The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of monthly air temperature and rainfall variations on the reproductive performance and lambing distribution of the Jezersko-Solčava breed in ...northwestern Croatia during 7 years period from 2010 until 2016. At 11 medium-scale sheep farms, the sheep were kept on a pasture in a semi-intensive environment with access to the stables. The anomalies of rainfall observed on a monthly basis during monitoring were statistically significant. Non-parametric test showed that the percentages of lambing differ among the months during the year (
P
= 0.0001). By using regression analysis, it was found that the percentages of pregnant sheep were linearly associated with the sequential number of the month. The seasonal distribution of lambings were 53.85% of ewes delivered in winter (
n
= 1296), 21.13% in spring (
n
= 509), 8.91% in summer (
n
= 215) and 16.11% in autumn (
n
= 387). Sexual activity was lowest during spring and early summer (from March to May) with a peak from the end of July to October. The conception rate during year 2011 was significantly lower (89.74%), and the litter size was the lowest (1.05) than in other years of the observation. Average conception rate was 92.85% and average litter size 1.21. Despite being a seasonally polyoestrous, the distribution of matings and lambings of this breed of sheep was not uniform throughout the seasons. There were established a positive or negative correlations between the air temperature and rainfall precipitation variations with tested reproductive performances of Jezersko-Solčava breed sheep in the Northwestern part of Croatia.
Contents
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether and to what extent the RNF4‐SacII gene polymorphism influences reproduction performances in hyperprolific sow lines. The study ...involved 101 Landrace x Large White crossbred sows, with 461 records collected on the following reproductive traits: Total Number of piglets Born per litter (TNB), Number of piglets Born Alive per litter (NBA), Number of StillBorn piglets per litter (NSB), piglet Pre‐Weaning Mortality (PWM) and Number of piglets at Weaning per litter (NW). The least square method with the GLM procedure in SAS with eight effects was used to pursue the data analysis. Study results revealed that TT homozygotes and TC heterozygotes had a significantly higher (p < .05) NW than CC homozygotes for the life‐span performance in all parities and first parity analysed. In the fourth parity analysed, TNB and NBA in TC genotype were significantly higher (p < .05) as compared with TT genotype. Based on the life‐span performance, significant effect (p < .05) was recorded for order of parity on TNB, NBA and NW, for farrowing season on TNB and NSB, and for lactation length on PWM. In the second parity, significant effect (p < .05) was recorded for sire of boar on NSB and for gestation length on TNB. Only in the fourth parity, significant effect (p < .05) of RNF4 gene was observed on NBA. There was significant additive effect (p < .05) of the RNF4 gene polymorphism identified on NW in all parities analysed, and significant additive and dominance effects (p < .05) on NSB in the third parity analysed. In conclusion, additional research on related production pig genotypes is necessary to elucidate the effect of RNF4 gene mutation on reproductive traits.
In this study, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in honey bee larvae, pupae and the midguts of adult bees were investigated during a one-year exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields ...(RF-EMFs) at a frequency of 900 MHz under field conditions. The experiment was carried out on honey bee colonies at three locations with electric field levels of 30 mV m
, 70 mV m
and 1000 mV m
. Antioxidant enzymes, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as indicators of lipid peroxidation were measured spectrophotometrically. The GST activity within the same developmental stage showed no significant differences regardless of electric field level or sampling time. The highest GST activity was found in the pupae, followed by activity in the larvae and midguts. Both CAT activity and TBARS concentration were the highest in the midguts, regardless of field level and sampling time. The larvae showed a significantly higher TBARS concentration at the location with an electric field level of 1000 mV m
compared to the locations with lower levels. Our results show that RF-EMFs at a frequency of 900 MHz can cause oxidative stress in honey bees, with the larval stage being more sensitive than the pupal stage, but there was no linear relationship between electric field level and effect in any of the developmental stages.
Bežični prijenos informacija, koristeći radiofrekvencijsko elektromagnetsko zračenje (RF-EMZ), danas ima nesagledive mogućnosti. S druge strane, osim mnogobrojnih korisnih
primjena, bežična ...tehnologija pobuđuje zabrinutost šire javnosti o štetnim učincima na zdravlje ljudi i životinja. Unatoč mnogobrojnim provedenim znanstvenim istraživanjima, do danas nije postignut jedinstven stav u pogledu štetnosti RF-EMZ-a na živa bića. Štoviše, veliki broj objavljenih rezultata istraživanja čak je i kontroverzan. Kada govorimo o biološkim učincima RFEMZ- a na životinje, moramo istaknuti da su istraživanja provedena na velikom broju životinjskih vrsta od beskralježnjaka do sisavaca. Nakon postavljene sumnje da RFEMZ može biti jedan od mogućih uzroka poremećaja gubitka pčelinjih zajednica, provedena su brojna istraživanja na medonosnoj pčeli (Apis mellifera). U ovome su radu sažeto objašnjeni osnovni pojmovi iz područja RF-EMZ te učinci toga zračenja na ljude i životinje, a s posebnim osvrtom na zajednice medonosne pčele.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of in-feed clinoptilolite (CPL) on serum metabolic and antioxidative biomarkers, acute phase proteins and reproductive performance in cows ...during pregnancy and lactation. A total of 78 Holstein-Friesian cows were randomly assigned into two groups: the treatment group, cows fed CPL (n = 38) which received 50 g of powdered CPL twice a day from day 180 before parturition to day 60 postpartum; and the control group (n = 40). Blood samples were taken on days 180, 90, 60, 30 and 10 before parturition, on day of calving and on days 5, 12, 19, 26, 33, 40 and 60 postpartum, and were analysed for metabolic biomarkers: glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), antioxidative biomarkers and acute phase proteins: paraoxonase-1 (PON1), apolipoprotein A-I, haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA). CPL supplementation increased concentration of glucose and significantly decreased (P < .05) level of BHB during puerperium. The SAA concentration in CPL-fed cows was significantly decreased (P < .05) on days 33, 40 and 60 postpartum as well as Hp concentration on days 0 and 12 postpartum. The results of this study suggest that the CPL-fed cows may have improved metabolic status due to the tendency of greater glucose levels and decreased BHB values during early lactation. In addition, acute phase response was lower (P < .05) in CPL-fed cows. Such an outcome might be attributed to the effect of dietary CPL on intensity and severity of the negative energy balance and inflammatory response in dairy cows.
•Dietary clinoptilolite improves metabolic status in dairy cows.•Acute phase response was lower in clinoptilolite-in feed supplemented cows.•Clinoptilolite supplementation could affect severity of the NEB in dairy cows.•Dietary clinoptilolite improved reproductive performance in dairy cows.•Clinoptilolite supplement had a positive influence on milk yield in dairy cows.
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary vibroactivated clinoptilolite supplementation on the intramammary microbiological findings in dairy cows, causative agents of potential ...intramammary infection, and their sensitivity to antibiotics. Cows (
= 78) were randomly divided into two groups: CPL-treated group that received clinoptilolite (CPL) in-feed (
= 38), i.e., 50 g natural powdered zeolite CPL, twice daily from the seventh month of pregnancy to 75 days after calving, and the control group (CON) of untreated cows (
= 40). Milk samples were taken from each cow on days 7, 25, 45, and 75 postpartum. The following causative pathogens were isolated in 86 udder quarters:
in 5.81% of positive samples,
spp. 9.32%, coagulase-negative
(CNS) 22.09%,
13.95%,
1.16%,
sp. 3.49%,
8.13%,
spp. 6.98%,
spp. 11.63%,
sp. 10.47%,
spp. 2.33%, and
,
sp.,
sp., and yeasts each in 1.16% of samples. Additionally, 3.87% of environmental microflora samples (
= 47) and 89.06% of udder samples (
= 1083) were bacteriologically negative. The most effective antibiotics were cefoperazone and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, while cloxacillin and tetracycline were the least effective antibiotics in both groups. In the clinoptilolite supplemented (CPL) group (
= 38) of 14 cows, nine causative agents of mastitis were isolated in 27 quarters, while in the control (CON) group (
= 40) of 24 cows, 13 causative agents of mastitis were isolated in 59 quarters. Cows from the CON group had a 1.96 times higher risk of intramammary infection than cows from the CPL group during the observation period (odds ratio = 1.96,
= 0.0031; 95% CI = 1.2570-3.0770).
In the past two decades many substances of natural or synthetic origin were studied as potential alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) and some of them, particularly immunomodulators ...(IMs) and nutraceuticals (NCs), have shown to be capable of stimulating functions of the immune system and improving general health. At the same time, they were shown to be harmless for animals and the environment. Promising results have been obtained with natural clay minerals, zeolites among which clinoptilolite (CPL) is the best known as zootechnical and biomedical feed ingredient widely reported in scientific literature and used in farm animal nutrition. CPL has a potential to replace AGP due to its unique anti-bacterial properties, safety and efficacy as dietary supplement in food animals unifying potentials of an IM and NC. Currently, there are many reasons for CPL utilization in animal biotechnology and veterinary medicine because of it’s detoxificating, antioxidant, hemostatic, anti-diarrheic, growth-promoting and immunostimulating properties. Also, in human medicine it is an adjuvant in immunodeficiency states, oncology (after chemotherapy and radiotherapy) or reducer of radioactive elements. The aims of this review were to compile and discuss scientific data on safety and efficiency of nutritive modulation by dietary CPL (and other zeolites) as an alternative to AGP in animals of veterinary importance In particular the aim is to analyse its potentials and limitations in cattle regarding metabolic and endocrine status, oxidative stress and systemic/local inflammatory responses involved in reproductive and metabolic disorders of dairy cows. Altogether, these analyses will contribute to objective validation of practical significance of CPL as a novel feed additive able to maintain and improve health, fertility and performance in cattle production.
Anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from wireless technologies has increased dramatically. The boar semen used for artificial insemination is essential in sustaining the ...pig industry, and additionally it is also exposed to the effects of the RF-EMR of wireless technologies. Furthermore, there are no data on the effects of RF-EMR on semen quality, and this is the first analysis of sperm's morphometric parameters for assessing the effect of RF-EMR on the spermatozoa subpopulations of boars. This study investigated the effect of RF-EMR on in vitro exposed breeding boar semen spermatozoa motility and the proportions of spermatozoa subpopulations according to their morphometric head and tail parameters. The semen samples of 12 boars were divided into control and experimental groups. The samples in the experimental group were exposed in a gigahertz transverse electromagnetic chamber at a frequency of 2500 MHz (the frequency band used in 5G technology) and an electric field strength of 10 Vm
for two hours. After exposure, the spermatozoa motility was evaluated for both groups. A morphometric analysis of the semen smears was performed using SFORM software (Version 1.0; VAMS, Zagreb, Croatia). The progressive spermatozoa motility was significantly reduced in the experimental group (74.7% vs. 85.7%). PC analysis and cluster analysis revealed two spermatozoa subpopulations: S1, spermatozoa with a more regular head shape and a smaller midpiece outline, and S2, spermatozoa with a more elongated head shape and a larger midpiece outline. The experimental semen samples had a greater proportion of the S1 spermatozoa subpopulation (68.2% vs. 64.4%). The effect of RF-EMR at 2500 MHz on the in vitro exposed boar semen resulted in decreased progressive spermatozoa motility and a lower proportion of the spermatozoa subpopulation with a higher fertilizing potential.
Ženke tvora su sezonski poliestrične. Hormon melatonin regulira početak rasplodne sezone u ožujku i završetak u kolovozu kada se dnevna svjetlost počinje skraćivati. Prvi znak estrusa u ženke je ...otečena stidnica ružičaste boje iz koje se cijedi viskozan iscjedak. Budući da najveći broj folikula na jajnicima dozrije 10- 14 dana od početka estrusa tada je indicirano parenje. Ovulacija je inducirana kopulacijom i nastupa nakon 30-40 sati. Osim kopulacije u indukciji ovulacije se mogu primijenjivati hormonske injekcije hCG ili GnRH 10 ili više dana od početka estrusa. Za primjenu hormonskih injekcija estrogen ne smije biti povišen dulje od 4 tjedna. Estrus se može prekinuti i ovarijohisterektomijom u početku estrusa dok visoke razine estrogena ne počnu toksično djelovati na stanice koštane srži. Ukoliko se estrus ne prekine ni jednom od spomenutih metoda, folikuli i jajne stanice će atrezirati, a koncentracija estrogena će ostati visoka (hiper- estrogenizam). Posljedica toksičnog djelovanja estrogena na stanice koštane srži su aplastična anemija, trombocitopenija i limfopenija. Uko- liko je hematokrit niži od 25% i ako je prisutna izrazita trombocitopenija indicirana je trans- fuzija krvi i primjena antibiotika u cilju stabi- lizacije zdravstvenog stanja životinje. Nakon stabilizacije, estrus se može prekinuti ovario- histerektomijom. Jedna od najučestalijih en- dokrinopatija u tvorova je bolest nadbubrežne žlijezde koja nastaje zbog adenoma, adenokar- cinoma i adenokortikalne hiperplazije. Smatra se da postoji pozitivna korelacija između vre- mena proteklog od kastracije i pojave bolesti nadbubrežne žlijezde. Perzistentno visoka koncentracija gonadotropnih hormona (LH i FSH) u plazmi nakon kastracije tvorova prije puberteta ima ključnu funkciju u aktiviranju LH receptora u kori nadbubrežne žlijezde i umnažanju stanica. Posljedica navedenog je povišena serumska koncentracija androsten- diona, estradiola, 17-hidroksiprogesterona i/ili dihidroepiandrosteron sulfata te se razvijaju simptomi kao u hiperestrogenizma. S ciljem prevencije bolesti nadbubrežne žlijezde primi- jenjuju se sporootpuštajući implantati koji su sintetski GnRH agonisti. Oni se u nekastrira- nih životinja rabe i kao kemijska kontracepcija, a u kastriranih životinja sprječavaju/usporava- ju razvoj postojećeg tumora. Ukoliko se razvije tumor nadbubrežne žlijezde može se učiniti i adrenalektomija.
This study aimed to identify the opinions and knowledge of Croatian veterinarians-to-be relating to exotic pet birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, and their welfare. A total of 589 (87%) veterinary ...students from all six years of the integrated undergraduate and graduate study programme were surveyed in the 2019-2020 academic year. Student opinions and knowledge were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale and the following statements: the level of cognition, sentience and welfare compromise in pet animals observed; the importance of biological functioning, emotional states and natural living for their welfare; their acceptability as pets and owner awareness; the level of risk posed by these pet animals to other animals, public health and safety, and the environment; and the level of knowledge students considered themselves to have about their feeding, housing, health and behaviour. Students provided neutral responses to or disagreement with most of the statements, in particular for animals other than birds, with no significant differences between study years. Accordingly, the study results point to the need for additional student education on exotic non-mammal pets, and can serve for the upgrading of the veterinary curriculum in the field, having implications not only for the welfare of these animals but also for other animals, public health and safety, and environmental protection.
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