Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2024 (vol. 69), issue 2
Rabbit and quail: Little known but valuable meat sourcesReview
Antonella Dalle Zotte, Marco Cullere
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(2):39-47 | DOI: 10.17221/165/2023-CJAS 
In the actual scenario of increasing demand of animal food and the need to develop sustainable production systems, rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and quail (Coturnix japonica) represent animal species of undeniable potential, profoundly linked to human’s eating habits in several parts of the World, yet not fully exploited. Given the remarkable adaptability of quail and rabbit to different farming contexts, they can be successfully farmed both in specialised and technologically advanced production systems targeting market diversification, as well as in such areas of the World where malnutrition is a severe issue and technological...
Effects of different dietary inclusions of whole-plant corn silage on growth performance, nutrient availability and jejunal development in growing-finishing pigsOriginal Paper
Xiangyu Ma, Jing Sun, Jianpu Zhao, Xiaoxue Jv, Jiuyuan Dong, Weiren Yang, Yanping Jiang, Yang Li, Lijie Yang, Shuzhen Jiang
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(2):48-58 | DOI: 10.17221/153/2023-CJAS
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of whole-plant corn silage (WCS) on growth performance, nutrient availability and intestinal development in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 32 barrows (33.1 ± 3.49 kg) were randomly allocated to four treatments. Control was the basal diet, and the low, medium, and high treatments were basal diets substituted with WCS (air-dry basis) at 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0% from day 1 to 42, and 10.0%, 12.5%, and 15.0% from day 43 to 98, respectively. The results showed that the average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed/gain (F/G), and crypt depth (CD) increased linearly (P < 0.05) with the increasing of WCS....
Effect of dietary housefly maggot extract on egg production and egg quality in laying hens under a digital livestock systemOriginal Paper
Victor A. Zammit, Sang O. Park
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(2):59-67 | DOI: 10.17221/146/2023-CJAS
Antibiotics in poultry feed are banned in many countries owing to their side effects, and insects containing antimicrobial peptides are proven to have potential as antibiotic alternatives in such feed. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary housefly maggot extract (HME) as the biofunctional material for antibiotic replacement in laying hens. The biofunctional properties of HME on egg production, egg quality, blood biomarkers of immune function, and microbiota were evaluated over a period of 40 to 50 weeks in laying hens under a digital livestock system. A total of 120 forty-week-old Hyline Brown laying hens...
The effect of feed restriction and housing system on performance, organ proportion and microbiotaOriginal Paper
Jan Tyl, Eva Tůmová, Darina Chodová
Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2024, 69(2):68-74 | DOI: 10.17221/172/2023-CJAS
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction with pasture on the performance parameters of fast-growing chickens, the proportion of internal organs and the caecum microbiota. In the experiment, one-day-old Ross 308 chickens were divided into three groups. Group 1 was fed ad libitum (AL), group 2 was restricted on feed at a rate of 70% ad libitum (R), group 3 was restricted to the same age and level as group 2, and was restricted to 22 days on pasture (FR). Feed restriction and the combination of feed restriction and pasture significantly reduced body weight beginning...