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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a long-acting selenium (Se) preparation administered to sheep. The experiment was conducted on 30 dams and 36 lambs divided into three equal groups of 10 dams and 12 lambs each: Control—C, and two experimental groups—E (Se administered to pregnant ewes) and EI (Se administered directly to lambs after the colostral period). The Se preparation (Barium Selenate Injection, BVP Animal Care, 50 mg/mL) was administered by injection at 1 mL/50 kg (1 mg Se/kg) body weight (BW) to group E ewes in the third month of pregnancy (between 70 and 90 days) and to group EI lambs between 4 and 7 days of age. The following parameters were determined: Se concentration in the blood of ewes, milk yield, milk composition, Se concentration in milk, hematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters and Se concentration in the blood of lambs, growth rate and in vivo measurements of lean meat and fat content in lambs. Barium selenate significantly improved the Se status of dams and lambs, regardless of whether it was administered to pregnant ewes or directly to lambs in the first week of their life. The milk of ewes receiving the Se preparation was characterized by higher concentrations of fat and dry matter. The Se preparation induced significant changes in immunological parameters, thus enhancing defense mechanisms in lambs. The Se preparation exerted more stimulatory effects on humoral and cellular immune responses when administered directly to lambs after the colostral period (group EI) than to pregnant ewes (group E). The results of this study indicate that the long-acting Se preparation delivers benefits to sheep by boosting their immunity and, therefore, improving performance.

Introduction: In the Czech Republic, there is a deficiency of selenium in sheep due to its low level of occurrence in soil, thus in fodder. Selenium deficiency in these animals can manifest in a number of diseases. Therefore, sheep should be supplemented with preparations containing selenium with vitamin E, because Se is closely related to vitamin E, which plays an important role in the immune system. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the selenium status of selected sheep breeds in the Czech Republic and to determine the effect of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on selected hematological, biochemical and enzymatic blood indicators and on reproductive indicators. Material and methods: The research material consisted of sheep, used in the Czech Republic, of three breeds: Šumavka (16), Valaszka (16) and Zwartbles (16). At the 3rd month of gestation, the sheep were injected with sodium selenate with vitamin E. In the blood of sheep, hematological, biochemical and enzymatic parameters were analized, and reproductive indicators of sheep were determined. Results and discussion: The concentration of Se in sheep was quite low at the beginning of the experiment (from 0.145 (AVR group) to 0.219 µmol/l (BZR group) and the highest concentration (1.322 µmol/l I BZR group) on the test III. It was shown in experimental groups that with increasing selenium concentration, GSH-Px activity increased from the lowest level of 53.77 (ASR group) to the highes: 222.88 U/gHb (BZR group). In sheep from experimental groups (ASR, AVR, BZR groups) better fertility was obtained, amounting to 96.3%, 95.5%,89.4%, respectively. Conclusions: In all groups of sheep there was a selenium deficiency. Supplementation turned out to be an effective method of compensating for its deficiency. The proper selenium status ensured better reproductive indicators for sheep.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) on live weight loss and selected blood parameters in goat kids after transportation to the slaughterhouse. The study was performed with goat kids that were weaned at 30 days of age and divided into two groups (GK): a control group and an experimental group whose diet was supplemented with HMB (at 50 mg kg−1 of BW) for 60 consecutive days. At the end of the 90-day rearing period, the animals were fasted for 12 h (with access to water) and were transported to the slaughterhouse in the following morning. Blood for analysis was sampled before transportation (BST1) and after unloading in the slaughterhouse (BST2). The animals were weighed on the same dates to determine live weight loss. Red blood cell counts (RBC), white blood cell counts (WBC), hemoglobin concentration (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), neutrophil to lymphocyte (N:L) ratio, and cortisol and glucose concentrations were determined in the sampled blood. The experimental goat kids were characterized by lower weight loss after transportation. Group of kids and BST did not induce variations in RBC, WBC, HGB, and HCT. Cortisol concentration was affected by both GK and BST. Cortisol levels increased after transportation in both groups, but this parameter was significantly higher in the control than in experimental animals at BST2. Glucose levels and the N:L ratio did not differ significantly between GK, but glucose concentration and the N:L ratio were higher at BST2 than at BST1 in both groups. The experimental goat kids were characterized by lower weight loss and lower cortisol concentration after transportation, which could point to the efficacy of HMB in boosting immunity and alleviating transportation stress in goat kids.

Background A healthy immune system plays a particularly important role in newborns, including in calves that are far more susceptible to infections (viral, bacterial and other) than adult individuals. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of HMB on the chemotactic activity (MIGRATEST® kit), phagocytic activity (PHAGOTEST® kit) and oxidative burst (BURSTTEST® kit) of monocytes and granulocytes in the peripheral blood of calves by flow cytometry. Results An analysis of granulocyte and monocyte chemotactic activity and phagocytic activity revealed significantly higher levels of phagocytic activity in calves administered HMB than in the control group, expressed in terms of the percentage of phagocytising cells and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). HMB also had a positive effect on the oxidative metabolism of monocytes and granulocytes stimulated with PMA (4-phorbol-12-β-myristate-13-acetate) and Escherichia coli bacteria, expressed as MFI values and the percentage of oxidative metabolism. Conclusion HMB stimulates non-specific cell-mediated immunity, which is a very important consideration in newborn calves that are exposed to adverse environmental factors in the first weeks of their life. The supplementation of animal diets with HMB for both preventive and therapeutic purposes can also reduce the use of antibiotics in animal production.

The paper presents the housing wall structure for the digital X-ray flat panel which can operate in extremely low temperature conditions. A technology of three-dimensional printing is proposed for making the detector housing with heat conductors incorporated in its wall structure.

Introduction Food manufacturers compete on the market, introducing innovative products. Functional products, which show a beneficial impact on human health over the one which comes from the basic product component, are becoming increasingly important. Since a few years researchers underline a huge importance of colostrum in this trade. ‘First milk’ is significantly richer in biologically active peptides, immunologic components and growth factors than later milk. Aim In the article an overview of literature concerning the meaning of bovine colostrum in human nutrition and its therapeutic properties was performed. Discussion A vast research which was conducted on animals, as well as in strict laboratory conditions (in vitro, in vivo) confirm clinical benefits of colostrum. A number of analyses is still conducted, which additionally refer to the design of the appropriate dose and time of treatment with colostrum. Colostrum is considered a fully safe substance. To this moment, even with very high doses, very few side effects were noted. The main functions of the colostrum are supplying the organism with essential nutrients which strengthen the immune system, stimulation of the immune system response, maintaining the intestinal microflora and tissue regeneration acceleration. Conclusions Summing up, further use of products based on colostrum both in healthy individuals – prevention, as well as with some diseases is justified. The interest in questioned substance is rising due to vast scientific and clinical research underlining the significance of colostrum in feeding of human beings. Scientists predict that products based on colostrum may play a significant role on the functional products market in the future.

The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of pre-milking teat disinfection on total bacterial contamination of teat skin, and to analyze the effect of pre- and post-milking teat disinfection on somatic cell count in milk. Three groups of cows in five dairy farms were used. The total bacterial contamination on cow teat skin before and after teat disinfection was determined. The number of colony forming units (cfu) was calculated per 1 ml a total for 2700 samples. The most bacteria on teat skin were effectively reduced after pre-milking teats disinfectionm almost in all groups of 5 farms (from 1.1 to 4.5 times). Summarized results showed that the number of bacteria counted on teat skin and milk somatic cell count (SCC) were significantly higher from teats with no pre- and post-milking teat disinfection in comparison with teats with pre- and post-milking teat disinfection or no pre-milking teat disinfection and post-milking teat disinfection only (p≤0.05). Pre-milking teat disinfectant with peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide was effective in reducing total bacterial contamination on cow teat skin. The results also indicate that application with pre- and post-milking teat disinfectants provided an impact on the reduction of SCC in milk. The lowest iodine content was 0.1291 mg L-1 (group T1, whereas the highest was 0.2963 mg L-1). In our research the differences in the iodine content between farms were noted as well. For example, the highest iodine content in milk appeared at FIV farm. Statistical differences appeared at p≤0.05.

Bioinformatics and cheminformatics tools such as databases play an increasingly important role in modern science. They are commonly used in biological and medical sciences and they have many applications in food science. Databases listing biologically active compounds contribute to the design of functional foods and nutraceuticals. Databases of toxic or allergenic compounds are useful for food safety evaluations. This review presents examples of freely available databases (without obligatory registration) listing major groups of bioactive components. The main categories of compounds annotated in online databases include nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, carbohydrates, lipids, and low-molecular-weight compounds. Other categories of database entries are also discussed, including enzymes, allergens and their epitopes, flavor-enhancing compounds, as well as toxic substances. The last section of the review focuses on metabases, which are Web sites that create access to multiple databases.

Introduction Composition and hygienic quality of milk determine its nutritional value and processing suitability. However, biological quality of milk depends on the content of bioactive components, which due to its health promoting properties have a positive effect on human health. Biologically active substances present in cow's milk include proteins, peptides, amino acids, sugars, vitamins, enzymes, sterols, phospholipids and fatty acids. Among these components, several proteins (lactoferrin, β -lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin and casein) that inhibit cancer cell growth, deserve special attention. However, cow's milk contains also approximately 30 potentially allergenic proteins. The most common bovine milk allergens are casein fractions and β -lactoglobulin naturally not present in human breast milk. Aim The aim of this study was to analyze the available literature on the characteristics of cow's milk proteins as allergens that may cause food allergies and identify methods of reducing their immunogenicity. Material and methods On the basis of the available literature characteristics of cow's milk proteins and their effect on the occurrence of food allergy in human are presented. A review of the available methods of modification of animal proteins that may reduce its allergenicity was also conducted. Discussion It is possible to reduce cow's milk allergenicity in the production of dairy products by thermal, enzymatic and biotechnological techniques. The majority of subjects that demonstrate intolerance of bovine milk may safely consume fermented dairy products. Conclusions Prevalence of food allergy is so high that it may be considered a disease of civilization. Therefore, attention should be paid to food technological processes that may eliminate or reduce allergenicity of cow's milk proteins.

Introduction Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in the nutritional value and health benefits of food products of animal origin. Numerous research studies have been undertaken to evaluate the effects of bovine milk, a key dietary component, on human health. Fat is one of the most important components in bovine milk, and its content ranges from 2.8% to 8.1%, subject to the breed of cattle, nutritional aspects, individual characteristics, lactation period, milk production hygiene and season. Aim The aim of this study was to review the latest literature concerning the health effects of components found in bovine milk fat. Materials and methods This paper is a literature review, and it analyzes the composition of bovine milk fat and its effects on human health. The available sources were grouped thematically, and an attempt was made to characterize various milk fat components and their effects on human health. Discussion The unique nutritional value of bovine milk can be attributed to the presence of short-chain fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids which are important sources of energy for the muscles, heart, liver, kidneys, blood platelets and nervous system. They do not pose an obesity risk; they prevent ulcerative colitis, cancer, atherosclerosis and hypertension; they have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, and they boost natural immunity. Milk contains cholesterol, a lipid derivative which stabilizes and stiffens cell membranes, builds the cell cytoskeleton, protects nerve fibers and acts as a precursor of steroid hormones, bile acids and vitamin D 3 . Bovine milk lipids do not exert hypercholesterolemic or atherogenic effects in the human body. Conclusions A growing tendency to replace animal fats, mainly milk fat, with vegetable fats is a matter of concern.

Introduction Civilization-related diseases are defined as diseases encompassing a global range, whose appearance or spreading issues have been largely caused as a result of the advances of modern civilization. Thus, such diseases are also interchangeably termed diseases of the 21st century. Allergy, i.e., an organism's abnormal immune reaction to exposure to an allergen, due to its increasing incidence, especially in developing countries, is occasionally called “an epidemic of the 21st century”. Issues concerning food allergy are significant ones with respect to allergies as such. Aim This work aimed at reviewing the most current literature concerning food allergy. Discussion The incidence of adverse reactions to food varies. Reaction depends on the allergen type, patient's age, type of evaluated mechanism, and local diet. Potentially, each food may cause sensitivity; however, in order for a reaction to occur several conditions must be fulfilled. Allergens are mainly water-soluble glycoproteins ranging in size from 10 kDa to 70 kDa. Cases of allergies caused by smaller particles (approx. 3 kDa) or larger ones (up to 100 kDa) are also known. The increased prevalence of food allergies results from an unfavorable combination of genetic and environmental factors. Conclusions The incidence of food allergies is on the increase. The symptoms are intensified and regress at more advanced ages, whereas diagnostic and treatment complexities place these diseases among civilization-related diseases of the present century.

The study was conducted in the years 2006–2008. The experimental materials comprised 368 Holstein-Friesian cows purchased from Germany as in-calf heifers. The objective of this study was to determine the health status of cows in a commercial herd kept in the Olsztyn region, based on the type and incidence of diseases that occurred during three consecutive lactations, and to analyze the effect of these diseases on milk yield and composition in the first, second and third lactation cycle. The cows were divided into five groups: HEA – clinically healthy cows (showing no disease symptoms), MAS – cows with mastitis, LAM – cows with foot/leg defects and lameness, REP – cows with reproductive problems (retention of the placenta, endometritis, ovarian cysts), MET – cows with metabolic diseases (ketosis, abomasal displacement). It was found that the most common diseases during three consecutive lactations in the investigated herd were endometritis (37.63%) which occurred soon after calving (on day 18 post-partum), mastitis (35.48%), formation of ovarian cysts (10.10%), ketosis (8.39%) and leg/foot defects (6.44%). Retention of the placenta and abomasal displacement were diagnosed much less frequently (1.62% and 0.34% respectively). The percentage of healthy cows decreased in successive lactations (19.81% in the first lactation, 12.28% in the second lactation, 6.22% in the third lactation). During each lactation, more than one third of cows suffered from mastitis. The proportion of cows showing the symptoms of ketosis increased with age, from 5.12% in the first lactation to 12.23% in the third lactation. The highest yields of milk and milk components over a 305-day lactation cycle were noted in cows with reproductive diseases (ROZ). Foot/led defects and lameness (LAM), mastitis (MAS) and metabolic diseases (MET) had the most significant effect on a decrease in milk production.