Veterinární medicína, 2016 (vol. 61), issue 11

Sensory factors involved in mother-young bonding in sheep: a reviewReview

P. Mora-Medina, A. Orihuela-Trujillo, E. Arch-Tirado, P. Roldan-Santiago, A. Terrazas, D. Mota-Rojas

Vet Med - Czech, 2016, 61(11):595-611 | DOI: 10.17221/255/2014-VETMED  

The aim of this review is to discuss sensory recognition (olfaction, vision, vocalisation, hearing and direct contact) in relation to the ewe-lamb bond, and the relevance of this information for animal management, considering that sensory recognition between ewes and their offspring is a key element of lamb welfare. In some parental care strategies, parents promote recognition of their own young in order to ensure their survival by providing them - and only them - with food, while the young simultaneously learn features of the environment. In the specific case of sheep, mother-young bonding is established during the sensitive period of the first 4...

Fluorescence microscopy methods for the determination of somatic cell count in raw cow's milkOriginal Paper

P. Zajac, S. Zubricka, J. Capla, L. Zelenakova

Vet Med - Czech, 2016, 61(11):612-622 | DOI: 10.17221/222/2015-VETMED  

The direct fluorescence microscopy method with ethidium bromide staining can be used for somatic cell counting in raw cow's milk. However, this method has some limitations that may influence the results of the analysis. We therefore aimed at improving the procedure of somatic cell nuclei staining. We tested the hypothesis that ethidium bromide can better penetrate into the DNA of cells with degraded somatic cell walls or into dead cells. Therefore, we increased the temperature of the sample to 100 °C in order to disrupt the somatic cell wall membrane and to improve ethidium bromide penetration to somatic cell nuclei. In all, 90 samples of raw cow's...

The effect of water-restriction on various physiological variables in intensively reared Lacaune ewesOriginal Paper

D. Casamassima, F. Vizzarri, M. Nardoia, M. Palazzo

Vet Med - Czech, 2016, 61(11):623-634 | DOI: 10.17221/144/2015-VETMED  

The effects of water restriction on rectal temperature, respiratory rate and selected blood variables in intensively reared Lacaune ewes were evaluated. The tests were carried out over the course of 28 days in spring on 30 lactating sheep divided into three groups of 10 animals each, matched by lactation status and body weight and allocated into individual boxes. The animal groups were as follows: control group W100 with drinking water for the whole day (24 h/24 h), while the two experimental groups each received 80% (W80 group) and 60% (W60 group) of the water ration of the control group, respectively. The feed, in according with physiological and...

Influence of dexmedetomidine-propofol-isoflurane and medetomidine-propofol-isoflurane on intraocular pressure and pupil size in healthy dogsOriginal Paper

P. Rauser, M. Mrazova, J. Zapletalova

Vet Med - Czech, 2016, 61(11):635-642 | DOI: 10.17221/115/2016-VETMED  

The present prospective, randomised, double-blinded clinical study was designed to investigate the commonly used anaesthetic combinations of dexmedetomidine-propofol-isoflurane and medetomidine-propofol-isoflurane on intraocular pressure and pupil size in dogs. Forty client-owned healthy dogs with no ocular abnormalities, average body weight of 25.7 ± 13.1 kg (mean ± SD) and aged 3.7 ± 2.7 years, were enrolled. Twenty four males and 16 females were included. Dogs were allocated randomly to receive dexmedetomidine i.v. at 0.005 mg/kg, dexmedetomidine at 0.01 mg/kg, medetomidine at 0.01 mg/kg or medetomidine at...

Comparison of qualitative and quantitative properties of the wings, necks and offal of chicken broilers from organic and conventional production systemsOriginal Paper

F.A.A. Abdullah, H. Buchtova

Vet Med - Czech, 2016, 61(11):643-651 | DOI: 10.17221/286/2015-VETMED  

The aim of the present study was to investigate qualitative and quantitative properties of wings, offal (liver, heart and gizzard) and necks of chickens from organic and conventional production systems, currently available on the market for Czech consumers. Production properties (yield and weight), surface colour (lightness, redness, yellowness) and chemical indicators (dry matter, total protein, net protein, collagen, hydroxyproline, fat, ash and phosphorus) were evaluated in fresh chicken broilers. Conventionally produced chickens had higher carcass yields but higher wing yields and weights were observed in organic broilers. The skin, bones, tip...