving season: winter (December-February), spring (March-May), summer (June-August) and autumn (September-November). The Wood's function parameters (a, b, c) were calculated and the lactation characteristics estimated were: partial milk yields per 1-100 days, 100-200 days and a total milk yield of 305 days, the peak yield -amount and day, index of persistency 2 : 1 and a coefficient of the declination rate of the lactation curve. The calving season significantly affected the parameters (a, b, c) of the lactation curve, the persistency of lactation and the number of days-in-milk at peak yield; it had no significant effect on the other characteristics. In general, the cows which calved in winter and autumn had more persistent lactations, regardless of the number of lactation. The first-parity cows reached the peak yield sooner when they calved in summer, the older cows in summer and autumn.

Heat stability (HS) is substantial technology property of raw milk. Analysis of sources of HS variation and its regular monitoring can contribute to creating higher added value in the dairy industry. The goal of this analysis was to assess the practice sources of raw cow milk HS variability on the results of an extensive data set of bulk tank milk samples. There was implemented neither a compositional technology modification nor acidity adjustment of milk, just original raw milk was used for the analysis. A total 2634 HS analyses were performed, including other milk indicators, during three years of an experimental period. The log HS mean and standard deviation were 1.273654 ± 0.144189, equal to the HS geometric mean of 18.8 min. Explanation of the HS variability through the linear model used was 41.1% (p < 0.0001). According to the results of the variance analysis, the milk HS was influenced (p = 0.0033 and mostly <0.0001) by all the farm factors such as year; season; calendar month; altitude; total annual rainfall; herd size by the number of cows; milk yield; cow breed; type of milking; litter type in the stable; summer grazing application; farm effect. During the calendar months (p < 0.0001), milk HS values suggest similar seasonal dynamics with the somatic cell count, total count of mesophilic microorganisms, coli bacteria count and urea and lactose concentration and opposite configuration pattern to fat, crude protein, solids-not-fat and total solids content and milk freezing point depression. Here performed quantification of these effects by analyzing the variance may allow efficient raw milk selection to be processed into specific dairy products.

Objective: This study was focused on the influence of the skimmed milk-based extender (SM), the INRA 96 extender and BotuSemen Gold extender on parameters of stallions' ejaculate during storage.Methods: In this study, 14 stallions between 4 and 20 years of age were monitored. Total andTotal and pProgressive motility, viability and morphology of sperm were evaluated at time intervals of 24, 48 and 72 hours after collection. Results:The total and progressive motility was significantly higher in the INRA 96 and BotuSemen Gold extenders than in the skimmed milk-based extender at all time intervals (p < 0.05). After 48 and 72 hours, the INRA 96 preserved the viability of the semen better than the SM (p < 0.01). After 72 hours, the share of viable spermatozoa in the INRA 96 samples was 59.16 ± 1.06% and in the BotuSemen Gold samples, 55.00 ± 1.20% (p < 0.05) The total motility, progressive motility and values of sperm with normal morphology were significantly higher in the INRA 96 and BotuSemen Gold extenders than in the skimmed milk-based extender (p < 0.01). The sperm viability differed significantly in all extenders (p < 0.01). The highest value of sperm viability was in INRA 96 (64.69 ± 0.67%) and lowest in skimmed milk-based extender (59.70 ± 0.81%). The highest differences occurred at 72 hours of storage. The highest differences occurred at 72 hours of storage.Values of total motility, progressive motility and sperm viability decreased over time (p < 0.01). In case of sperm morphology there was no statistically significant decrease between 48-and 72-hour time intervals. Conclusion:It can be concluded that the extenders with a chemically defined composition have shown better indicators of insemination capabilities in ejaculates than the skimmed milkbased extender. The BotuSemen Gold extender is a suitable alternative to the INRA 96, when

Background Bentonites, as a clay mineral, serve in pig farms as adsorbents of toxic substances. They are mainly used to reduce the negative impact of mycotoxins to maintain the performance and health status of animals. The new genotypes of pigs are highly sensitive to a range of antinutrients, including mycotoxins. Currently, attention is focused on more effective adsorbents of mycotoxins with a higher adsorption capacity. Such materials are in great demand among feed manufacturers. However, there is a concern that these new materials may also adsorb too many essential nutrients and decrease animal performance. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of the new generation of purified bentonites on the efficiency and health status of the pigs. Results Forty-eight slaughtered pigs with an average weight of 31.2 ± 2.6 kg were included in the experiment. The pigs were divided into two groups (2 × 24 pigs). Pigs were slaughtered at an average weight of 66.3 ± 5.2. The first group had a diet without clay (control—C). The second group (treatment—T) was fed a diet with a clay additive (purified bentonite) of 1.5 kg/t. Animals were fed the experimental diet for 35 days. In group T, a higher daily weight gain (by 4.8%) and feed intake (by 2.9%) was observed while the feed conversion decreased by 1.9%. There were no significant differences between the groups of pigs during observation in the evaluation of hematological, biochemical parameters of the blood. Morpho-pathological analysis of the jejunum showed similar signs of moderate lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate in the mucosa in the groups C and T, contained similar number of goblet cells. Conclusion Taken together, the addition of the new generation of bentonite clays did not negatively influence the health status and the performance of pigs.

The goal of this study was to analyze the genetic and environmental factors of selected meat yield indicators in Fleckvieh cattle in the Czech Republic, through the application of station (S) and field (F) testing methods. Data collected from fattened bulls were analyzed for F (n = 9378) and for S (n = 6346). In the F method and the S method, the values of the main meat yield indicators were as follows: carcass weight 402.91 kg (F), 339.37 kg (S); carcass daily gain 626.05 g/day (F), 609.74 g/day (S); SEUROP carcass classification 2.73 (F), 2.19 (S). Environmental factors were found to have a significant impact on the selected meat yield indicators; their heritability ranged from 0.14 (SEUROP classification) to 0.33 (dressing percentage). The genetic trend was significantly positive only in relation to those meat yield traits, which had a positive link to the size or weight of the animal. The genetic correlation between observations obtained in the S and F methods of testing was very high in relation to the carcass daily gain (0.8351) and carcass weight (0.8244), while slightly lower correlations were calculated for the SEUROP classification. A genetic evaluation of the degree of fatness is not routinely performed in Fleckvieh populations, and the newly established heritability for this trait ranges between 0.17–0.20. The genetic correlation between beef yield indicators and the exterior trait of muscularity was also established, and shows a strong link to the net daily gain, the SEUROP classification and body weight (0.79–0.97). The aim of the study was to evaluate the genetic and environmental effects on meat yield and also estimate genetic parameters for new traits. We can also state, based on the results, that a strong positive genetic trend is confirmed, especially in traits related to the size or weight of animals. This result can be used in breeding programs of dual-purpose cattle, where we can genetically improve the meat and milk yield through the body size.

Objective: This study was focused on the estimation of parameters of Wood's model and description of the lactation curve using the cows which were lactated over 24 months on the first lactation. Methods: The database included 1 333 pure-bred dairy Simmental primiparous cows which lactated for 24 months (732 days). The initial dataset entering the procedure of assessment of parameters of Wood's function included 35 826 milk yield records. Milk yield was recorded throughout lactation, with the earliest record taken on day 6 and the latest on day 1 348 of lactation. This dataset was used for the assessment of parameters a, b, c of Wood's model using the non-linear statistical procedure. These parameters were estimated for different length of lactation. The assessed parameters were used for calculation of some characteristics of lactation curves. Results: The lowest value of a parameter (15.2317) of Wood's model of lactation curve was found out in lactations up to 305 days long, contrary to b and c parameters which were highest in those lactations (0.1029 and 0.0015, respectively). The maximum value of a parameter (17.4329) was found out in lactations up to 640 days long, unlike b and c parameters which were minimal in those lactations (0.0603 and 0.0010, respectively). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the parameters of Wood's model and the shape of lactation curve are changing with the growing number of milk yield records. Also, the assessed parameters revealed a significant milk production potential after 305 days of lactation.