Cryptosporidium parvum is recognized as one of the most important pathogens causing enteritis and severe diarrhoea in calves up to 1 month of age. Although the infection may be responsible for some mortality, its impact is mainly associated with the impairment of intestinal functions and lower performance of animals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cryptosporidiosis on the intestinal functions in neonatal experimentally infected Holstein calves. Absorption tests with d-xylose and retinyl-palmitate, and the lactulose/mannitol test of intestinal permeability were simultaneously performed in 1-week intervals from challenge to full recovery. In infected animals, reduced intestinal absorptive capacity for both D-xylose and retinyl-palmitate was observed on day 7 post-infection (p.i.). At the same time, a more than 100% elevation of intestinal permeability was observed in the infected calves. All intestinal functions, except absorption of retinyl-palmitate, were significantly affected and changes were detected up to day 14 p.i. In contrast, results of all tests obtained on day 21 p.i. suggest full recovery of the infected intestine. Significantly, growth of the calves which had recovered from cryptosporidiosis was still affected between days 14 and 21 p.i.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare carcass traits, meat quality and sensory attributes in two different genotypes of geese according to age and sex.MethodsThe experiment was carried out on 160 birds of two genotypes of geese: the Czech Goose (CG) breed and a Eskildsen Schwer (ES) hybrid. One-d-old goslings were divided into four groups according to genotype and sex. Two dates for slaughtering (at 8 and 16 wk of age of goslings) were undertaken.ResultsThe slaughter weight, cold carcass weight and dressing percentage were affected by all the studied factors, and significant interactions between age, genotype and sex were detected in the slaughter weight (p<0.001) and cold carcass weight (p = 0.004). The pH was not affected by any of studied factors, whereas in terms of meat colour parameters there were observed significant effects of age on L* and b* value and a significant effect of sex on a* value. The meat fat content was higher (p = 0.002) in ES. Higher score for overall acceptance of goose meat was recorded for ES at both ages compared to CG.ConclusionES had higher dressing percentage and better sensory attributes, whereas CG exceled in the favourable nutritional value of the meat.

Forty rabbits weaned at 35 d of age were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 10 rabbits each. The rabbits were fed a basal granulated diet containing 0.08 mg Se/kg, or diets obtained from basal diet, supplemented with sodium selenite, selenized yeast (Se-yeast) or selenized algae Chlorella (Se-algae) to increase the Se concentration to 0.40 mg/kg. After 6 weeks rabbits were slaughtered at 77 d of age. Samples of meat, liver and hair were analyzed. The Se supplements did not infl uence rabbit growth, feed intake and weight loss during cooling. The nutrient composition of meat (dry matter, protein and fat concentration) was only marginally infl uenced. The Se concentration in the loin and hindleg meat increased by 23.0% and 19.2%, respectively in rabbits receiving the selenite supplement. In rabbits fed Se-yeast and Se-algae, the Se content in meat doubled from 0.11-0.15 mg/kg to 0.24-0.29 mg/kg. High Se concentrations (=1 mg/kg) were observed in hair and liver of rabbits which had received the Se-supplements. In all supplemented groups, the activity of glutathione peroxidase in the loin meat was higher than in control rabbits by 51.9-72.8% (P<0.001). The oxidative stability of rabbit meat, however, was not infl uenced. It follows from our results that (i) the enrichment of meat with Se is the main benefi t of supranutritional Se supply in rabbits, and (ii) Se-yeast and Se-algae are more effective in increasing Se content in tissues than selenite.

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