Róbert Herkeľ

The effect of a phytogenic additive on nutritional composition of turkey meat

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of a blend of phytogenic additive on nutritional and mineral composition of breast, thigh muscles and liver in fattening turkeys. A total 300 female turkeys were monitored in the trial. 1-day old broad-breasted white turkeys hybrid XL were randomly divided into two groups (150 pcs per each). Turkeys in control group were fed by standard diet for fattening and in experimental group from the 1st to the 12th week by complete feed mixture with supplementation of a blend of essential oils from origanum, anise and citrus fruits as well as a prebiotic rich fructooligosaccharides in dosage 1 kg per 1000 kg of feed mixture. Turkeys were housed in group on deep litter. Experiment lasted 18 weeks. Samples of breast and thigh muscles, and liver for nutritional analysis were collected during turkey’s dissection (10 samples per each group). After the determination of nutrients, there were found significant (P 0.05) content of DM and fat was recorded in liver. After analysis the macro and microelements, significant (P 0.05) concentrate only in content of manganese in experimental group. Occurrence of manganese was not observed in both muscles.

The effect of aerobic exposure on nutritive value and fermentation parameters of maize silage

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of 24 hours aerobic exposure on the nutritive value and fermentation parameters of maize silage under operating conditions in autumn. The maize silage was treated with the addition of granulated biological silage additive (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus buchneri and Pediococcus pentosaceus) in a 0.25 kg*t-1 dose of matter. The maize silage was stored in unsheltered, impassable 36x23x6m silo, covered with thin translucent underlying sheet and black upper sheet with tires laid on the top at the University farm, Ltd. Koliňany – large scale dairy farm Oponice. Sampling of the silage from silo was realized by block cutter on 5th of October 2011 at 4 a.m. (before feeding) and subsequently, maize silage was stored at the feeding table in dairy cows stall. The sampling of the maize silage happened immediately after collection (H0) and after 24 hours of storage at the feeding table (H24). The air temperature in dairy cows stall was 13.5 °C (H0) and after 24 hours of storage (H24) 15 °C. The temperature of the silage in 30cm depth was 28 °C (H0) and 40.3 °C (H24). After 24 hours of aerobic exposure, the content of dry matter, starch, hemicelluloses and neutral detergent fiber in maize silage was statistically significantly (P < 0.05) increased. Our results indicate a reduction in vitro organic matter digestibility and a decrease in energy and nitrogen values during aerobic exposure. We found statistically significant (P < 0.05) decrease in lactic acid content, the degree of proteolysis and an increase in acetic acid (by 41%) in maize silage with Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus buchneri and Pediococcus pentosaceus during 24 hours aerobic exposure.

Effect of daily diet change from the start of lactation to the peak of lactation diet on ruminal pH with pH courses and changes during the feed day

The aim of the study was to find the effect of daily diet change from the start of lactation diet (SL) to the peak of lactation diet (PL) taking account into the lactation number (2nd lactation – groups S2L, P2L; 3rd lactation – groups S3L, P3L) using continuous monitoring of ruminal pH using e-bolus at school experimental farm in Oponice. Animals (7 Holstein cows) were fed once with Total Mix Ratio ad libitum (between 4:00 and 5:00) and milked 3 times per day (6:00, 12:00 and 18:00). The bolus which was implemented through Esophagus measured pH and temperature values every 15 minutes (96 data points per day) with accuracy ± 0.1 pH. Data were downloaded and collected with HathorHBClient v. 1.8.1 and statistically evaluated with IBM SPSS v. 20.0 (One-way ANOVA, Tukey Test, Indipendent Samples T-Test). The statistically significant difference (0.74%; P < 0.01) in the daily pH mean between SL and PL diet was found. Dairy cows in the SL group had average pH 6.30 ± 0.34 and in the PL group 6.25 ± 0.33. The daily pH mean of dairy cows in the 2nd lactation 6.45 ± 0.28 (S2L), 6.39 ± 0.25 (P2L) and in the 3rd lactation 6.14 ± 0.32 (S3L), 6.14 ± 0.34 (P3L) was determined. In the S3L (1.12 ± 1.20%) and P3L (1.19 ± 1.19%) group faster decrease of pH values during 6 hours after feeding than in the S2L (0.75 ± 0.41%) and in the P2L (0.55 ± 0.34%) group was found. During night better recover ability of pH values in the S3L (1.62 ± 0.88%) and P3L (2.10 ± 0.90%) group than in the S2L (1.00 ± 0.57%) and in the P2L (1.11 ± 0.70%) group per hour was observed. Overall 8.9% of measured pH under 5.8 in the SL group and 11.9% in the PL group was found. The S2L group had pH under the threshold 5.8 from measured values 1.6% and P2L group only 1.1%. On the other side the pH values in the S3L group formed 16.3% and in the P3L group 20.8%.

Apparent in vivo nutrient digestibility of maize silages in horses

The aim of the experiment was to analyzed coefficients of digestibility of the maize silage nutrients in horse feeding. Horses of Slovak warmblood breed engaged in the research were 2.5 ± 0.5 years old. Horses in boxes without bedding to avoid eating it and excrement contamination were stabled. Horses individually with ad libitum access to water were housed. The boxes with trough for corn silage were equiped. The corn silage contained 362.3 g of dry matter, 74.1 g of crude protein, 27.1 g of crude fat and 948.2 g of organic matter in kg of dry matter. The feed twice a day, in the morning and in the evening was given. The feed intake and leftovers were weighed every day. Excrements immediately after excreting to avoid urine contamination into plastic containers were collected and weighed. The content of nutrients in the feed intake and in the excrements were analysed. In analysed samples the gravimetric dry matter amount by drying at 103 ± 2 °C, crude protein content by Kjeldahl method, fat content by extraction method according to Soxhlett – Henkel, ash content by burning the sample at 530 ± 20 °C in muffle furnace and organic matter content by calculation were determined. Coefficients of apparent digestibility in percent from taken in and excreted nutrients were calculated. In maize silage for horse feeding an average coefficient of digestibility of dry matter 61.94%, of crude protein 56.03%, of crude fat 72.34% and of organic matter 65.19% was found.

The effect of essential plant oils on mineral composition of egg mass and blood parameters of laying hens

The aim of study was to analyze the dietary effect of pumpkin and flaxseed oils on mineral composition of egg mass and blood parameters of laying hens. At 38 weeks of age, Lohmann Brown Lite hens were housed in three-floor cages, divided into three dietary groups (C-control, E1-pumpkin oil (3%), E2-flaxseed oil (3%)). There were housed six hens in one cage. A total 18 hens were monitored. In the control group hens were fed with standard complete feed mixture for laying hens and in the experimental groups by feed mixtures with supplementation of pumpkin or flaxseed oils. Vitamin E was added into feed mixture in the experimental groups. The experiment lasted 52 days. Twelve eggs from each dietary treatment were randomly selected and analyzed. As regards the mineral composition of eggs, only concentrations of calcium after both oil supplementations and zinc after flaxseed oil supplementation in diet were significantly (P 0.05) influence on enzymatic and protein profile.

Effect of a phytogenic additive on blood serum indicator levels and fatty acids profile in fattening turkeys meat.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a phytogenic additive on blood serum indicator levels and fatty acids profile of breast, leg muscles and liver in fattening turkeys. The experiment was realized in private turkey farm and in the Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. A total of 300 clinically healthy female turkeys (broad-breasted white turkey, hybrid XL) were used in the experiment. Female turkeys were randomly divided into two groups (150 pcs per each). In the control group, turkey were fed with standard complete feed mixtures for fattening, in the experimental group, standard diets from the beginning to 12th week were supplemented with the a blend of essential oils from origanum, anise and citrus fruits as well as a prebiotic rich fructooligosaccharides in dosage 1kg per 1000 kg of feed mixture. Fattening lasted 18 weeks. Blood serum was collected at the end of the experiment, during the slaughter of birds. Samples of breast and leg muscles, and liver for fatty acids composition evaluation were collected during birds dissection (10 samples per each group). After the 12 weeks of phytoadditive supplementation, a tendency of lower activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (53.963 vs. 3.499 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (6.238 vs. 1.012 U/L) in experimental group of turkeys was found (P 0.01) content of cis-8,11,14-eicosadienoic and arachidonic acids. The phytoadditive supplementation significantly (P < 0.01) decreased content of some unsaturated fatty acids in turkeys tissues, as well. In experimental group of turkey have been recorded lower level of elaidic and oleic acids in the breast muscle and cis-11,14-eicosadienoic and arachidonic acids in the liver, compare to birds from control group.