ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2006, 47, p. 23-36

UDK 636.4.082

EFFECT OF HALOTHANE GENOTYPE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS, MEAT AND FAT CHARACTERISTICS FROM THREE-WAY CROSS OF LITHUANIAN INDIGENOUS WATTLE PIGS

Violeta Razmaitė¹⁾, Danguolė Urbšienė¹⁾ and Ramūnas Jokubka<sup>2)

1)</sup>Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy,
R. Žebenkos 12,82317 Baisogala Radviliškis distr., Lithuania. E-mail: razmusv@one.lt
²⁾Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Tilžės 18, 47005 Kaunas, Lithuania


S U M M A R Y

Pigs from the cross of critical Lithuanian indigenous wattle x Duroc and Pietrain as terminal heterozygous stress gene carriers NP and stress susceptible PP sires were used to study the effect of halothane genotype on the growth performance, carcass, meat and fat characteristics. The piglets containing the stress susceptible PP genotype grew most intensively until 2 months of age, but heterozygous pigs grew most intensively until slaughter. There were no genotype differences for the feed consumption, backfat thickness but heterozygous NP and stress susceptible PP pigs had shorter carcasses than stress resistantNN pigs. The meat from the NP genotype contained more protein. The meat also differed significantly in colour, water holding capacity, juiciness, flavour and tenderness. The analytical sensory panel scored highest values for the flavour, tenderness and juiciness of M. longissimus dorsi from the NP genotype. Samples from the PP genotype had the lowest score for these traits. The most obvious differences in fatty acid composition of M. longissimus dorsi were that SFA were significantly higher and MUFA lower in the NP genotype. SFA of subcutaneous tissue were highest in the NN genotype compared with NP and PP genotypes.
Key Words: swine, growth, meat quality, fatty acids, halothane genotype
 

ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2006, 47, p. 37-49

UDK 636.2.082.591.3

STUDIES OF DIFFERENT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE EFFECTS AND TOXICITY OF CRYOPROTECTION AGENTS ON VIABILITY OF BOVINE OOCYTES

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

Institute of Animal Science of LVA,
R. Žebenkos 12, LT-82317 Baisogala, Radviliškis distr., Lithuania


S U M M A R Y

A study was conducted to determine the sensitivity of bovine oocytes to chilling. Therefore, the effects of oocyte preparation for maturation temperature and equilibration temperatures on oocyte vitality have been investigated.
Oocyte preparation for maturation in temperatures 18-25 or 12-15°С resulted in 86 and 50% mature and 72 and 42% fertilized oocytes, respectively. There was a tendency towards higher oocyte maturation and fertilization results when manipulations with oocytes were performed in higher ambient temperatures (18-25°С) than in lower (12-15°С) temperatures.
The study of the effects of different equilibration medium temperatures (4°С, 18-25°С, 39-41°С) and different length of equilibration on oocyte vitality indicated that oocyte fertilization results tended to improve when the length of equilibration was shorter and the temperature of equilibration medium was higher. The highest number – 71% of oocytes were fertilized after one minute of equilibration at 18-25 and 39-41°С temperatures. Meanwhile, the lowest number – 20% of fertilized oocytes were produced after 10 minutes of equilibration at 4°С.
The toxicity of cryoprotection agents (glycerol, dimethyl sulphoxide and ethylene glycol) of different concentrations (10, 20, 30%) has been studied according to oocyte fertilization in vitro. It has been determined 10% glycerol and ethylene glycol solutions were least toxic, i.e. 59 and 56% of oocytes were fertilized, recpectively. The use of 20% glycerol, ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulphoxide solutions resulted in the development of only 47, 37 and 17% of embryos, respectively. Dimethyl sulphoxide solution was found to be the most toxic – only 42, 17 and 9% of oocytes have divided after using 10, 20 and 30% dimethyl sulphoxide solutions.
Keywords: oocyte, chilling, equilibration, cryoprotectors, viability
 

ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2006, 47, p. 50-59

UDK 636.2.084.087.2

THE EFFECT OF SUGARBEET PULP SILAGE ON NUTRIENT FERMENTATION IN THE RUMEN OF COWS AND THEIR MILK PRODUCTION

Vytautas Tarvydas, Virginijus Uchockis, Saulius Bliznikas

Institute of Animal Science of LVA,
R. Žebenkos 12, LT-82317 Baisogala, Radviliškis distr., Lithuania


S U M M A R Y

The chemical composition and quality of dried sugarbeet pulp silage made in a trench silo has been analysed. Feeding trials with the cows in the first months of their lactation have been carried out to determine. The effect of sugarbeet pulp silage on the milk production of cows and ruminal fermentation of nitrogenous matter and carbohydrates. The feeding trials were carried out at the Farm Management Department of the LVA Institute of Animal Science and the feedstuffs were analysed at the Analytical Laboratory of the Institute. The results from the trials indicated that the quality and edibility of the sugarbeet pulp silage was high. The silage contained 21.06% dry matter (DM) and 11.8 MJ metabolizable energy and 124.9 g crude protein per kg DM. Lactic acid was prevailing at a rate of 14.29 g/kg DM. During the treatment (91 days), the average daily intake of pulp silage was 28.88 kg per cow. When the cows were fed sugarbeet pulp silage and 30.3% less compound feed, fibre fermentation in the rumen was more active, the share of acetic acid increased 2.92% and a tendency towards relative increase in protein nitrogen content was observed. Lower amount of compound feed in the diet of cows fed sugarbeet pulp silage had no significant influence on milk yield and the content of milk fat and protein. The use of sugarbeet pulp silage resulted in lower intake of compound feed for milk production.
Key words: sugarbeet pulp silage, lactating cows, fermentation, rumen contents, milk production
 

ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2006, 47, p. 60-71

UDK 636.2.084.085.52

EFFECT OF FEEDING INOCULATED WITH SELECTED STRAINS OF LACTIC AND PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA SILAGE ON RUMEN FERMENTATION AND HEALTH OF LACTATING DAIRY COWS

Jonas Jatkauskas, Vilma Vrotniakienė

Department of Animal Nutrition and Feeds,
Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy
R. Žebenkos 12, LT-82317 Baisogala, Radviliškis distr., Lithuania; e-mail: lgi_pts@siauliai.omnitel.net


S U M M A R Y

The experiment was carried out at the Institute of Animal Science to determine the influence of different silages on rumen fermentation parameters of dairy cows. The silages were made from a first cut wilted legume-grass (64% - red clover, 12% - timothy, 16% - fescue and 8% - others) sward. The use of biological additive L. rhamnosus and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. Shermanii in ensiling pre-wilted material, rich in red clover, improved fermentation and silage quality, what resulted in rumen fermentation changes in dairy cows. Ten dairy cows assigned in two groups on the basis of milk yield and month of lactation were offered silages without inoculant (C) and with inoculant (I) ad libitum during a period of 100 days. There were no significant effects of the type of silage on pH in the rumen (6.44 vs 6.57 for C silage and I silage), on the total volatile fatty acid concentration (10.74 vs 10.50 mmol 100 ml-1) and on these proportions (57.87 vs 57.89 for acetic acid, 22.30 vs 22.45 for propionic acid, 14.28 vs 14.54 for butyric acid). The infuzoria count in the rumen of dairy cows fed inoculated silage was by 44.29 (P<0.05) thous. ml-1 higher compared with that of cows fed silage without inoculant.
Feeding silage with inoculant was beneficial to rumen protein synthesis, i.e. the content of protein nitrogen and that of total nitrogen were, respectively, by 3.3 and 5.73 mg 100 ml-1 higher and the content of ammonia nitrogen was by 1.77 mg 100 ml-1 (P<0.05) lower compared to the untreated silage average in the experimental period. The analysis of blood samples indicated that the animals in both groups were healthy.
Key words: silage, L. Rhamnosus, Propionibacterium freudenreichii, rumen contents, infuzoria count, volatile fatty acids, nitrogen, blood
 

ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2006, 47, p. 72-82

UDK 636.2.084

DEVELOPMENT AND EFFICIENCY EVALUATION OF WHOLE MILK REPLACER CONTAINING WHEY AND PROBIOTICS

Petras Bendikas¹⁾, Virginijus Uchockis¹⁾ and Liudas Jonaitis<sup>2)

1)</sup>Institute of Animal Science of LVA,
R. Žebenkos 12, LT-82317 Baisogala, Radviliškis distr., Lithuania
²⁾Joniškis Agricultural School,
Upytės str. 67, LT-84152 Joniškis, Lithuania, el. paštas: jzum@takas.lt


S U M M A R Y

Dry whole milk replacer for calves containing whey (52% by weight) and probiotics Yeasture and Microbond has been developed. Two analogous groups of Lithuanian Black-and-White calves of eight animals each were used in a feeding trial carried out at the Farm Management Department of the LVA Institute of Animal Science to determine the replacement efficiency. Control calves were fed whole milk twice daily, while experimental calves were given diluted experimental milk replacer. Besides, both groups of calves were given starter compound feed, hay and grass ad libitum. In the period from 20 to 91 days, calves fed certain amount of whole milk (275 kg) and starter compound feed, hay and grass ad libitum gained daily 819 g, while calves fed the same amount of replacer and other feed gained daily 827 g (P > 0.5). There were almost no differences between the groups for the level of metabolizable energy used per kg og weight gain. The price of feeds consumed per kg gain was 29.2% lower at feeding calves on milk replacer and other feeds. The experimental whole milk replacer melts the zootechnical requirements for replacers, ensures intensive growth of calves and has no negative influence on their health.
Key words: calf, milk, whole milk replacer, growth, price
 

ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2006, 47, p. 83-93

UDK 636.4.084

THE INFLUENCE OF LOCAL FEEDS ON MEAT QUALITY OF PIGS

Raimondas Leikus

Institute of Animal Science of LVA,
R. Žebenkos 12, LT-82317 Baisogala, Radviliškis distr., Lithuania


S U M M A R Y

Three trials were conducted at the Lithuanian Institute of Animal Science to determine the influence of white lupines, field beans and triticale on meat and fat quality of pigs. The results from Trial 1 indicated that substitution of soybean oil-meal in the compound feed with 15 % lupine meal for the growing pigs (up to 60 kg weight) and substitution of soybean and sunflower oil-meals with 20 % lupine meal for the finishing pigs (over 60 kg weight) did not affect the physicochemical indicators of meat and fat compared with the control pigs, except for 18.4 % (P<0.05) lower colour intensity of meat and the increase in the content of polyunsaturated linoleic and linolenic acids in the backfat (P>0.1). The replacement of soybean oil-meal in the diets for growing pigs with 20 % and of soybean and sunflower oil-meals for finishing pigs with 25 % of bean meal had no negative influence on the quality of meat and backfat. The results from Trials 2 and 3 showed that inclusion in the place of wheat or barley of 40, 50, 60 and 82.8 % triticale in the diets for growing pigs and 50, 60, 70 and 88.7 % of triticale in the diets for finishing pigs had no significant influence on meat and fat quality indicators, except for 1.01-1.55 % (P<0.025-0.05) lower content of linoleic acid in the backfat.
Keywords: white lupine, field bean, triticale, chemical composition of meat, fatty acids
 

ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2006, 47, p. 94-100

UDK 636.5.085

INFLUENCE OF PROBIOTIC FEED ADDITIVE ON QUANTITATIVE CHANGES OF BLOOD PROTEINS IN CHICKEN

Vytautas Sirvydis, Ramunė Čepulienė, Rasa Bobinienė, Vytautas Semaška,
Diana Gudavičiūtė, Danius Vencius

Vilniaus pedagoginis universitetas,
Studentų g. 39, Vilnius LT-08106, tel./faks. 275-70-95, el.paštas: bamlab@vpu.lt

S U M M A R Y

The investigations were carried out in 2003–2004 at the Research Laboratory of Biological Diversity and Technologies of Vilnius Pedagogical University, and on the poultry farm “AB Vilniaus paukštynas”. The subjects of the research - Ross chicken broilers - were assigned into two groups and fed dry not granulated commercial feed having the same composition and nutritional value. Probiotic feed additive Yeasture was included into the feed (dose 1kg/t ) for group 2. This additive was included into the premixes for the prepared feed for the chickens from day 0 to 21 days of age.
The results of the investigation showed that under the influence of probiotic feed additive Yeasture, some biochemical parameters of blood of chicken broilers had changed. The total content of nucleic acids in the blood of cockerels and pullets had increased by, respectively, 37.79% (P < 0.05) and 25.86% (P < 0.01) at the age of 21 days, while at the age of 42 days, the corresponding figures were 6.65 and 6.04% compared with the control group. The total content of protein in the blood serum was also higher at the age of 21 and 42 days by, respectively, 12.91 and 9.37% for cockerels and 9.37 and 3.29% for pullets. The increase in the content of albumin by 7.2% was also observed. The proportions of different fractions of globulins were varying within the range of statistical significance.
Keywords: chicken broilers, probiotic feed additive, total amount of protein and nucleic acids in blood, albumins, fractions of globulins
 

ISSN 1392-6144
Animal Husbandry. Scientific Articles, 2006, 47, p. 101-114

UDK 633.2.033.004.69

PASTURE SWARD IMPROVING METHODS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PASTURE SWARD PRODUCTIVITY

Elvyra Butkuvienė

Lietuvos žemdirbystės instituto Vėžaičių filialas, el. paštas: elvyra@vezaiciai.lzi.lt


S U M M A R Y

The trials were carried out at Vėžaičiai Branch of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture during 1980-2003. The efficiency of surface and main improvement methods applied for non-fertile and little value having pasture swards were studied. Also the influence of pasture improvement methods on grass DM yield and nutritive value was determined.
It was determined, that poor in botanical composition and productivity pastures need to be resowed. The yield of resown pasture depends on used cover and catch crops, also on pasture resowing time. The dry matter yield of pasture, resown by different methods, increased by 0.14-2.28 t ha-1 if compared with the old pasture. The amount of legumes in the resown pasture sward increased to 8.2 % and the amount of forbs – decreased.
Low in productivity pastures with little amount of weeds can be improved by surface improvement methods: fertilising with nitrogen and additional oversowing of legumes. It was established that the best method oversowing white clover (4 kg ha-1) is early in spring with the disk drill straight into twice disked pasture turf. White clover germinated and preserved sufficiently well when oversown broadcast on the surface of the pasture early in spring, as soon as snow melted away. Fertilizing with N120 decreased amount of forbs by 7.2-8.1 % and increased dry matter yield of sward by 1.73 t ha-1. Improving pasture swards by different methods not only dry matter yield, but also sward botanical and chemical compositions and forage quality increased.
Key words: pasture resowing, surface improvement, pasture yield, botanical and chemical composition