ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 45, p. 15-23
 
UDK 636.1.591.1

GENETIC STRUCTURE AND VARIATION BETWEEN THE LINES OF HEAVY-TYPE ŽEMAITUKAI HORSES

Rūta Šveistienė, Virginija Jatkauskienė

Summary

The objective of our study was to examine the genetic differences and genetic variation between the lines of heavy-type Žemaitukai horses. The main study was conducted in 1996-2003 at LVA Institute of Animal Science. The pedigree, gene frequencies of blood group and serum protein markers, homozygosity, and genetic similarities was analysed from 83 horses. The genetic analysis of alleles indicated that AlAB genotype was dominant of heavy-type žemaitukai, genotype TfFF, Fo were also frequent. The alleles Ddghm, Dcgm, Ddk, Ddl in blood group system were also frequent. The frequency of alleles Ddk and EsII of Kalmanas line was distinguishing feature and statistical reliable (P < 0.01) from other lines. Horses of Kalmanas line have the highest degree of homozygosity Ca = 46.15%. The higher genetic similarities were detected between Šachtioras II 235 and North Swedish stallion Klintas line (r = 0.914), 84% horses of the Šachtioras II 235 stallion line have North Swedish horse blood.
Key words: horse, line, allele, blood group, serum protein, polymorphism, gene frequency, genetic similarity.

 
ISSN 1392–6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 45, p. 24-30
 
UDK 636.5.082
 
STUDIES OF THE GENETIC DISTANCE AND GENETIC IDENTITY OF DOMESTIC GALLINACEOUS SPECIES

Robertas Juodka, Dalius Butkauskas, Aniolas Sruoga, Vaida Tubelytė–Kirdienė, Elena Mozalienė, Algimantas Paulauskas

Summary

A study was conducted to determine the coefficients of genetic identity and genetic distance according to Net between three gallinaceous species – hens, turkeys, and quails – on the basis of the allelic frequency of non-specific blood serum proteins.
The highest coefficient of genetic similarity and the shortest genetic distance were observed between the populations of turkeys and quails. The cluster analysis indicated that turkeys and quails have higher genetic similarity in comparison with hens.
Key words: hens, turkeys, quails, allelic frequency, heterozygosis, genetic similarity, phyllogenetic ties.

 
ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 45, p. 31-39
 
UDK 636.2.082.591.3
 
BOVINE OOCYTE VIABILITY UNDER MODIFIED MATURATION CONDITIONS AND FREEZING BY VITRIFICATION

Rasa Nainienė, Algirdas Urbšys, Jonas Kutra, Vidmantas Pileckas, Artūras Šiukščius

Summary

A study was conducted to determine the effect of maturation conditions on the post thaw viability of bovine oocytes frozen by the method of vitrification. The study indicated that there was a positive effect of cumulus cells on oocyte maturation and fertilization. The numbers of mature and fertilized oocytes were, respectively, 3.4 and 25.1% higher for the cumulus cultured oocytes. Cumulus cells also positively affected the postthaw viability of the oocytes after vitrification: 35 oocytes out of 68 frozen with cumulus matured successfully (51.5%) and 20 oocytes out of 35 fecundated (29.4%). Removal of cumulus cells has resulted in 22.9% lower maturation and 12.3% lower fertilization of the oocytes.
The study of the influence of the oocyte maturation length on the oocyte freezing by vitrification indicated that 12 and 24 hour maturation prior to freezing resulted in, respectively, 37.3 and 40% fertilization of the oocytes.
The study indicated that equilibrium media that were prepared using Dulbeco's solution or TCM-199 had no significant influence on oocyte viability: respectively 34 oocytes out 82 (41.5%) and 27 oocytes out of 68 (39.7%) had developed successfully after thawing.
Key words: oocytes, vitrification, viability, maturation, cumulus.

 
ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 45, p. 40-50
 
UDK 636.084.085
 
FERMENTATION OF NITROGENOUS MATTER AND CARBOHYDRATES IN THE RUMEN OF CATTLE FED SUGARBEET PULP SILAGE

Saulius Bliznikas, Petras Bendikas, Vytautas Tarvydas, Virginijus Uchockis

Summary

Two analogous groups of lactating cows (n=10 per group) and fattening cattle ( n=12 per group) were used in a feeding trial that was carried out on the Experimental farm and Analytical Laboratory of the Lithuanian Institute of Animal Science in 2001–2002. During the experimental period, cows in the control group were given hay, maize silage ad libitum and compound feed. Part of maize silage (60%) was replaced with sugarbeet pulp silage in the diets for experimental cows. Fattening cattle in the control group were offered hay, maize silage ad libitum and 2,5 kg of compound feed. Maize silage in the diet of experimental fattening cattle was completely replaced by sugarbeet pulp silage and the amount of compound feed reduced to 1,5 kg. The purpose of the present study was to determine the fermentation preculiarities of nitrogenous matter and carbohydrates in the rumen of cattle fed sugarbeet pulp silage in place of maize silage.
The results from the study indicated that cattle feeding with sugarbeet pulp silage that was partially or completely replacing maize silage in the diet resulted in favourable conditions for the growth and development of protozoa in the rumen. 60% maize silage replacement with sugarbeet pulp silage in the diets for lactating cows resulted in by 83,24% (P< 0,025) higher infusoria count. Complete replacement of maize silage with sugarbeet pulp silage in the diets for fattening cattle resulted in by even 135,87% (P< 0,005) higher infusoria count. Sugarbeet pulp silage had affected fermentation of nitrogenous matter in the rumen. The concentration of total (10,93%) and protein (22,71%) nitrogen increased and that of ammonia nitrogen decreased by 70,30% (P< 0,005) in the rumen contents of lactating cows. The same tendences were observed for the rumen contents of fattening cattle: the concentration of total and protein nitrogen increased, respectively, 8,50% (P< 0,05) and 15,54% (P< 0,025) and that ammonia nitrogen decreased by 76,22% (P< 0,001). The pH-value in the rumen contents decreased, respectively, 0,46 unit (P< 0,005) for lactating cows and 0,22 unit for fattening cattle. Highly decreased concentration of ammonia nitrogen restricted VFA production in the rumen contents. VFA concentration decreased by 16,30%, and 12,95% (P< 0,025) in, respectively, the rumen contents of lactating cows and fattening cattle. The altered VFA ratio met the body requirements of this age group. The amount of acetic acid increased 4,04% and that butyric acid decreased 2,61% in the rumen contents of lactating cows. In the rumen contents of fattening cattle, the amount of acetic acid decreased 3,28%% (P< 0,025) and that of propionic acid increased 3,76% (P< 0,025).
Keywords: sugarbeet pulp silage, lactating cows, fattening cattle, fermentation, rumen contents.

 
ISSN 1392–6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 45, p. 51-57
 
UDK 636.5.085
 
USE OF PROBIOTICS YEASTURE AND BIO PLUS 2B IN THE FEED FOR CHICKEN BROILERS

Inga Kepalienė, Diana Gudavičiūtė, Ramunė Sabalionytė, Danius Vencius, Vytautas Tėvelis

Summary

The researches were carried out in the Research Laboratory of Biological Diversity and Technologies, Vilnius Pedagogical University and on the poultry farm “Vilniaus paukštynas”. The object of the researches – Ross four line combination chicken broilers.
The possibilities of usage in the feed and influence on the growth of chicken broilers of probiotic preparations Yeasture (producer "Cenzone", USA) and Bio Plus 2B (producer "Biochem", Denmark) were analysed. Under the influence of probiotics Yeasture and Bio Plus 2B at the age of 42 day the chicken broilers live weight was bigger by 1.49% and 2.66% compared with the control group and an average daily weight gain was correspondingly bigger by 1.4% and 2.62%. The amount of feed for 1 kg of live weight gain decreased by 5.38% (Yeasture) and 6.46% (Bio Plus 2B) compared to the control group. Probiotic Bio Plus 2B had better influence on the growth of chicken broilers than probiotic Yeasture.
Keywords: probiotics, chicken broilers, growth.

 
ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 45, p. 58-70
 
UDK 632.1.581.2
 
OCCURRENCE OF TOXIC MOULD FUNGI AND MYCOTOXINS IN THE GRAIN OF MAIZE GROWN FOR FORAGE

Audronė Mankevičienė, Ona Auškalnienė

Summary

Grain fungal infection of various maize hybrids was investigated at wax and physiological maturity stages at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in 2003. The grain of 7 maize hybrids (28 samples), harvested at wax maturity stage and of 10 maize hybrids (48 samples) harvested at physiological maturity stage were analysed. Fusarium, Alternaria, Penicillium, Acremonium, Cladosporium and other fungal genera were identified in grain. Both at wax and physiological maturity stages the fungi of Acremonium, Alternaria and Cladosporium genera were dominant and accounted for 57-100%, 18.5-68.5% and 38-98.5%, respectively. The grain infestation with Fusarium species was different for different maize hybrids. The highest Fusarium spp. infestation at wax and physiological maturity of grain was identified for the hybrid Baxxao (26.5-78%), while the lowest infestation was identified for Trumph, RG-12, and Magda (0 – 3%).
F. poae, F. sporotrichioides and F. avenaceum dominated in the grain of all investigated maize hybrids, although F. culmorum, and F. graminearum fungi, producing DON and zearalenon, were identified, too.
The accumulation of toxic Fusarium spp. fungi and mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenon (ZEN) in grain as affected by different storage was investigated, too. When grain was stored dreshed, no damage by toxic Fusarium spp. fungi was identified, however, only traces of mycotoxin zearalenon were identified 12.0–21.5 ppb, but no DON was found. When maize was stored with cobs, the surface contamination and internal damage by fungi were higher, however, no mycotoxin zearalenon was identified, and traces of DON were detected (0.1 ppm) only in the grain of Trumph maize hybrid.
Key words: maize hybrids, maize grain, mould fungi, zearalenon, deoxynivalenol, mycotoxins.

 
ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 45, p. 71-79
 
UDK 636.2.082.637.11
 
COMPARISON OF PRODUCTION AND MILK QUALITY TRAITS OF LITHUANIAN NATIVE ASH-GREY AND WHITE-BACKED CATTLE

Danguolė Urbšienė

Summary

The study was carried out in the period from 1st Oct 2002 to 30th Sept 2003 with 15 indigenous ash-grey and white-backed cows kept in the conservation herd of the LVA Institute of Animal Science.
The average daily milk yield (whole and 4 % FCM) of white-backed cows (n=8) was, respectively, 1.7 and 3.1 % lower than that of ash-grey cows (n=7). Correspondingly, the daily yield of fat and protein was 4.1 and 6.5 % lower.
The average content of dry matter in the milk of ash-grey cows was 0.26 % higher than that in the milk of white-backed cows. The contents of protein, casein, total mineral matter, calcium and phosphorus were also higher than those in the milk of white-backed cows. The milk fat of ash-grey cows contained 0.46 and 0.79 % more of, respectively, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. There were no significant differences for the physicochemical and technological properties of milk of both ash-grey and white-backed cows and the milk met the requirements for the production of cheese, butter and other dairy products.
The results from the study indicated that this study should be further continued to analyze the quantitative changes in production and the peculiarities of the nutritive, biological and technological value of milk from native white-backed and ash-grey cattle.
Key words: native cattle, milk yield, milk quality.

 
ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2004, 45, p. 80-87
 
UDK 636.2.083

EFFICACY OF POST MILKING TEAT ANTISEPTICS

Jovita Matuolienė, Gediminas Vaičionis

Summary

In 2002-2003, a trial with Lithuanian Black-and-White cows was carried out at the Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy to determine the efficacy of the antiseptic teat dipping products Hamra Dipal and Nova Dip. Application of the products resulted in 1.5 and 3.24 times lower somatic cell count in milk. Under present farming conditions, application of these antiseptics had no significant influence on total bacterial count, milk yield, fat and protein contents, milk acidity and lactose. Teat dipping was more efficient method of treatment in comparison with teat spraying, because the daily expenses for antiseptics per cow were increased by 0.95-0.96 cents at spraying.
Key words: somatic cells, milk quality, antiseptic teat dipping products, tie-up housing.