Czech Fleckvieh Cattle Research Articles

The influence of eating and rumination time on solids content in milk and milk yield performance of cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rumination time, eating time and season on milk yield and on milk component content in the context of milk recording. The experiment was carried out with two breeds – Czech Fleckvieh cattle and Holstein cattle – for one year. Vitalimetr 5P neck responders were used to monitor eating and rumination time. For statistical evaluation, the time of eating and rumination was divided into three groups according to the length of eating and ruminating, with each breed being categorised separately. The highest protein content, which was 3.6%, was calculated for the group with an average eating time. The fat content was highest for the group with a below-average eating time. On the other hand, the highest milk yield was statistically significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the group with the longest eating time. In terms of rumination, the trend was similar to that of the eating period. In the evaluation of the effect of rumination time, there was no difference in protein %, fat kg and fat % content. A significant (P < 0.05) increase of protein kg was observed with higher rumination time. Changes in milk yield and milk components also occurred throughout the year. During the winter months, the yield decreased, but there was an increase in milk constituent content. During the summer months, the reverse results were obtained. The findings of this study highlight the importance of evaluating eating and rumination time as a potential predictor of milk yield and milk solids content, which are important in milk monetization.

Relationship between daily activities duration and oestrus in dairy cows over the year

The aim of this study was to evaluate the amounts of time that selected crossbreeds of Holstein (H), Red-Holstein (R), and Czech Fleckvieh (C) cattle spent chewing, eating, being physically active using a Vitalimetr 5P neck responder during the period around oestrus in all seasons of the year. Oestrus and the days preceding it greatly affected the times of events of increased activity, eating, and rumination. Eating and chewing times were longest for H cows, at 51–74%, and shortest for C cows, at &gt; 88%. The number of events of increased activity was highest (533.4 ± 8.94 events, P &lt; 0.01) for cows R 51–74%. Oestrus in dairy cows was manifested by decreases in the times of chewing and eating and the frequency of events of increased activity. Feeding time decreased by 8.01 min from the second day before oestrus to the day of oestrus. Rumination time also decreased from the second day before oestrus to the day of oestrus. Rumination time on the day of oestrus decreased by an average of 61.80 min but increased the next day by 33.39 min. In contrast, events of increased activity were highest on the day of oestrus (623 ± 7.68 events). Our findings on differences between breeds, lactation order, and months may contribute to the improvement of algorithms for detecting oestrus, thereby improving the economic status of farms.

Evaluation of the body conformation traits by system FleckScore and its relationship to longevity of Slovak Simmental cows

Article Details: Received: 2020-10-28 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.155-158 The study is focused to analyse of the relationship between composite type traits evaluated by new system Fleckscore and functional length of productive life in the Slovak Simmental cows. All cows was scored in the first parity just because 85% data were censored. The score of frame, feet and legs, muscularity and udder was between 68 and 93 points.The lowest risk of culling was found for muscularity (0.591) at the group scored between 84 and 93 points,for udder (0.879) and feet and legs (0.751) scored between 77 - 79 points and for frame (0.816) at the score 80 points. Rate of culled cows on first or second parity was 15 %. Within this group, diseases and fertility disorders (involuntary culling) represented 23 % culling cows. Keywords: body conformation trait, FleckScore, longevity, survival analysis References Ansari-Lari, M. et al. (2012). Causes of culling in dairy cows and its relation to age at culling and interval from calving in Shiraz, Southern Iran. Veterinary Research Forum , 3(4), 233–237. https://doi.org/ 4313041 Anzenberger, H. (2012). Zweitbewertung im neuen System. Rinderzucht Fleckvieh , 3(1), 28–29. Ducrocq, V. et al. (2012). The survival Kit v6.1. User´s Manual . 83 p. Frelich, J. et al. (2010). Reasons for the culling of dairy cows on low-input mountain farms. Journal of Agrobiology , 27(1), 41–48. https://doi.org/10.2478/s10146-009-0006-z Imbayarwo-Chikosi, V. E. et al. (2016). Impact of comformation traits on functional longevity in South African Holstein cattle. Animal Production Science , 58(3) 481–488. Morek-Kopec´, M. and Zarnecki, A. (2012). Relationship between conformation traits and longevity in Polish Holstein Friesian cattle. Livestock Science , 149(1-2) 53–61. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.livsci.2012.06.022 Novotný, L. et al. (2017). Genetic Relationship between Type Traits, Number of Lactations Initiated, and Lifetime Milk Performance in Czech Fleckvieh Cattle. Czech Journal of Animal Science , 62(12), 501–510. https://doi.org/ 10.17221/60/2017-CJAS Ondrakova, M. (2014). Fleckscore proposal for second and third lactations. Zpravodaj chovatelu a plemenne knihy ceskeho strakateho skotu , 2. 10–12. (in Czech) Sawa, A. et al. (2013). Relationship between Conformation Traits and Lifetime Production Efficiency of Cows. International Scholarly Research Notices , vol. 2013, Article ID 124690, 4 p. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/124690 Sewalem, A. et al. (2004). Analysis of the Relationship Between Type Traits and Functional Survival in Canadian Holsteins Using a Weibull Proportional Hazards Model. Journal of Dairy Science , 87, 3938–3946. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)73533-X Tanzler, J. (2014). Lineare Nachzuchtbewertung mit Fleckscore. Fleckviehzucht in Osterreich, 4, 25–27. Zavadilova, L. et al. (2011). Effect of type traits on functional longevity of Czech Holstein cows estimated from a Cox proportional hazards model. Journal of Dairy Science , 94, 4090–4099. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2010-3684

Evaluation of the Level of Length of Eating Time, Chewing and Parameters of Daily Increased Activity Depending on the Breed, the Lactation Number and the Period of the Year

Eating time, rumination and activity is affected by many factors. Evaluation of the parameters obtained from Vitalimeter 5P was performed on 719 dairy cows Czech fleckvieh cattle and Holstein cattle and their hybrids within one farm. Data collecting took place for one year. As part of a detailed evaluation using the GLM procedure, the lactation number, the period of the year and the pedigree (P &lt; 0.001) had a significant effect on the time of rumination, eating, increased activity and the sum of activities. The highest values in all monitored parameters were reached by H 51–87. Within the effect of the lactation number was evident a certain discrepancy when the longest eating time was observed in cows at the first lactation (293.20 min.), while the longest rumination time in cows at 3, resp. 4 and further lactation (484.82 and 482.46 min, respectively). The lowest values were monitored for these two parameters in exactly the opposite order, the lowest eating time in older cows and the shortest rumination time in the youngest cows. Results of evaluated periods of the years confirmed mainly the differences in the time of eating and rumination in the summer months compared to the rest of the year (P &lt; 0.01). These results, both individually and within the interactions of factors, confirm the effects of the body framework in the case of breeds, the age of the animals within the lactation order and the importance of assessing heat stress in assessing the effect of the year.

Association of leptin, toll-like receptor 4, and chemokine receptor of interleukin 8 C-X-C motif single nucleotide polymorphisms with fertility traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle

ObjectiveThe use of genetic markers can help to enhance reproduction in cattle, which is a very important trait for profitability in dairy production systems. This study evaluated the association between genotypes of leptin (LEP), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and chemokine receptor of interleukin 8 C-X-C motif (CXCR1) genes and fertility traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle.MethodsPhenotypic data from 786 Czech Fleckvieh cows raised on 5 farms in the Czech Republic were used, along with information from the 1st three parities. To determine genotype, the polymerase chain reaction– restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used.ResultsExcept for LEP g.-963C>T, all studied genotype frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were distributed according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Two LEP SNPs (g.-963C>T and c.357C>T) were associated with the age at the 1st calving, days open (DO), pregnancy rate after 1st service (PR), and calving interval (CLI). In LEP g.-963C>T the TT genotype heifers firstly calved 24 days earlier than CC genotype and the CT genotype cow showed a tendency for shorter DO and higher PR. In LEP c.357C>T we observed longer CLI and DO period in TT cows. In general, we can propose the TT genotype of g.-963C>T as favorable and the TT genotype of c.357C>T as unfavorable for a cow’s fertility. Heterozygotes in TLR4 c.-226C>G were significantly associated with shorter CLI, and presented a nonsignificant tendency to be associated with higher PR. In CXCR1 c.777 C>G, we did not observe any relationship of this SNP with reproduction.ConclusionOverall, the results showed that LEP could be an effective marker for improving reproduction in Czech Fleckvieh cattle. This study also provides novel insights into the relationship between TLR4 and CXCR1 SNPs and reproduction in dual-purpose cattle.

Genetic relationship between type traits, number of lactations initiated, and lifetime milk performance in Czech Fleckvieh cattle

Genetic relationship was analyzed between type traits and longevity measures in dual-purpose cattle. Data from 91 486 Czech Fleckvieh cows first calved between 2003 and 2009 were used. Longevity was defined as the actual number of lactations initiated per cow and also as functional longevity, which incorporated an adjustment to account for variation in voluntary culling based upon milk production. Lifetime performance was defined as cumulative milk production through the 6&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; parity. All cows were scored for conformation traits during their first lactation. Genetic correlations between these traits and longevity measures were estimated by bivariate analysis using the DMU variance component program package. Type trait heritabilities ranged from 0.30 to 0.59, while heritabilities for longevity and functional longevity were 0.06 and 0.05, respectively. Heritability of lifetime performance was 0.08. Genetic correlations between type traits and longevity measures ranged from low to intermediate values. Genetic correlations of the measured body size traits to the real and functional longevity ranged from –0.06 to –0.29, for udder traits from –0.02 to 0.33, and for foot and leg traits from –0.03 to 0.17. Genetic correlations between the measured body size traits and lifetime performance ranged from –0.03 to –0.30, for udder traits from 0.05 to 0.47, for foot and leg traits from –0.07 to 0.15. Genetic correlations of composite trait scores for frame, muscularity, feet and legs, and udder with longevity traits ranged from –0.20 to 0.41 and for lifetime performance –0.14 to 0.51. The highest genetic correlations between a type trait and functional longevity were for composite udder score (0.25), feet and legs (0.26), and udder depth (0.33), suggesting that these traits could serve as indicators of functional longevity. We conclude that selection based upon easily and inexpensively measured type traits could improve functional longevity of cows as well as lifetime milk production.

P5042 Comparative analysis of gene expression during postnatal growth in Czech Fleckvieh cattle

P5042 Comparative analysis of gene expression during postnatal growth in Czech Fleckvieh cattle

The Effect of the Season on the Behavior and Milk Yield of the Czech Fleckvieh Cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the seasonal behavior and milk yield of dairy cows of Czech Fleckvieh cattle. The subject of the monitoring was one section (housed in one quarter of barn) with 103 free cubicle beds with an average of 95 lactating dairy cows of Czech Fleckvieh cattle. In the seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) temperature (°C), relative humidity (%) and temperature-humidity index (THI) were monitored. Furthermore, behavioral signs were also observed (a total of 4,940 observations): dairy cows were either lying down (3,432 observations) or standing up (1,508 observations). In the conditions that dairy cows were standing up in the cubicle, up to 585 observations were proved. If dairy cows were standing up outside of the cubicle (923 observations), they were either lying on the left side (1,924 observations) or right side (1,508). Significant seasonal influence was found out (p &lt; 0.05) on the number of dairy cows standing up (a maximum of 410 observations in the spring, a minimum of 342 observations in the summer) and then the number of cows lying both on the left (a maximum of 519 observations in the autumn and a minimum of 444 observations in the spring) and on the right side (a maximum of 415 observations in the winter, a minimum of 320 observations in the autumn). The seasonal influence was no significant (p &gt; 0.05) in the remaining behavioral signs. With regard to milk yield, a significant seasonal influence was proved. The highest milk yield was reached with dairy cows in spring (29.27 kg of milk) and the lowest in the autumn (24.58 kg of milk). No significant differences of milk yield were detected between behavioral signs (p &gt; 0.05). The maximum difference of milk yield was found out up to 1.39 kg between dairy cows lying down on the left side (28.35 kg) and the dairy cows standing up in a cubicle (26.96 kg) in the winter but even this difference was not statistically significant (p &gt; 0.05).

The Effect of Genotype (Purebred Czech Fleckvieh and Their Crosses) on Some Beef Quality Characteristics in Bulls

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of genotype of bulls (the proportion of Czech Fleckvieh cattle in milk-producing cattle population in the Czech Republic) on carcass quality traits and some nutritional and processing quality characteristics of beef (dry matter content, intramuscular fat content, protein content, ash content, water holding capacity, muscle fibre diameter, and meat colour characteristics). The experiment included 419 bulls of Czech Fleckvieh breed (C), out of which 165 were pure-bred (C100), 163 crossbred of C76–88 genotype and 91 crossbred of C50–75 genotype. The association between meat quality traits and genotype of bulls was assessed. Purebred bulls C100 or crosses with a greater proportion of Czech Fleckvieh C76–88 showed more favourable dressed-carcass quality. One of the nutritional quality traits of beef – protein content – differed significantly (p &lt; 0.05) in groups C100 and C76–88. MLLT area and muscle fibre diameter were significantly different (p &lt; 0.01) in C50–75 bulls who also had the darkest (p &lt; 0.01) colour of meat.

Leptin Promoter Region Genotype Frequencies and Its Variability in the Czech Fleckvieh Cattle

Abstract To investigate the differences between the lineages of the Czech Fleckvieh cattle in Leptin promoter SNP C963T, 695 Czech Fleckvieh cows (650 from production herds and 45 from the Genetic Resources Program (GR)) were examined using PCR-RFLP. The C and T alleles of Leptin promoter were observed with a predominance of C allele in both groups. The most frequent genotypes were CC (63%) in production herds and CT (48%) in the GR population. The present study describes, for the first time, the genetic differences in production herds and GR population in Leptin promoter C963T SNP. Variation within the Czech Fleckvieh population was observed and resulted in an advantage to the GR population. Results presented herein emphasized the importance of the GR program as a reservoir of genetic diversity for indigenous breeds.

Comparison of the Carcass and Beef Quality of the Czech Fleckvieh Bulls with Genotype TT and CT for Leptin and Bulls of Galloway and Charolais Breeds

The objective of the present study was to compare the quality of the carcass and beef of bulls genotyped for leptin (TT and CT) of the Czech Fleckvieh cattle with Galloway and Charolais bulls. Analysed were 232 bulls. The quality of the carcass body was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) the highest in Charolais bulls (78.1% beef, 1.66% fat) as compared with bulls of the Czech Fleckvieh cattle (77.06% beef, 2.52% fat). The percentage of bones in the weight of the carcass body was the same in all breeds (20.49%; 20.28%; 20.24%, respectively). Indicators of the nutritional quality apart from the energetic value of meat of the Galloway and Charolais breeds were not significantly (p &gt; 0.05) affected by the breed. In terms of fatty acids significant (p &lt; 0.01) differences were discovered in the intramuscular fat of the MLT between the Czech Fleckvieh cattle and both beef breeds in the levels of C16:0; C20:0; C14:1; C16:1; C20:1; C20:2 and rate of the C14index. A significant (p &lt; 0.05) difference in the level of oleic acid was detected between the meat of the Czech Fleckvieh cattle (37.77 g.100g −1) and Charolais (41.23 g.100g−1). From the viewpoint of human health the most favourable rates of fatty acids (C14index = 22.07; C16index = 13.63; C18index = 64.19; AI = 0.67) were seen in the meat of the Czech Fleckvieh cattle. The smallest diameter of muscle fibres (35.61 µm) was detected in the Czech Fleckvieh cattle as compared to the Galloway (37.60 µm) and Charolais (38.01 µm) breeds.

Effect of Prepartum Supplementation of Yeast Culture (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) on Biochemical Parameters of Dairy Cows and Their Newborn Calves

The aim of our experiment was to compare the effect of different levels of the addition ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae (S. c.)yeast culture on feed carrier to the current ration MK DOJ Levucell SC 20, Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (E 1711) 20.1010CFU on the blood parameters of high-pregnant breeding cows and their calves. The experiment included 42 breeding cows of the Czech Fleckvieh cattle breed and their calves. The breeding cows were divided into two age groups, each of 21 heads. The first group included heifers and the second group consisted of cows on the 2ndand higher lactation. Each age group had 7 control animals (Heifers/Cows – control), 7 animals receiving 50 g of yeast culture on the feed carrier per head and day (Heifers/Cows – 50 g), and 7 animals receiving 150 g of yeast culture on the feed carrier per head and day (Heifers/Cows – 150 g). Blood of the animals was sampled three times during the experiment – two times in the cows and one time in their calves. The first blood sample was taken from the breeding cows before the start of feeding the yeast culture ca. 23 days before the expected parturition (Cow −23). The second blood sample was taken from the breeding cows within 24 hours after birth (Cow +2) and the third blood sample was taken from the calves on the 3rd–4thday after birth (Calf +4). Parameters ascertained in the processed serum were: immunoglobulines G (IgG), crude protein (CP), gamma glutamyl-transferase (GGT), urea, glutamate-pyruvate-transaminase (GPT) and glutamate-oxaloacetate-transaminase (GOT). Results of our experiment, which lasted from 16.3 to 28.6 (105 days) showed IgG in the serum of cows on the 2ndand higher lactation in the control group (3.8 ± 1.48 mg/ml) was statistically significantly lower (P &lt; 0.05) in the blood sample Cow +2 than in the serum of cows in the 2ndand higher lactation fed with the lower concentration ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeat the same sampling (15.9 ± 11.41 mg/ml). This correlates also with the fact that the content of IgG antibodies in the serum of calves after the cows on the 2ndand higher lactation in the control group (3.9 ± 2.06 mg/ml) was statistically significantly (P &lt; 0.05) lower than that of calves after the cows on the 2ndand higher lactation with the lower concentration ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae(14.6 ± 8.67 mg/ ml).As to the higher addition, no statistically significant difference of the effect on the IgG content was recorded (P &lt; 0.05).

ANALÝZA DÉLKY BŘEZOSTI PŘI VÍCEČETNÝCH PORODECH U ČESKÉHO STRAKATÉHO A HOLŠTÝNSKÉHO SKOTU

In the work we have evaluated multiple births (calving between the years 1992 and 2003) in Czech Fleckvieh and Holstein cattle. We have compared the length of pregnancy in case of twins and triplets with the length of pregnancy of the same cow during the previous lactation when only one calf was born. Total number of observed multiple births of both strains was 686 cases – including 508 births of twins and 178 births of triplets. Mathematical statistical procedures have been made by standard mathematical methods using a SPSS 15.0 for Windows, Release 15.0.0 (6 Sep 2006) program. The results we have reached showed a significant (P ≤ 0.01) decrease in pregnancy length in multiple births. These results have appeared in both observed strains. Czech Fleckvieh cattle showed the length of pregnancy 281.57 days in case of twins (previous pregnacy with one calf was 287.41 days long) and in case of triplets it was 277.09 days (previous pregnancy was 287.17 days long). Decrase in pregnancy length was therefore by 5.84 days in case of twins and by 10.08 days in case of triplets. A similar tendency was found also in Holstein cattle, where the length of pregnancy in case of twins was 274.98 days (previous pregnancy with one calf was 279.66 days long) and in case of triplets was 271.12 (280.27 with one calf). Also in this case the shortening of the pregnancy with twins (by 4.68 days) and with triplets (by 9.15 days) was significant (P ≤ 0.01). Both observed strains showed the highest number of multiple births in the second to fifth pregnancy. These pregnancies showed the 75.07 % of all the multiple births – twins were 52.77 % and triplets were 22.3 %. On the other hand the lowest ratio of multiple births was in case of the first calving (total 2.33 %).

QTL mapping for production traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle

The objective of this study was to find QTL for milk production traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle on chromosomes 6, 7, 11, 14, and 23 where QTL were previously identified in other dairy cattle populations. Sixteen grandsire families were genotyped for 38 microsatellite markers on the selected chromosomes. A QTL mapping model based on variance component analysis was implemented via restricted maximum likelihood (REML) to estimate QTL positions and their effects. A significant QTL affecting fat percentage was found at the beginning of chromosome 14 (0 cM), near marker ILSTS039. Suggestive QTL associated with milk production traits appeared on other studied chromosomes (BTA6, BTA7, BTA11, and BTA23). This first QTL search on five chromosomes in Czech Fleckvieh population showed several suggestive QTL that can be promising for further studies and contribute to better understanding of genetics of milk production in the Czech Fleckvieh cattle. &amp;nbsp;

The association of five polymorphisms with milk production traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle

The aim of this study was to estimate allelic and genotypic frequencies of five DNA markers that are positional and functional candidates for milk production traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle. In addition, we evaluated the association of these markers with milk production traits and breeding values for milk production traits and also estimated linkage disequilibrium (LD) between two markers within the prolactin (PRL) gene. As part of this study, 505 Czech Fleckvieh cows were genotyped. The markers in proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PPARGC1A), secreted phosphoprotein (SPP1), cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily B hydroxylase (CYP11B1), and the two polymorphisms in the prolactin gene (PRL) showed evidence of segregation in our study. The PPARGC1A polymorphism was associated with milk yield, milk fat and protein traits. The polymorphism in SPP1 was significantly associated with milk protein percentage. The CYP11B1 polymorphism showed positive associations with milk composition traits and breeding values for milk yield, milk fat, and protein traits. Both polymorphisms within the PRL gene were associated with milk yield, milk fat and milk protein yield (individually and grouped). Linkage disequilibrium between the two polymorphisms in PRL was not observed. In conclusion, all markers examined in this study are important markers for milk production traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle, and both markers within the PRL gene should be evaluated in future research. &amp;nbsp;

Association between CSN3 and BCO2 gene polymorphisms and milk performance traits in the Czech Fleckvieh cattle breed

Daily milk, fat and protein yield and amount of somatic cells in cow milk are very important factors that influence milk performance traits. An association between polymorphisms in the kappa casein (CSN3) gene and milk production, composition and technical properties has been previously reported; however, this type of information is not available for the bovine β-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) gene--the BCO2 gene has relationship with milk color and meat fat color, which is dependent on content of β-carotene. We analyzed these two genes and their relationship with milk performance traits (daily milk, fat and protein yield, somatic cell count, SCC) in one cattle population, Czech Fleckvieh (N = 152). All animals were milked twice a day and kept in the same environmental conditions. The Fleckvieh is a typical Czech cattle breed farming for milk and meat production. It is the most common breed in the Czech Republic. DNA was isolated from milk or from hairs. Genes were analyzed using PCR-RFLP, frequencies of alleles and genotypes were calculated and association analysis was performed using a GLM Procedure in SAS. Statistical analysis established that the CSN3 gene has no statistically significant influence on daily milk, fat and protein yield and SCC. Compared to other references this result can be explained by, e.g., small group of animals and different cattle breed. The BCO2 gene (genotypes AA and AG) shows a statistically significant relationship (P = 0.05) with daily milk, protein yield and SCC.

Post-thaw culture in presence of insulin-like growth factor I improves the quality of cattle cryopreserved embryos

The goal of this study was to examine the effect of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I; added during post-thaw culture (48 h)) on the preimplantation viability and quality of cryopreserved bovine in vivo recovered embryos. The morula stage embryos, non-surgically recovered from superovulated dairy cows of Czech Fleckvieh cattle breed, had previously been cryopreserved by a slow freezing technique and stored in liquid nitrogen since 1989-1990. Following thawing, the embryos were cultured for 48 h either alone (no IGF-I) or in the presence of IGF-I (10 or 100 ng/ml); non-cultured embryos served as a control. Thereafter, the embryos were analyzed for cleavage to the blastocyst stage, apoptosis (TUNEL), embryo cell number and quality of actin cytoskeleton. Following post-thaw culture 41% of embryos developed to advanced blastocysts. IGF-I increased this per cent and, at a higher dose, essentially reduced the per cent of degenerated embryos. In cultured embryos, IGF-I at both doses elevated the cell number compared with non-cultured embryos. However, in comparison with embryos cultured without IGF-I, only the higher IGF-I dose resulted in elevating the embryo cell number. The TUNEL index was significantly lowered by IGF-I treatment. Thawed embryos were mostly of the grade III actin type and fewer (12%) had grade II actin, whilst no grade I actin embryos were noted. The addition of IGF-I resulted in the appearance of grade I actin embryos (8.33 and 6.9% for 10 and 100 ng/ml, respectively). These observations indicate that the addition of IGF-I during post-thaw culture can improve the quality of bovine cryopreserved embryos.

IMPACT OF SOME UDDER HEALTH STATE INDICATORS ON MILK FREEZING POINT IN SMALL RUMINANTS AND CATTLE

ABSTRACTMilk freezing point (MFP) as physical indicator is used for milk food chainquality (MFCQ) control. Also udder health state (UHS) is important for MFCQ. Thispaper was aimed to show some relationships of MFP to other milk UHS indicators.There could be species differences. Cow milk was a reference to goat and sheep. Bulkmilk samples came from 3 dairy herds of Czech Fleckvieh cattle (B) and 1 goat andsheep herd (White short-haired (W) and Tsigai (C)). Lactose (L), somatic cell count(SCC) and natrium (Na) content as milk indicators (MIs) were investigated as UHSindicators. Goat MFP was -0.5544 ± 0.0293 oC and differed (P 0.05) in W and was related toL (0.40; P < 0.01) in C. In B it was in accordance with declared participation of L onMFP (54%). Different W and C results could be explainable by worse SCC. Resultscould be used for MFCQ control improvement.

The analysis of relationships between chemical composition, physical, technological and health indicators and freezing point in raw cow milk

The milk freezing point (MFP) is used for the control of milk food chain quality especially for possible adulteration with water. A crucial issue is the acceptance of the legislative discrimination limit (RLDL) of MFP for standard quality. The aim was to explain the relations between MFP and spectrum of milk indicators (MI) and possible impacts of MFP on technological milk properties. 76 bulk milk samples (BMS) from Holstein (1, &lt;I&gt;n&lt;/I&gt; = 36) and Czech Fleckvieh (2, &lt;I&gt;n&lt;/I&gt; = 40) cattle were analyzed for 48 MIs. The dairy cows were relatively healthy as for the occurrence of production disorders. BMSs were taken from February to June. Extraneous water was excluded. 44 MIs were correlated with the MFP. The relations were not regularly consistent between breeds. Milk yield was connected with MFP (&lt;I&gt;r&lt;/I&gt; = 0.40; &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; &lt; 0.05). It shows the necessity of modification of RLDL of MFP in dependence on dairy cow breeding. Further relations (&lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; ≤ 0.05) were among MFP and: total milk solids (&lt;I&gt;r&lt;/I&gt; = –0.50); solids-non-fat (–0.33); crude protein (–0.32); true protein (–0.43); whey protein (–0.47); milk fat (–0.46); electrical conductivity (–0.35); lactose (–0.35); somatic cell count (–0.36); fat/protein ratio (–0.36); milk citric acid (0.47); Na (–0.34). The poor relations (&lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; &gt; 0.05) were among MFP and casein, milk urea and acetone. The cheese-making indicators were not affected by MFP. The MFP was related to milk fermentation indicators (&lt;I&gt;r&lt;/I&gt; = from –0.34 to –0.39, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; &lt; 0.05). It is important for the control of milk food chain quality by MFP and for the estimation of its RLDL.

Relationships among body condition score, milk yield and sires' breeding value for beef production efficiency in Czech Fleckvieh cattle

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationships among cows’ body condition score before calving, subsequent BCS changes, milk yield, lactation characteristics and their sires’ relative breeding value for net daily gain. Increasing the relative breeding value of net daily gain in the sires was associated with increased BCS in their daughters. The differences ranged between 0.02 and 0.18 points in the particular lactation periods, but they were not statistically significant. The group of cows with the highest BCS before calving showed the highest BCS decrease (–0.25 points) after calving (&lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; &lt; 0.01); the BCS loss lasted for 3 months. The analysis of the relationship between the relative breeding value of sires for net daily gain and milk yield of their daughters showed a negative effect of RBV NG ≤ 89 on the daughters’ milk yield (&lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; &lt; 0.05), while the negative differences were up to – 279.12 kg of fat-protein corrected milk. The effect of this trait on the lactation curve was also analyzed.