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Caraway (Carum carvi L.) in Fast-growing and Slow-Growing Broiler Chickens' Diets and its Effect on Performance, Digestive Tract Morphology and Blood Biochemical Profile
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to evaluate the addition of caraway (1%) in fast-growing and slow-growing broiler chickens' diet and its effect on performance parameters, blood biochemical profile, and relative organ sizes and ileum morphology in slow-growing broilers. Two separated experiments were performed. On the first day of age, the broilers were divided into two equal groups (Control and Caraway) with six replicates per treatment in both experiments. Experiment I: The total of 276 male fast-growing Ross 308 broiler chickens were used. The trial lasted from the first day to 35th day of chickens' age. Experiment II: The total of 216 male slow-growing (Hubbard JA 57) broilers were used. The trial lasted from the first to 50th day of chickens' age. Mean liveweight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, blood biochemical parameters and relative organ sizes were not significantly different in these trials. The group of slow-growing broilers supplemented with 1% of caraway in the diet showed longer villi and deeper crypt in the ileum after 50 days of life. Based on our results, it can be stated that the proportion of 1% caraway in fast-growing and slow-growing broiler chickens' diet did not influence performance parameters, blood biochemical profile and relative organ sizes. In case of the experiment with the slow-growing broilers supplemented with caraway, a significant difference in the height of the villi and the depth of the crypts was found. Caraway can be included in the broiler chickens' diets without negative effects, but further study of the effect on the intestinal morphology is necessary.O
Health Beneficial Properties of Grapevine Seed Extract and Its Influence on Selected Biochemical Markers in the Blood, Liver and Kidneys of Rattus norvegicus
Get PDFCadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that occurs in all areas of the environment, including the food chain. In the body, it causes oxidative stress by producing free radicals that are harmful to the cells. Grape seed extract (GSE) contains a wide range of biologically active components that help to neutralize the adverse effects of free radicals. In this study, the effects of GSE prepared form semi-resistant grapevine cultivar Cerason, which is rich in phenolics, on biochemical markers of brown rats exposed to the effects of cadmium were monitored. GSE increased the plasma antioxidant activity and, in the kidneys and the liver, Cd content was significantly lowered by GSE co-administration. Accordingly, the increase in creatinine content and alanine aminotransferase activity and the decrease of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities caused by cadmium were slowed down by GSE co-administration. The results of this work reveal that grape seed extract offers a protective effect against the intake of heavy metals into the organism.O
Increasing Phosphorus Digestibility in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) Farming Using Phytase and Citric Acid
Get PDFThe presence of antinutritional substances, such as phytate, in fish feed affects the digestibility and absorption of minerals and nutrients by fish, while reduced availability of phosphorus (P) in wheat-based feeds used in fish farming can increase pollution in the aquatic environment. Phosphorus digestibility can be effectively increased in aquaculture through the addition of both phytase and citric acid. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of phytase enzyme and citric acid addition on P digestibility, production parameters and blood parameters in farmed common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Two trials were undertaken using the following experimental diets: control with no additives (C), low enzyme content (500 FTU/kg; L), high enzyme content (1,000 FTU/kg; H), low enzyme contents with 3% citric acid (LA), high enzyme contents with 3% citric acid (HA). Initial results showed that LA increased P digestibility by 27% and HA by 26%, with no increase detected using L and H. In the second trial, in which production and blood parameters were examined, use of LA and HA resulted in a 20% decreased feed conversion ratio and 11% higher specific growth rate. Furthermore, acidified diets resulted in an increased blood plasma calcium and inorganic P, without negative effects on any parameter. Addition of phytase and citric acid to C. carpio granulated feeds also has a positive influence on the environment by reducing excreted P.O
Quantification of the influence of Písek City Forests Ltd. on the local economy of the region
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to highlight the possible way of quantification of the impact of forest enterprise and forest management on the economic and social development of the territory by using the methodology of the local multiplier calculation and identifying potential cash flows associated with the implementation of socioeconomic functions of forest ecosystems. The economic indicators to be analysed are the local expenditures of Písek City Forests Ltd. on suppliers and employees in 2015. The local multiplier is a specific microeconomic indicator which enables quantification and evaluation of socioeconomic benefits of the selected operator for the local people and entrepreneurs. The results of the specific university research project of Mendel University in Brno with the title: Quantification of the Influence of the Selected Forestry Enterprise on the Local Economy of the Region will allow us to evaluate the effect of the special-purpose forest enterprise and forest management on the economic and social development as well as to identify the potential cash flows related to the fulfilment of socioeconomic functions of the forest ecosystems in the area of interest of Písek City Forests Ltd.O
Study of selected genes of Wnt signaling pathway in relation to the parameters in the bone tissue of the laying hens
Get PDFThe Wnt signaling pathway plays a critical role in almost all aspects of skeletal development and homeostasis. Many studies suggest the importance of this signaling pathway in connection with bone metabolism through many skeletal disorders caused by mutations in Wnt signaling genes. The knowledge gained through targeting this pathway is of great value for skeletal health and diseases, for example of increased bone mass in the case of osteoporosis. Our objective was to focus on the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms and investigate the associations between possible polymorphisms in selected genes that are part of those signaling pathways and parameters of bones in hens of ISA Brown hybrids (bone breaking strength, length, width, and bone mass). Different regions of the GPR177, ESR1 and RUNX2 genes were studied, using PCR and sequencing, in a total of forty-eight samples for each marker. Thirteen polymorphisms have been discovered in selected regions of studied genes, whereas these polymorphisms were only within the GPR177 gene. Eight of these polymorphisms were synonymous and five were in the intron. The tested regions of the ESR1 and RUNX2 genes were monomorphic. The only statistically significant difference was found within the GPR177 gene (exon 2) and the bone length parameter, in the c.443 + 86G>A polymorphism. However, this polymorphism was found in the intron, and no other one was found within the selected regions to show associations with the observed bone parameters.O
Acoustic properties and low strain rate behavior of different types of chocolate
Get PDFFive different chocolate types (i.e. extra dark, dark, milk, white, and ruby) were characterized and compared for the acoustical and textural characteristics. Acoustic properties were described in terms of longitudinal and transversal wave velocities. These velocities were used for the evaluation of elastic constants namely Young modulus and Poisson ratio. The values of the Young moduli are significantly higher than those obtained using uniaxial compression and tensile tests. At the same time, the values of Poisson ratio are in reasonable agreement with results of these methods. Texture characteristics were evaluated using of the compression test at loading rates (crosshead velocity) 1, 10 and 100 mm/min. Results are presented in form of stress vs strain. The stress-strain dependences obtained from the compression test exhibited two different regions of the sensitivity of stress to the applied strain. The linear dependence stress- strain is taken as the evidence of the elastic behavior of the tested material. The extent of this region was given by the strain, which was the same for all tested chocolates. Its value increased with the loading rate. The stress-strain behavior in this region was only slightly dependent on the loading rate with exception of the ruby and dark chocolates. The stress-strain dependence in the following region was significantly dependent on the strain rate. Values of the strain rate sensitivity were evaluated. The order of the tested chocolates according to the values of stress at the given strain was identical with that obtained using of the elastic wave velocities.O
Effect of thinning and reduced throughfall in young coppice dominated by Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Carpinus betulus L
No full textThe effects of thinning and reduced throughfall on soil moisture and the diameter and height increments of sessile oak and European hornbeam sprouts were studied in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic. Thinning was performed by reducing the basal area by 50% in each stool. Reduced throughfall (a reduction of 30%) was achieved by constructing parallel drainage channels. Diameter and height increments and soil moisture were measured. Reduced throughfall had no statistically signiffcant effect on the diameter relative growth rate (RGR) of sessile oak and European hornbeam one year after thinning. However, thinning had a statistically signiffcant effect on the diameter RGRs of sessile oak and European hornbeam. The height RGRs of sessile oak and European hornbeam were not influenced by thinning and reduced throughfall. Soil moisture was statistically signiffcantly affected only by thinning. The reduced throughfall and the available water capacity reduced by the stoniness and thickness of the soil genetic horizon (AWCred) was used as a covariate had no signiffcant effects on soil moisture. The effect of thinning on the diameter RGR was statistically signiffcant for both studied species. The effect of thinning on soil moisture was statistically signiffcant. Currently, published data on the effect of reduced throughfall on oak-hornbeam coppice in Central Europe are unique.Gratis Open Acces
Operating Characteristics of a Timber Trailer with a Hybrid Drive
Get PDFThis paper deals with the design and operational evaluation of a timber tractor-trailer unit with a hybrid trailer drive. The source of electrical energy for the two induction motors driving the front wheels of the tandem trailer axle is a battery, which is recharged by an induction machine operating as a generator during periods of a lower demand for power from the tractor diesel engine. An electric drive was designed for the defined working cycle of the tractor-trailer unit, and its loading characteristics were tested in the laboratory. The parameters measured on the field tests during timber forwarding were battery voltage and power, and the energy balance. Three adjustment levels of the potentiometer controlling the trailer hybrid drive (50, 75 and 100%) were tested at three different forwarding distances of 100, 500 and 1000 m. Additionally, any slippage of the prime mover wheels and trailer was measured. The maximum peak power taken from the battery was ca. 33 kW during the field tests, whilst the drive was able to deliver a peak output of up to 72 kW for 10 s and permanently up to ca. 50 kW. Even in harsh terrain conditions, the electric drive assisted the combustion engine only when the loaded tractor-trailer unit was travelling uphill. The hybrid drive operation was sustainable for the whole working shift, without the need for recharging when the potentiometer was set to 50%. This appropriate setting of the potentiometer controlling the trailer's hybrid drive reduced the slipping of the driven wheels of the tractor-trailer unit whilst travelling uphill.O
Effect of storage and preincubation on hatching egg quality and hatchability in meat type chicken
No full textThe aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of hatching eggs storage and their preincubation on eggs quality, hatchability and one-day old chick weight in young meat-type ROSS 308 parent stock, 31 weeks of age. Total of 1920 hatching eggs were used in this experiment for incubation, for egg quality analysis. Eggs were divided into three groups and stored for 21 days. Group P0 was not treated by preincubation. Group P1 contained hatching eggs which were preincubated once at the fifth of storage. Group P2 contained hatching eggs which were preincubated at days 5 and 10 during storage period. Egg quality was analysed for fresh eggs too. Long storage and repeated preincubation decreased both egg weight and yolk dry matter (P <0.05). After application of preincubation, the degree of embryonic development significantly increased (P <0.05). Preincubation and 21day storage of hatching eggs had no effect on hatchability and embryonic mortality. The weight of day-old chicks significantly decreased in chicks hatched form eggs twice treaded by preincubation.Published Versio
Historical evolution of festivals in Guimaras Island, Philippines: its implication to tourism industry growth
No full textThis study was conducted to determine the different festivals in Guimaras and their significant contributions to the tourism industry through a qualitative-quantitative research design. The data were gathered from the people in the tourism industry in the province of Guimaras and in five municipalities in the province for the past five years using focused group discussion. Result of the study showed that there were festivals in the provincial, municipal and barangay levels. It also revealed that festivals in this island province contributed to its visitors' arrival. Thus, tremendous increase in the number of local excursionists which ranked first is noted for the past five years. Local tourists ranked second, foreign excursionist ranked third and foreign tourists ranked fourth. When monthly arrivals are taken into consideration, the month of May ranked first, March ranked second, and April ranked third. Another contribution of festivals in the province was evident in its notably increasing agri-trade and tourism fair sales for the past five years.Published Versio