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ABSTRACT:A good functional status of cryopreserved boar spermatozoa is very important for successful fertilization of porcine oocytes and in vitro embryo production. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the changes in functional status of boar spermatozoa separated from frozen-thawed semen and capacitated in vitro by caffeine. The effect of acrosome reaction development in spermatozoa on the efficiency of oocyte fertilization has been studied in boars A, B and C. Motile spermatozoa were separated by Percoll gradient, untreated (control) or treated with both 1mM and 2mM caffeine, and capacitated or co-cultured with matured oocytes. The motility, viability, chromatin and acrosome integrity, and fertilizing ability of spermatozoa were assessed. The separation significantly increased (P < 0.05) the percentage of viable spermatozoa in all tested boars and percentages of motile and acrosome intact spermatozoa in boars B and C. The capacitation significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the percentages of viable and motile spermatozoa, but after capacitation, the motility and viability were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the caffeine-treated spermatozoa than for the untreated controls. A fall in the proportion of acrosome-intact spermatozoa was different for each caffeine concentration and each boar, but in all boars, acrosome reaction progress was faster and, similarly, monospermy and the total efficiency of fertilization were significantly higher (P < 0.01) for the spermatozoa treated with 1mM caffeine than for those treated with 2mM caffeine. It can be concluded that there is a potential relationship between the acrosome reaction progress in frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa and the efficiency of fertilization of porcine oocytes. A faster AR induced in spermatozoa by appropriate caffeine treatment resulted in a higher monospermy rate and total efficiency of fertilization. Thus, it is important to test sires before their semen is used for in vitro embryo production. The faster AR induced by 1mM caffeine was more effective in terms of monospermy and total efficiency of fertilization.

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 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

To cite this article: REČKOVÁ ZUZANA, FILIPČÍK RADEK, MÁCHAL LADISLAV, HORSKÝ ROMAN. 2019. Analysis of Reproduction Indicators of the Yellow-Billed Stork (Mycteria ibis). Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 67(1): 155 - 161. AbstractThe aim of the study was to supplement the original knowledge about the reproduction of one of four species of storks (Mycteria). The storks are classified by IUCN as endangered species with different degrees of extinction and their reproduction in human care is difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously supplement and deepen the knowledge of their reproduction in captivity. The subject of the thesis was the analysis of reproductive indicators of the yellow-billed ibis (Mycteria ibis). By analyzing partial reproduction indicators, we wanted to supplement the knowledge that is needed to ensure the necessary degree of reproduction of the yellow-billed stork in human care. The monitoring was carried out in the ZOO Zlín -Lešná in these years 2011 -2014. After laying, the eggs were measured and weighed, which was repeated in several-day intervals. In addition, hatchability, the number of reared young and the weight of the young after hatching were monitored. During the monitoring period, a total of 46 eggs of the yellow-billed stork by 8 parent pairs were evaluated. The average fertilized eggs ratio was 56.5 %. The average eggs length was 66.07 mm, the average eggs width was 47.02 mm and the average eggs weight was 80.46 g. The average eggs weight loss during their incubation was 5.60 g. The average hatchability was 52.2 % from all laid eggs and 92.3 % from fertilized eggs. Altogether, 24 young of the yellow-billed stork hatched during the monitoring period. The average weight of young yellow-billed stork on the day of hatching was 58.14 g. Throughout to the reference period, were reared 15 individuals of the yellow-billed stork.

232The application of biotechnology in cattle breeding has allowed us to reduce the generation interval and to increase selection pressure in animal populations on the basis of more objective evaluation of the genotype. It facilitates more effective utilization of the reproductive potential of animals, makes a broader range of parental combinations available and thus allows for modification of the animal population in a desired way.The prerequisite for achieving these goals involves efficient cryopreservation methods for long-term storage of embryos, exchange of genetic material and creation of genetic resources. Today the embryos obtained by superovulation can be fro- ABSTRACT: The present study was designed to compare the efficiency of bovine embryo production for cryopreservation between oocytes collected from donors in the growth phase of follicular development (GPFD) and those recovered from donors in the undefined phase (UPFD). Cyclic cows, Czech Siemental or Holstein dairy breeds, 4-6 years of age, slaughtered at the local abbatoir were used. They were divided into two groups based on ovarian morphology: I. GPFD donors with ovaries corresponding to the growth phase of the first follicular wave (estrus cycle days 3-4; n = 52), and II. UPFD donors with ovaries in any other phase of follicular development (undefined estrus cycle days; n = 89). A total of 3 771 oocytes were collected and 1 134 embryos were prepared as two separate populations by standard protocol. In total 352 excellent or good quality embryos at the early, advanced or expanded blastocyst stage from both donor groups were pooled and used for cryotolerance assessment. They were frozen on day 7 (D7) or day 8 (D8) after fertilization by the standard procedure. After thawing, the embryos were cultured for 72 h to the hatching stage. The percentages of both D7 embryos and advanced blastocysts were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) for oocytes collected from GPFD donors than for oocytes collected from UPFD donors (33.7 vs 28.6% and 43.0 vs 29.5%, respectively). The percentages of excellent or good quality embryos obtained from both D7 embryos and fertilized oocytes were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) for oocytes collected from GPFD donors than for oocytes collected from UPFD donors (63.6 vs 49.4% and 21.4 vs 14.1%, respectively). The post-thaw survival rates were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) for D7 than D8 embryos (80.4 vs 66.3%). In relation to the developmental stage, the development and hatching rates were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) for D7 than D8 early blastocysts (75.0 vs 41.2% and 50.0 vs 5.9%, respectively) and for D7 than D8 advanced blastocysts, (73.7 vs 57.1 and 52.6 vs 28.6%, respectively). No differences were found between D7 and D8 expanded blastocysts after freezing-thawing. In conclusion, the collection of oocytes from donors in the growth phase positively influenced the in vitro production of bovine embryos for cryopreservation. The development of embryos produced with oocytes from GPFD donor group was accelerated and more ex...

AbstrAct:In this field study, embryos were derived from genetically highly valuable cows excluded from breeding due to reproductive disorders. Cows, 5 to 10 years old, of Czech Siemmental, Holstein Dairy and Beef Cattle breeds were used as oocyte donors. Oocytes were obtained either in the growth phase of the first follicular wave from cows with synchronized oestrus or in any other phases of follicular development from cows without oestrus synchronization. The embryos were prepared by a standard protocol described previously. The mean number of usable oocytes, transferable and freezable embryos per donor, and the mean percentage of usable, transferable and freezable embryos were assessed. The results were analyzed by Student's-t and Chi-squared tests. The embryos were frozen according to a slow freezing protocol. After thawing, they were transferred to recipients on Day 7 after oestrus. Irrespective of the breed, the mean numbers of usable oocytes and transferable and freezable embryos collected per donor were significantly higher (P < 0.01) for the synchronized than for the nonsynchronized donors (20.4 vs 11.7, 4.3 vs 1.0 and 3.2 vs 0.8, respectively). Similarly, the mean percentages of usable oocytes, transferable and freezable embryos were significantly higher (P < 0.01) for the synchronized than for the nonsynchronized donors (28.5% vs 20.5%, 20.9% vs 9.0% and 15.8% vs 6.5%, respectively). On comparison of the synchronized and nonsynchronized donors of each breed, the difference in the mean percentage of usable oocytes was significant (P < 0.01) in cows of all three breeds, the difference in the mean percentage of transferable embryos was significant in Czech Siemmental and Holstein Dairy cows (P < 0.01) and the difference in the mean percentage of freezable embryos was significant only in Holstein Dairy cows (P < 0.01). After the transfer of 41 frozen-thawed embryos and 43 fresh embryos, 20 heifers and 24 heifers became pregnant, respectively. In conclusion: (a) higher number of oocytes from infertile, genetically valuable cows was recovered in the growth phase compared with the other phases of follicular development; (b) greater development of these oocytes resulted in more embryos for transfer and cryopreservation; (c) the transfer of frozen-thawed and fresh embryos resulted in pregnancy rates of 48.8% and 55.8% , respectively.