Salivary cortisol concentrations changes in horses during daily routine

Article Details: Received: 2020-10-20 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.1-4AbstractThe aim of the study was to observe the salivary concentrations of cortisol in horses during daily routine over the course of four weeks lasting experiment in three different stages of day to monitor the changing values of cortisol in horse saliva during the day. Saliva was obtained from 12 Slovak warmblood horses – 1 stallion, 6 mares and 5 geldings. In the experiment we focused purely on changes of salivary cortisol concentrations over the course of the daily routine.The results shown us multiple significant changes between individual sample collections and thus, we can state that according to our results the highest concentration of cortisol in horse saliva is in the morning and it decreases throughout the day with lowest measured concentrations being in the final sample collection of the day (at 22:00). These changes had no visible effect on horses´ organism throughout entirety of the experiment and were caused due to horses daily rhythm.Keywords: horse, cortisol, saliva, rest, daily routineReferencesBohák, Zs, Szabó, F, Beckers, J-F, Melo de Sousa, N, Kutasi, O., Nagy, K, Szenci, O. 2013. Monitoring the circadian rhythm of serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in the horse. Domest. Anim. Endocrinol. 45:38-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2013.04.001Contreras-Aguilar, MD, Lamy, E, Escribano, D, Cerón, JJ, Tecles, F, Quiles, AJ, Hevia, ML. 2020. Changes in salivary analytes of horses due to circadian rhythm and season: A Pilot Study. Animals. 10(9):1486. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091486Halo, M, Hollý, A, Mlyneková, E, Polyaková, L, Horný, M, Kovalčík, E. 2009. Influence feeding and training on the metabolic profil sport horses. J Cent. Eur. Agric. 10(4):411-416.Halo, M, Strapák, P, Mlyneková, E, Kovalčík, E, Horný, M. 2008. Influence stres on the training process of the horses. J. Cent. Eur. Agric. 9(1):217-224.Ille, N, von Lewinski, M, Erber, M, Wulf, M, Aurich, J, Mostl, E, Aurich, C. 2013. Effects of the level of experience of horses and their riders on cortisol release, heart rate and heart rate variability during a jumping course. Anim. Welf. 22:457-465. 10.7120/09627286.22.4.457Irvine, CHG, Alexander, SL. 1994. Factors affecting the circadian rhythm in plasma cortisol concentrations in the horse. Domest. Anim. Endocrinol. 11(2):227-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/0739-7240(94)90030-2Kang, O-D, Lee W-S. 2016. Changes in salivary cortisol concentration in horses during different types of exercise. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 29(5):747-752. 10.5713/ajas.16.0009Kang, O-D, Yun Y-M. 2016. Influence of Horse and Rider on Stress during Horse-riding Lesson Program. Asian Australas J Anim Sci. 29(6):895-900. 10.5713/ajas.15.1068Leal, BB, Alves, GES, Douglas, RH, Bringel, B, Young, RJ, Haddad, JPA, Viana, WS, Faleiros, RR. 2011. Cortisol circadian rhythm ratio: A simple method to detect stressed horses at higher risk of colic? Equine Vet. J. 31:188-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2011.02.005Massányi, P, Stawarz, R, Halo, M, Formicki, G, Lukac, N, Cupka, P, Schwarcz, P, Kovacik, A, Tusimova, E, Kovacik, J. 2014. Blood concentration of copper, cadmium, zinc and lead in the horses and its relation to hematological and biochemical parameters. J. Environ. Sci. Health A. 49:973-979. 10.1080/10934529.2014.894322 Peeters, M, Sulon J, Beckers J-F, Ledoux D, Vandenheede M. 2011. Comparison between blood serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in horses using an adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge. Equine Vet J. 43(4):487-493. 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00294.x Schmidt, A, Mostl, E, Wehnert, Ch, Aurich, J, Muller, J, Aurich, Ch. 2010. Corisol release and heart rate variability in horses during road transport. Hormones Behaviour. 57: 209-215. 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.11.003Strzelec, K, Kankofer, M, Piertzak, S. 2011. Cortisol concentration in the saliva of horses subjected to different kinds of exercise. Act Vet. Brno. 80:101-105. 10.2754/avb201180010101Stull, CL, Morrow, J, Aldridge, BA, Stott, JL, McGlone, JJ. 2008. Immunophysiological responses of horses to 12-hour rest during 24 hours of road transport. Vet. Rec. 162:609-614. 10.1136/vr.162.19.609Van der Kolk, JH, Nachreiner, RF, Schott HC, Refsal KR, Zanella AJ. 2001. Salivary and plasma concentration of cortisol in normal horses and horses with Cushing´s disease. Equine Vet J. 33(2):211-213. 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb00604.

Influence of indirect factors and its effect analysis on performance level of Slovak warmblood horse breed

Article Details: Received: 2020-10-21 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.105-108During their career, horses are affected by a large number of direct and indirect factors. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of indirect factors, such as year of start, sex, breed, number of starts, age and proportion of genes of Slovak Warmblood horse breed. For determination of indirect factors on performance level, results from test efficiency and final placement in showjumping category 4, 5 and 6 years old young horses were used. 540 horses of Slovak Warmblood breed were analysed between 2015 - 2019 and 1155 data samples were collected. Based on the results of the linear model, parameters – the effect of gender and the influence of the gene proportion of Slovak Warmblood horse had statistically significant influence (p<0.05). High significant effect (p<0.001) on performance of Slovak Warmblood horse was observed in parameters – year of start, age during start and breed.Keywords: horse, indirect factors, performance References CASTEJON-RIBER, C. et al. (2017). Objectives, Principles and Methods of Strength Training for Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 56, 93-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2017.04.011De MARÉ, L. et al. (2017). Standardized exercise tests in horses: current situation and future perspectives. Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift, 86(2): 63-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.21825/vdt.v86i2.16290GOŠČÍK, Z. (1993). Fyziologický základ tréningu koňa atléta. Nitra: Mgr. Marta Ölvecká. ISBN 80-900413-6-1, 70p.GOŠČÍK, Z. (2000). Racionálny tréning športových koní a jeho vplyv na ich dlhodobé využitie. [online]: http://www.horses.sk/'konfer/kratr. htm HENNESSY, K. et al. (2008). Vendor and purchaser expectations: differential market segment requirements for sport horses. In proceeding from 4th International Conference of International Society for Equitation Science. Dublin (p. 53).KEARSLEY, C. G. S. et al. (2008). Use of competition data for genetic evaluations of eventing horses in Britain: analysis of the dressage, showjumping and cross country phases of eventing competition. Livestock Science, 118(1), 72-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2008.01.009KOENEN, E. (2002). Genetic evaluations for competition traits of warmblood sport horses. In WBFSH seminar, Budapest.KOENEN, E. P. C., ALDRIDGE, L. I. & PHILIPSSON, J. (2004). An overview of breeding objectives for warmblood sport horses. Livestock Production Science, 88(1), 77-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.livprodsci.2003.10.011KRATTENMACHER, N. et al. (2014). The role of maternal lineages in horse breeding: Effects on conformation and performance traits. In proceeding from 10th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Vancouver, Canada (p. 17-22).LUEHRS-BEHNKE, H. et al. (2002). Genetic associations among traits of the new integrated breeding evaluation method used for selection of German warmblood horses. Veterinarija ir zootechnika, 18(40), 90-93.RICARD, A.; BRUNS, E.; CUNNINGHAM, E. P. (2000). Genetics of performance traits. The genetics of the horse, (p. 411-538). http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9780851994291.0000RICARD, A. & BLOUIN, C. (2011). Genetic analysis of the longevity of French sport horses in jumping competition. Journal of Animal Science, 89(10), 2988-2994. http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2011-3931STEWART, I. D., WOOLLIAMS, J. A. & BROTHERSTONE, S. (2010). Genetic evaluation of horses for performance in dressage competitions in Great Britain. Livestock Science, 128(1), 36-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2009.10.011STEWART, M. et al. (2011). Assessment of positive emotions in horses: Implications for welfare and performance. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 6(5), 296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2011.05.014SCHUBERTOVÁ, Z., PAVLÍK, I. & CANDRÁK, J. (2014). The influence of the genomic data on the showjumping horses performance evaluation. Journal of Central European Agriculture, 15(2), 33-40.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/15.2.1447SCHRÖDER, W. et al. (2012). A genome‐wide association study for quantitative trait loci of show‐jumping in Hanoverian warmblood horses. Animal genetics, 43(4), 392-400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2052.2011.02265.xVan VELDHUIZEN, A. E. (1997). Breeding value estimation for riding horses in the Netherlands. In 48th Ann. Meet. EAAP, Vienna, Austri

Nutritional indicators in the technological process of sausage processing

Received: 2020-09-29 Accepted: 2021-02-08 Available online: 2021-02-28https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-apa.15-20According to biological and nutritional value, meat and meat products are among the most important components of humannutrition. The risk of meat contamination is a great concern from the point of view of food safety, and especially human health. Theaim of this study was the determination of nutritional values in meat samples of fresh and smoked sausage. From a technologicalpoint of view, the water content was the highest in meat samples and continually decreased in the samples that underwentprocessing. The water content of the meat samples was 68.2%. In the samples of unsmoked and smoked sausages, the measuredvalues were slightly lower. In the samples of unsmoked sausages, the water content was 63.1%. As the water content decreased,the fat content of the sausages increased. The protein content has not changed significantly in the production process. In the meatthe value of proteins was 19.07 g 100 g-1 and in the samples of smoked sausages the result was 18.78 g 100 g-1. The content ofessential fatty acids was the highest in meat samples. This value decreased in unsmoked as well as smoked sausages. Cholesterollevels were rising over the course of the experiment. Results of this study clearly show difference in technological parametersrelated to technological process.Keywords: meat, sausage, technological process, nutritional indicatorsReferencesAngelovičová, M. et al. (2016). Comparison of fatty acid profile in the chicken meat after feeding with narasin, nicarbazin andsalinomycin sodium and phyto-additive substances. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, 51(6), 374–382. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601234.2016.1142320ČUBOŇ, J. et al. (2012). Hodnotenie surovín a potravín živočíšneho pôvodu. Nitra : Slovak University of Agriculture, 381 p.ČUBOŇ, J. et al. (2019) Protein degradation and fat oxidation changes in salted meat processing. Journal of Microbiology,Biotechnology and Food Sciences, 9(6), 376–379. https://doi.org/10.15414/jmbfs.2019.9.special.376-379COLE, L. J. et al. (2020). A critical analysis of the potential for EU Common Agricultural Policy measures to support wild pollinatorson farmland. Journal of Applied Ecology, 57(4), 681–694. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13572 DEBRECENI, O. et al. (2016). Comparison the physicochemical quality indicators of Musculus longissimus Dorsi from MangalitsaBreed and their crossbreeds. Journal of Central European Agriculture, 17(4), 1253–1263. https://doi.org/10.5513/jcea01/17.4.1840DELGADO, C. L. (2003). Rising consumption of meat and milk in developing countries has created a new food revolution. TheJournal of Nutrition, 133(11), 3907S–3910S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/133.11.3907SGRIFFITHS, P.; DE HASSETH, J. A. (2007). Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. 2nd ed., Wiley-Blackwell.GÓMEZ, I. et al. (2020). The effects of processing and preservation technologies on meat quality: Sensory and nutritionalaspects. Foods, 9, 1416. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9101416GRUSAK, M. A. et al. (1999). Improving the nutrient composition of plants to enhance human nutrition and health. AnnualReview of Plant Biology, 50(1), 133–161. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.arplant.50.1.133GUPTA, V. et al. (2017). Lifestyle, Stress, and Disorders. Basic and Applied Aspects of Biotechnology. Springer : Singapore, pp. 475–486. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0875-7_22Haščík, P. et al. (2019a). Spracovanie hydiny a minoritných živočíšnych produktov. Nitra : Slovak University of Agriculture, 176 p.HAŠČÍK, P. et al. (2019b). The profile of fatty acids in chicken’s meat after humic acid and phytobiotics application. Journalof Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, 9(6), 439–444. https://doi.org/10.15414/jmbfs.2019.9.special.439-444HIRD, S. J. et al. (2014). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of chemical contaminants in food.TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 59, 59–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2014.04.005IMRICH, I. et al. (2020). Comparison of the physico-chemical meat quality of the breeds Mangalitsa and Large white with regardto the slaughter weight. Potravinarstvo Slovak Journal of Food Sciences, 14, 135–141. https://doi.org/10.5219/1334JIMÉNEZ-COLMENERO, F. et al. (2001). Healthier meat and meat products: Their role as functional foods. Meat Science, 59, 5–13.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0309-1740(01)00053-5KROČKO, M. et al. (2016). Effect of spices commercial mixture with GDL on the quality of fermented dry-cured sausages. SlovakJournal of Food Sciences, 10(1), 295–299. https://doi.org/10.5219/603LÍPOVÁ, P. et al. (2019). Efect of intramuscular fat content on physical-chemical parameters of pork from Mangalitsa and theircrossbreed. Potravinarstvo Slovak Journal of Food Sciences, 13(1), 422–428. https://doi.org/10.5219/1095ORZECHOWSKA, B. et al. (2008). Relationships between muscle fibre characteristics and physico-chemical properties oflongissimus lumborum muscle and growth rate in pig fatteners of three breeds. Animal Science Papers and Reports, 26(4), 277–285.PREZIOSI, P. et al. (1998). Effects of supplementation with a combination of antioxidant vitamins and trace elements, atnutritional doses, on biochemical indicators and markers of the antioxidant system in adult subjects. Journal of the AmericanCollege of Nutrition, 17(3), 244–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.1998.10718754SHARMA, M. et al. (2009). Occupational lifestyle diseases: An emerging issue. Indian Journal of Occupational and EnvironmentalMedicine, 13(3), 109. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5278.58912STEINHAUSEROVÁ, I. et al. (2015) Hygiene and sanitation in meat production. Meat, 4, 7–13.STOLL-KLEEMANN, S. et al. (2017). Reducing meat consumption in developed and transition countries to counter climatechange and biodiversity loss: a review of influence factors. Regional Environmental Change, 17(5), 1261–1277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-016-1057-5ZAJÁC, P. et al. (2015). Analysis of texturometric properties of selected traditional and commercial sausage. PotravinarstvoSlovak Journal of Food Sciences, 9(1), 458–467. https://doi.org/10.5219/47

High taurine concentrations negatively effect stallion spermatozoa parameters in vitro

Article Details: Received: 2020-09-29 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.15-19Over the past decades natural substances are widely used in the maintaining of spermatozoa viability. The target of present study was to evaluate the effect of various taurine concentrations on stallion spermatozoa during 37°C cultivation. Fresh semen was collected from 10 breeding stallions. The experimental groups were supplemented with six different concentration of taurine (in mg/ml): A – 2.5, B – 5, C – 7.5, D – 10, E – 15, F – 20 and compared to control (CON – 0). Spermatozoa motility was assessed using the Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer (CASA) system in 6 time periods (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours). The MTT test was used for detection of viability. For measuring antioxidant activity FRAP and TOS methods were used. Significantly negative effect was observed in the samples with the highest concentration of taurine (20 mg/ml). Spermatozoa viability was not significantly affected in analysed concentrations of taurine. Significant higher antioxidant activity was detected in the sample with the highest taurine concentration. Data clearly showed negative effects of high taurine concentrations on stallion spermatozoa.Keywords: taurine, CASA, antioxidant activity, spermatozoa, stallion References  Benzie, I. F. and Strain, J. J. (1996). The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of “antioxidant power”: The FRAP assay. Analytical Biochemistry, 239(1), 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1006/abio.1996.0292Bucak, M. N. et al. (2007). The influence of trehalose, taurine, cysteamine and hyaluronan on ram semen: Microscopic and oxidative stress parameters after freeze–thawing process. Theriogenology, 67(5), 1060-1067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.12.004Erel, O. (2005). A new automated colorimetric method for measuring total oxidant status. Clinical Biochemistry, 38(12), 1103-1111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2005.08.008Halo, M. and Tirpák, F. (2018) Stallion fertility - the basis of successful reproduction. Svet koní. 18.Halo Jr., M. et al. (2019) Time and dose-dependent effects of Viscum album quercus on rabbit spermatozoa motility and viability in vitro. Physiological Research, 68(6), 955-972. https://doi.org/10.33549/physiolres.934223 Ijaz, A. and Ducharme, R. (1995). Effect of various extenders and taurine on survival of stallion sperm cooled to 5 C. Theriogenology, 44(7), 1039-1050. https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691x(95)00290-o Jambor, T. et al. (2017) In vitro effect of 4-nonylphenol on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulated hormone secretion, cell viability and reactive oxygen species generation in mice Leydig cells. Environmental Pollution, 222, 219–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.053 O'flaherty, L. et al. (1997) Intestinal taurine transport: a review. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 27(11), 873-880. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2362.1997.2000747.xReddy, N. S. S. et al. (2010). Effects of adding taurine and trehalose to a tris-based egg yolk extender on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) sperm quality following cryopreservation. Animal Reproduction Science, 119(3-4), 183-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.01.012 Slanina, T. et al. (2018) Effect of taurine on turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) spermatozoa viability and motility. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 63(4),127-135. https://doi.org/10.17221/79/2017-CJASStephens, T. D. et al. (2013) Effects of pentoxifylline, caffeine, and taurine on post-thaw motility and longevity of equine frozen semen. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 33(8), 615-621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2012.10.004Tirpák, F. et al. (2017) Low taurine concentrations possitively affect rabbit spermatozoa properties in later time intervals. Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, 7, 128-131. https://doi.org/10.15414/jmbfs.2017.7.2.128-13

Optimization of protocol for stallion semen cryopreservation

The aim of the preliminary study was to improve success of cryopreservation of stallion spermatozoa. The effect of different equilibration lengths and two techniques for freezing of stallion semen was evaluated, based on motility and viability parameters. Fresh semen was diluted with BotuCrio extender and divided into 3 groups equilibrated for 0.5h, 2h, and 4h. Subsequently, half straws of each group were cryopreserved in the vapours of the liquid nitrogen or in the automatic freezer. Results of stallion spermatozoa motility and progressive motility showed decreasing trend with increased time of equilibration. Moreover, a significant difference (p < 0.05) for the percentage of spermatozoa producing ROS was found between semen frozen in the vapours of the liquid nitrogen compared to semen cryopreserved by the automatic freezer in the same equilibration time. Nevertheless, results of this study are of preliminary character. Experiments using higher number of individuals need to be tested in order to find the best procedure for semen cryopreservation of Slovak national horse breeds

The effects of caffeine on the motility and viability of stallion spermatozoa at different temperature conditions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dose-and time-dependent effect of caffeine treatment on the motility and viability of stallion spermatozoa at different temperatures. Six dose groups (A to F) were established with changing caffeine concentrations (from 0.625 to 10 mg/mL). The control samples were prepared by diluting the ejaculate only with physiological salt solution. The samples were examined after 0, 1, 2 and 3 h of incubation at 5 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The motility parameters were evaluated by Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer (CASA) system, and the viability was assessed by the mito-chondrial toxicity test at the end of the incubation. A positive effect of the lowest tested caffeine concentration on the motility parameters was observed throughout the incubation period at 5 degrees C. At the end of the 3h incubation, the viability in every sample in these groups, treated with any caffeine concentration, showed lower values compared to the control. At the higher incubation temperature (37 degrees C), caffeine positively affected the motility in samples B (P < 0.05) and D, E, F (P < 0.001) after 3 h of incubation; however, the viability showed a slightly decreasing tendency. Our results suggest that caffeine, in an optimal concentration, may be used as a component of stallion semen extenders