[The effect of the light schedule on biochemical indicators in the blood, serum and urine of heifers during their estrus cycle]. / Vliv svetelného rezimu na biochemické ukazatele krve, séra a moce jalovic v prubehu ríjového cyklu.

The dynamics of 38 biochemical parameters of blood, serum and urine was studied in ten heifers during their oestrous cycle in a light house (80-340 lux) and a dark small house (10-40 lux). In the light stable a significant influence (P less than 0.05) was found to be exerted on five parameters and in the dark stable nine parameters, four being influenced in the same way in both houses: haematocrit value and haemoglobin in blood and cholesterol and progesterone in serum; the relationship of progesterone content in serum to the days of oestrous cycle was particularly high in the light house. The comparison of the parameters between the groups demonstrated a significant (P less than 0.05) influence of light regime, exerted on some days of the oestrous cycle upon the levels of inorganic phosphorus, total protein and aspartate aminotransferase activity (AST) in serum and upon haematocrit, haemoglobin and ketone bodies in the blood of heifers. However, the light regime did not influence the levels of progesterone which were somewhat higher in the light house but with no statistically significant difference from the dark house. A significant difference between the groups was obtained in the levels of sodium and phosphorus in urine (P less than 0.05) between the first and tenth days of the oestrous cycle. No differences in the oestrous cycle between the heifers in the light and dark stables were recorded. Neither was the duration of heat influenced significantly; it was only less manifest in the dark stable.

[The effect of a light regimen on the dynamics of biochemical indicators in the blood, serum and urine of heifers during 1 day]. / Vliv svetelného rezimu na dynamiku biochemických ukazatelu krve, séra a moce jalovic v prubehu jednoho dne.

Circadian dynamics of 38 biochemical parameters of the blood, serum and urine of heifers was studied under the natural light conditions of a light (160-180 lux) and dark (10-40 lux) small cow house. In each house, eight parameters were subject to a significant influence during the day, six of them being the same in both houses: calcium, chlorides, urea and thyroxine of blood serum, glucose and haematocrit in the blood of heifers. The comparison of parameters in different groups showed that different light regimes exerted a significant influence on calcium, chlorides, total protein, cholesterol, vitamin A and thyroxine in serum, haematocrit and leucocyte count in blood, and sodium and urea in the urine of heifers. The effect of feeding regime on the dynamics of parameters was tested by the calculation of the percentual fluctuation of their average values in heifer blood and serum before feeding (samples taken at 6.30 hrs) and after feeding (sampled at 10 hrs). In the light house, six parameters were judged to be less stable and one unstable (urea in serum). In the dark house six parameters were less stable and four unstable (calcium, urea, copper and thyroxine in serum).

[Heat dissipation through the floor in piglet housing]. / Odvod tepla podlahou v dochovnách selat.

Trials were performed in 1980 and 1981 to test a new methodical procedure of measuring heat flow with Alfameter and to evaluate the dissipation of heat via the floor in piglet finishing houses with three large pig herds. It was demonstrated during the period of the study that slatted floors dissipated much more heat from the house, as compared with solid floors. The comparison of the density of heat flow over steel slats and plastic slats showed that the plastic slats wasted less heat: in the winter season the difference was 65 to 125 W/m2 and in summer 20 to 75 W/m2. In the houses with steel slats the comparison of heated and unheated lying place showed that the heat flow emitted from the lying place reduced the dissipation of heat via the slats.

[Loss of heat through the skin in piglets in pigsties with and without windows]. / Výdej tepla kuzí u selat v okenní a bezokenní dochovne.

In 1980 and 1981 tests were performed to verify the new methodical procedure of measuring heat flow by means of Alfameter and to evaluate the liberation of heat from the skin of piglets kept in two-storeyed cages in the finishing houses of the TEROZ TACHOV type. One of these houses was windowless, the other had windows. The temperature, humidity and flow rates of the air inside the houses were measured at the same time. The comparison of the two types of houses showed that under the given conditions the houses with windows implied a higher rate of cooling and a higher density of heat flow over the skin of the weanlings. In the windowed as well as windowless houses, the pigs in the upper row of cages showed a higher rate of heat liberation from the skin, as compared with the lower row. The piglets kept in the windowed house had lower gains and lower mortality rates.

[The effect of feeding technics on dust levels in pig fattening barns]. / Vliv krmné technologie na prasnost ovzdusí výkrmny prasat.

Dust nuisance was studied in the pig fattening halls of the TEROZ TACHOV type in 1979 and 1980. One of these halls was equipped with the original feeding technology, in the other a set of gravity pipes was added to feeding line. The comparison showed that the house with the adjusted feeding system has much lower dust nuisance with a reduced content of respirable particles. In this house better weight gains and lower mortality were observed.

[Effect of the barn environment with and without windows in the rearing of pigs]. / Vliv prostredí okenní a bezokenní porodny na odchov selat.

In the years 1979 and 1980 the microclimate in two types of calving rooms AGRA was studied: rooms with and without windows. A comparison demonstrated that in the rooms with windows the air flow in the zone of abode of animals was higher, rather cooling the piglets, which was not desirable. The light and working conditions in this calving room were better. The temperature and moisture regime in the calving room with windows was influenced negatively because in spring and autumn the stable was cooled by cold outside air and in winter the air temperatures were reduced by heat removal through the windows. In the stable with windows the number of weaned piglets per sow was higher and the mortality rate was lower. The results of rearing are also influenced by the quality of piglet management.

[Relations of certain indicators of ejaculate quality of breeding boars to seasonal changes in the microclimate in pigsties]. / Vztah nekterých ukazatelü kvality ejakulátu plemenných kancú k sezónním zmenám stájového mikroklimatu.

A yearlong evaluation of the semen volume, concentration and number of morphologically abnormal sperms of 1722 ejaculates from 53 boars of Large White, Duroc and Landrace breeds housed in one building was performed. Simultaneously, continuous registration of temperature and of the relative humidity of the sty climate was performed, and the cooling value and the air flow in the sty were determined. In the followed period also the conception rate of sows after the first insemination by semen of the studied set of boars was evaluated. In summer season, at the increased and high temperatures and the relative sty humidity and at the lower air flow, the lowest average volume of ejaculate, the highest average sperm concentration and the minimum average number of abnormal sperms were recorded. In winter season, from the microclimatic viewpoint characterized mainly by the optimum air temperature but by high relative humidity and by excessive air flow, the highest average ejaculate volume with a lower average sperm concentration and with a maximum occurrence of abnormal sperms was recorded. The parametric differences in ejaculate quality in summer and winter seasons were statistically significant, however, their variations did not exceed the spermiologic standard throughout the year. The found decrease in conception rate of sows after the first insemination by the semen of the followed set of breeding boars in warm months is obviously to be attributed to the sows or to the changes of other andrological criteria than those being subject of this study.

[The effect of suction and pressure type of ventilation on the microclimate of fattening stations and on the production performance of pigs]. / Vliv podtlakového a pretlankového vetrání na mikroklima výkrmny a na uzitkovost prasat.

The microclimate in fattening houses of the TEROZ TACHOV type was studied in two fattening seasons. One of the houses had the original ventilation based on negative pressure and the other was tested as to the function and effect of overpressure ventilation. Under the given conditions, the comparison of the two systems showed that the pressure ventilation drove more air through the zone where the animals were kept, and was connected with higher cooling. Dust nuisance was reduced by the pressure ventilation system, but the temperatures and humidites in the fattening houses were influenced, since it slightly increased the temperatures in the house as a result of the flow of hot air from outside in summer, and considerably cooled the microclimate in the house in winter. Nevertheless, the pressure ventilation system provided a better microclimate for the pigs: their gains were higher and the mortality was lower.