Effect of nickel and zinc peroral administration on meat quality of rabbits

The aim of our study was to determine the effect of single nickel administration as well as co–administration with zinc on meat quality parameters. In the experiment 45 [25 female (5 per group) and 20 male (4 per group)] rabbits of broiler line Californian were involved. Animals were divided to five groups: K (n=9) – control; P1 (n=9) – received 17.5 g NiCl2.100 kg-1 feeding dose (FD); P2 (n=9) – received 35 g NiCl2.100 kg-1 FD; P3 (n = 9) – received 17.5 g NiCl2.100 kg-1FD and 30 g ZnCl2.100 kg-1 FD and finally groups P4 (n = 9) – received 35 g NiCl2.100 kg-1 FD and 30 g ZnCl2.100 kg-1 FD. Animals were fed ad libitum using KKV1 feeding mixture with or without nickel and zinc addition for 90 days. Meat quality was analyzed from a sample of musculus biceps femoris for the content of water in muscle, content of proteins, fat, energy, electric conductivity, pH, colour and content of bounded water. The value of pH was detected by injection analysis. The content of water, proteins and fat was analyzed using Infratech 1265 Meat Analyzer. Meat colour was detected by spectrophotometer (Specol 11) and the meat ability to bind water by pressure method. In meat quality any significant differences were found among all groups

The investigation of alfaalfa effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase in chicken meat in dependence on time storage

This study was conducted in order to monitor the effect of adding lucerne meal to chicken feed mixtures. The experiment was conducted at the Department Food Hygiene and Safety, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. Chickens for meat production - final type Cobb 500 were used in the experiment. Chickens were placed in boxes all together for one group at the beginning of the experiment and from 14 days of age chickens were divided individually into floor enriched cages. Feeding of chickens lasted 38 days. The experiment was carried out without sex segregation. For the production of a feed composition was used alfalfa (Medicago sativa) as lucerne meal, which was added to the feed at a rate of 4%, namely: starter (HYD-01), growth (HYD-02) and final (HYD-03). The control group did not include the addition of lucerne meal. Chickens were fed ad libitum. Chickens were slaughtered after completion of feeding and the meat samples were taken for analysis. The collected samples were stored at -18 °C. Collected samples of meat were analyzed after slaughter chickens at time intervals of 6, 12 and 18 months. In the experiment was monitored the content of supeoxid dismutase in the chicken meat depending on the length of storage time. Superoxide dismutase content was increasing by storage time, while there were some statistically significant differences between groups

Quality of meat of rabbits after application of epicatechin and patulin

The aim of the present study was to determinate the effect of epicatechin and patulin on selected parameters of meat quality of rabbits. Adult female rabbits (n=25), maternal albinotic line (crossbreed Newzealand white, Buskat rabbit, French silver) and paternal acromalictic line (crossbreed Nitra's rabbit, Californian rabbit, Big light silver) were used in experiment. Animals were divided into five groups: control group (C) and experimental groups E1, E2, E3, and E4. Animals from experimental groups E1, E2, E3, E4 received patulin through intramuscular injection (10 µg.kg-1) twice a week and animals from groups E2, E3, E4 received epicatechin three times a week through intramuscular injection. After 30 days animals were slaughtered. For analysing of meat quality the samples of Musculus longissimus dorsi (50 g) were used. Application of  epicatechin and patulin to rabbits had slight or no effect on the pH levels in stomach, small intestine, large intestine and urinary bladder contents, however differences among the groups were insignificant (p ˃0.05). Application of epicatechin and patulin to rabbits had slight or no effect on total water, protein, fat   and differences among the groups were insignificant (p >0.05). The values of amino acids concentrations were not influenced after application of epicatechin and patulin. The fatty acid profiles in animals after application of different doses of epicatechin and 10 µg.kg-1 patulin were similar (p >0.05). Concentration of cholesterol increased in experimental groups in comparison with the control group, but differences were insignificant (p >0.05). pH levels of meat of rabbits in experimental group E3 was lower when compared with the control group, but differences was not significant (p >0.05).  Electric conductivity parameter was increased in each experimental group (in E3 the highest) against the control but without significant differences (p >0.05). Colour L parameter was slightly decreased in experimental groups with comparison to the control group (in E3 the lowest). Generally we can conclude that intramuscular application of epicatechin or patulin did not affect parameters of meat quality as well as pH values of internal organs content. Further investigations are needed to prove the final answer concerning the health promoting effects of epicatechin and patulin

Impact of Seminal Chemical Elements on the Oxidative Balance in Bovine Seminal Plasma and Spermatozoa

Mutual relationships between selected chemical elements (Na, K, Fe, Cu, Mg, and Zn), basic motility characteristics (motility and progressive motility), and markers of the oxidative balance (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, albumin, and malondialdehyde) were investigated in bovine seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Computer assisted sperm analysis was used to assess the motility parameters; mineral concentrations were determined by the voltammetric method and flame absorption spectrophotometry; antioxidants and malondialdehyde were evaluated by UV/VIS spectrophotometry. Concentrations of chemical elements in both seminal fractions were in the following descending order: Na > K > Zn > Mg > Fe > Cu. Higher amounts of all minerals and nonenzymatic antioxidants were detected in the seminal plasma ( < 0.01; < 0.001), while higher MDA concentration and activity of enzymatic antioxidants were recorded in the cell lysates ( < 0.01; < 0.001). Na, Fe, Cu, Mg, and Zn were positively correlated with the motility and antioxidant parameters ( < 0.05; < 0.01; < 0.001). Inversely, K exhibited the positive associations with malondialdehyde ( < 0.05). This study demonstrates that most chemical elements are integral components of bovine semen and are needed for the protection against oxidative stress development