Serum samples from 169 water buffaloes and 121 beef cattle were analyzed for antibodies to T. gondii by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Positive results were obtained in 27.2% of water buffaloes and 17.4% of cattle. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences between the prevalence in cattle and buffalo (p ≤ 0.05). The highest titres found in positive animals were 1:256 (buffaloes) and 1:64 (cattle). In both bovine species, toxoplasmosis frequency in young animals (less than 2 years old) was lower compared to older individuals, although the differences seen in cattle were not statistically significant.
Use of hop cones in growing beef cattle nutrition. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the supplementation of bull diets with hop cones on growing bull performance, the concentrations of blood analytes, including liver enzymes. Twenty-four growing bulls of Slovene autochthonous Cika breed (BW 373 kg; age 329 days) were randomly allocated to 6 pens (4 animals/pen). Before the start of experiment all animals received the same basic TMR which was afterwards either not supplemented (control; 2 pens) or supplemented with 50 g/animal (H50; 6 g of hop dry matter (DM)/kg diet DM; 2 pens) or 100 g of hop cones/animal (H100; 11 g DM/kg diet DM; 2 pens) daily. Bulls were weighed at the start of the experiment and then again after 30 and 60 days of experiment and average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI) and feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) were calculated. At each weighing day, the blood samples were taken from each bull and plasma glucose and serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxy butyrate (BHBA), urea, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were determined. The inclusion of hop cones in the diet did not have any effects on DMI, ADG or F:G ratio and did not change BHBA, urea and GGT concentrations. ALT level was lower (P = 0.025) after 60 days of the experiment compared to control group. In treatments H50 and H100 blood glucose concentrations increased (P < 0.05) after 30 and 60 days of the experiment, while in treatment H100 NEFA concentration decreased (P = 0.022) after 60 days of the experiment. These findings suggest that hop cones and their constituents provoke changes in energy metabolism in ruminants.
Jedną z metod uzyskiwania dobrych wyników ekonomicznych w produkcji bydła jest krzyżowanie krów i jałówek ras mleczno-mięsnych z importowanymi buhajami ras mięsnych. Krajowy program doskonalenia bydła w kierunku mięsnym przewiduje następujący skład rasowy buhajów w krzyżowaniu towarowym: charolaise 25-30%, simental 30-35%, limousine i mieszańce wielorasowe 25-30%, lekkie rasy (aberden angus, hereford) 15-20%. Prowadzone w Centrum Hodowli Bydła Mięsnego ART w Olsztynie prace doprowadziły do wyprowadzenia Kortowskiej Linii Syntetycznej (KLS) bydla. Użyte do krzyżowania towarowego buhaje mają w genotypie od 75% do 93.75% udziału ras mięsnych charolaise i aberdeen angus, z przewagą rasy aberdeen angus. Celem pracy było określenie wskaźników hematologicznych i biochemicznych krów KLS w warunkach stada produkcyjnego. Ze stada 300 krów wybrano 20 i poddano je badaniom klinicznym, hematologicznym, biochemicznym oraz parazytologicznym. Wyniki badań wskazują, że wartości badanych wskaźników nie odbiegają od danych referencyjnych dla bydła ras mleczno-mięsnych.