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The present study assessed the effects of climatic conditions and year‑period (month) on both qualitative and quantitative characteristics of bovine semen in Czech Republic. The semen was collected twice a week using artificial vagina at artificial insemination center Hradištko in period 2011 – 2013. The effects of collection month, average daily ambient temperature and average daily relative humidity on volume, sperm concentration and progressive motility above head of collected semen and also on number of produced artificial insemination straws of required quality were analyzed using statistical analysis (procedures: UNIVARIATE, STEPWISE, GLM) in software SAS 9.3 (SAS/STAT® 9.3, 2011). Collection month, average daily ambient temperature, average daily relative humidity, and breed had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on all evaluated characteristics. The maximum values of motility and sperm concentration were found in March and in April. The highest volume of collected semen was found in July and in September and the lowest in November, when also the lowest number of straws was produced. Motility and sperm concentration were significantly influenced by average daily ambient temperature and average daily relative humidity, where the maximum values were recorded in average daily ambient temperature over 14.85 °C and average daily relative humidity over 72.05 %. The results are important to the management of artificial insemination center responsible for planning of semen collection, processing and artificial insemination straws production.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of different thawing methods on bull’s semen characteristics. The semen was collected and processed from 8 bulls (Holstein, n = 4; Czech Fleckvieh, n = 4) kept in private Sire insemination Centre. Four different thawing methods were tested: control thawing methods (temperature = 38.5 °C, time = 30 seconds), slow thawing method (temperature = 30 °C, time = 50 seconds), moderate thawing method (temperature = 50 °C, time = 15 seconds), rapid thawing rate (temperature = 70 °C, time = 3 seconds). The percentage rate of total and progressive motile spermatozoa above head as well as movement characteristics of straight‑line velocity (VSL, µm/s) and linearity (LIN, %) were recorded using CASA system immediately after thawing and after 2 hrs. of heat incubation (±38 °C). Subsequently the differences between semen characteristics measured immediately after thawing and after 2 hours of incubation were calculated. The data were analyzed with SAS software. All the evaluated semen traits reached significantly lowest values in total motility (−8 % to −10.5 %, P < 0.05), progressive motility (−5.6 % to −10 %, P < 0.05) VSL (−3.9 µm/s to −9 µm/s, P < 0.05) and LIN (−1.5 % to −4.8 %, P < 0.05) in control thawing method immediately after the thawing compared to others. However, these differences were negligible after 2 hrs. of incubation. The highest values of progressive motility and movement characteristics after thawing and after 2 hours incubation were detected using slow thawing method. Moreover, the rapid method of thawing showed the significantly the lowest results in progressive motility (−3.6 % to −6.6 %), VSL (−3.2 to −5.6 µm/s) and LIN (−3 % to −4.6 %) characteristics assessed after 2 hrs. of incubation compared the others (P < 0.05). Control method of thawing was most stable during the incubation and showed the significantly lowest decrease of total motility (−7.6 % to −11.8 %, P < 0.05), progressive spermatozoa motility above head (−7.5 % to −9.8 %, P < 0.05) and VSL characteristics (−2.4 to −9.7 µm/s, P < 0.05) during incubation. Therefore, this thawing protocol can be recommended at this study based on the lowest spermatozoa characteristics decline during incubation for using artificial insemination.

The aim of work was to determine the effect of LDL cholesterol addition into selected diluters on the resistance of spermatozoa against cold shock and on their short-term survivability during cold test. The hypothesis was that the addition of LDL cholesterol will positively affects sperm resistance to cold shock and ensures a higher survivability of spermatozoa during short-term cold survival test. Four bulls of different breeds and ages, from the same sire insemination center were used. A total of eight semen collections were processed. Each ejaculate was divided into 6 portions (3 controls and 3 samples). Three commercially produced diluters, AndroMed®, Bioxcell®, and Triladyl® were used, each in standard and LDL enriched variants. In the case of AndroMed® or Bioxcell®, 6% of LDL was simply added. In Triladyl®, 10% of LDL replaced the standard egg yolk component. Spermatozoa resistance to cold shock was evaluated by the percentage of live sperm using Eosin-Nigrosine staining. The results showed the influence of bull individuality as an important factor. It is possible to recommend Bioxcell® with addition of LDL cholesterol in 6% concentration, which survivability was 69.17% at the beginning of the test, and 52.94% after 2 hours of incubation.

The aim of this paper is to assess the current situation in the sale of milk through vending machines in the context of the previous period of the decline in milk consumption, the transition of the Czech Republic towards the market economy, the transformation of agriculture, the entry into the EU and the concentration in the milk market and to define the basic motivational factors and barriers of the development of this distribution path. Technical problems with sales, intent to diversify milk selling and aiming the high profitability of the sale are the reasons for operating vending machines that are correlated with the share of this selling channel on producers total sales of milk. Vending machines are inhibited by misinformation from state authorities; other problems are weak support by media and low consumer awareness. The expectations of the operators concerning the development of the situation of the milk vending machines are rather optimistic: 36% of them expect an increase in sales, 48% expect the stagnation and only 16% expect the decrease.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the relationship between the course and the depth of negative energy balance (NEB) rated by changes of the body condition after calving and subsequent recovery of reproductive abilities of Holstein dairy cows treated by OVSYNCH. The body condition was evaluated by the BCS system one week before calving and subsequently at 30-day intervals for the period of 6 months of lactation. Recovery of ovarian functions was evaluated by the results of ultrasound examination of all the dairy cows ovaries in two controls after calving. The first one was performed on an average of 67 days after calving, and the second at a 60-day interval. The occurrence of individual findings - the presence of corpus luteum, ovarian cysts or ovaries without findings was evaluated as an effect of NEB on the recovery of the ovarian cycle of dairy cows and their subsequent possibility of conception. The suitable cows were treated by the OVSYNCH system after the 1st and 2nd ultrasound examination. Therefore, the insemination interval was calculated and in the case of dairy cows, pregnancy detection, also the number of services per conception and the length of open days. Twice performed hormonal treatment of 73.6% of the animals delayed the period by 50.2 days. In all, 202 dairy cows calved in the period from 29th July 2011 to 7th February 2012 were included in this observation. Significant effects of the body condition change on the ovarian activity as documented by sonographic examination and reproductive indicators appeared primarily in the second month of lactation. The best reproductive indicators were found in cows with the lowest body condition change, thus with a small decline or even increase of body condition score (−0.0 to +0.75 points, P < 0.05). On the contrary, the worst level of indicators of recovery of the reproduction functions were documented in the dairy cows with the most marked decline of BCS (P < 0.05).

The development of body condition score (BCS) and milk fatty acid composition and its mutual relationships were evaluated in the first 4 weeks of lactation of 50 Czech Fleckvieh cows. Average BCS values ranged from 4.14 at calving to 3.6 points in the 4th week of lactation. The percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA) tended to slightly increase (69.1 to 71.3%), whereas the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) tended to decrease (30.9 to 28.7%). The animals used were divided to three groups according to the BCS change between calving and week 4 of lactation. The cows with a minimum BCS loss during the first 4 weeks postpartum (–0.03 points) showed higher (+2.16 to 5.24%; P < 0.05) SFA proportions than those having BCS loss more than 1 point. An opposite tendency was observed for UFA, with the highest (+1.23 to 5.26%; P < 0.05) proportion found in the animals with the greatest BCS loss (≥ 1 point). These results indicate that high proportions of milk UFA related with a deep negative energy balance expressed by the highest BCS loss (≥ 1 point). The correlations between BCS at calving, BCS in the 1st and 2nd week of lactation, and proportion of fatty acid groups determined in the 4th week ranged from r = 0.29 to r = 0.41 (P < 0.05).

The objectives of this study were to determine and evaluate the effect of bull, diluter and addition of LDL in different concentration on the percentage rate of spermatozoa survival after cold shock. In total, four bulls were collected during a period of eight weeks. A total of 8 samples of fresh semen with required quality were processed. Three extenders were used for dilution of each sample; AndroMed®, Bioxcell® and Triladyl®, each in standard and LDL enriched variants. In the case of AndroMed® and Bioxcell®, 4, 6 and 8% of LDL were simply added. In Triladyl®, 6, 8 and 10% of LDL replaced the standard egg yolk component. Resistance of spermatozoa against cold shock (0 °C, 10 minutes) was evaluated by the percentage rate of live sperm using Eosin-Nigrosine staining immediately and 2 hours after heat incubation (37 °C). The results showed the influence of bull individuality as an important factor. Among diluters used it is possible to recommend AndroMed® and Bioxcell® due to significantly (P < 0.01) lower decline of live sperm proportion during the cold shock test than Triladyl® (-9.19, respectively -4.95%). The optimal LDL concentration increasing resistance of spermatozoa against cold shock was not determined, therefore subsequent research is necessary.

The aim of the paper is to evaluate differences in the quality perception among particular segments of demand. Data for analysis were collected by means of the questionnaire survey among clients of accommodation establishments. The research in accommodation establishments succeeded to identify four factors of the perception of quality of services provided in those establishments, when only accommodation and catering services were taken into consideration. Age appeared to be an important criterion for the evaluation the of the quality of offered services as the differences in the quality perception among particular age groups were proved for three of four identified factors of the quality perception. The factors are as follows: “environment of the accommodation establishment”, “hygiene in accommodation establishment”, “service in the catering part of the establishment” and “quality of the meals”. The duration of stay as well as the gender of the respondents influences the quality of perception only in the perception of the “quality of meal” factor. Compared to the duration of stay, the repetition of the stay is a considerably important factor in causing the variability of the answers on the rate of the quality perception. The purpose of travel was also proven to be a criterion affecting the rate of the quality perception of the first three factors, whereas the impact of the criterion “client’s travel companionship” was proven in case of the first and third factor.

The aim of this work was evaluation of 24-epibrassinolide influence on yield and quality of head lettuce in optimal and reduced moisture conditions and work out recommendation of 24-brassinosteroids use for lettuce in growers praxis. Field trials were carried out on land belonging to the Demonstration and Research Station of CULS in Prague – Troja in 2009 and 2011. Planting on 27. 8. 2009 and 20. 8. 2011 was done at planting space 0.25 × 0.30 m, each variant in four repetition (single plot 4,5 m2). Seedlings of head lettuce (cultivar Santoro – Rijk Zwaan) were used. Irrigation was carried out by microspraying, and was based on current values of efficient water capacity (EWC); the critical value of the EWC was 80% for optimally irrigated fields (irrigation O), and 50% for variants with reduced levels of irrigation (irrigation S). The total amount of irrigation water during vegetation were as follows: the variant with optimal levels of irrigation (O) had 131 mm in 2009 and 123 mm in 2011; the variant with reduced levels of irrigation (S): 58 mm in 2009 and 63 mm in 2011 Three variants were in both (O and S) conditions: A – no application of 24-epibrassinolide, B – 1 × 24-epibrassinolide application immediately after planting, and C – application of 24-epibrassinolide 2 x (immediately after planting and then after 14 days after 1st application). Concentration of 24-epibrassinolide was 10−6. Following parameters of head lettuce were set after harvesting (10.–12. 10. 2009 and 14.–15. 10. 2011): weight of single heads, marketable heads, marketable yield (in pcs/ha and t/ha) and ascorbic acid and nitrate contents. Influence of 24-epibrassinolide on single lettuce head weight was not significant, decrease of head weight was evident after 24-epibrassinolide application in some variants. Significant increase of marketable heads number and their percentages were noted after 24-epibrassinolide application in optimal moisture conditions – in variant B of 12 261 heads/ha (11.1 %) and in variant C of 16 279 heads/ha (14.7 %) compared with non treated variant A. This trend was not visible in reduced moisture conditions. Increase (nonsignificant) of total marketable yield (in t/ha) was noted after 24-epibrassinolide application. No significant differences were founded among the ascorbic acid contents in each irrigation variant. A higher ascorbic acid content (by approximately 11.9 % in variant C compared with control A) is evident after application of 24-epibrassinolide in the variant with lower levels of irrigation – S. Contrarily, decrease ascorbic acid content is indicated in the optimal levels of irrigation – O (by approximately 16.8 % in variant C compared with control A). The influence of 24-epibrassinolide application on the nitrate content was not significant, but the trend of nitrates decrease in optimal irrigation conditions is evident.

The aim of this paper is to assess the relations between partial components of image of various touristically attractive locations. This research is focused on specific locations in vulnerable areas since the sustainable way of the tourism development concerns them in the highest manner and the touristic pressure on these locations permanently increases. The paper makes effort to extend the usual and nearly traditional understanding of the image in the tourism, which is usually related only to the problems of brand and/or the tourist destination. This is done through a survey realized at 26 selected locations with the aim to obtain 64 completely filled-in questionnaires in each location. Particular statements of respondents concerning the image of the visited location were summarized to the 20 categories. A multidimensional analysis was used to reveal the relations in partial answers. Authors have identified an important number of elements of image of the tourist attractions. By means of the analysis authors have identified differences between historic attractions and nature attractions. However, authors have identified simultaneously both the natural type of the image of the destination and the culture-historical type of image of the destination in all studied locations.