Search

The slaughter value of live cattle can be assessed during visual conformation scoring, as well as by examining different molecular genetic information, e.g., the myostatin gene, which can be responsible for muscle development. In this study, the F94L, Q204X, nt267, nt324 and nt414 alleles of the myostatin gene (MSTN) were examined in relation to birth weight (BIW), calving ease (CAE), 205-day weaning weight (CWW), muscle score of shoulder (MSS), muscle score of back (MSB), muscle score of thigh (MST), roundness score of thigh (RST), loin thickness score (LTS), and overall muscle development percentage (OMP) of Charolais weaned calves in Hungary. Multi-trait analysis of variance (GLM) and weighted linear regression analysis were used to process the data. Calves carrying the Q204X allele in the heterozygous form achieved approximately 0.14 points higher MSB, MST and LTS, and 1.2% higher OMP, and gained 8.56 kg more CWW than their counterparts not carrying the allele (p < 0.05). As for the F94L allele, there was a difference of 4.08 kg in CWW of the heterozygous animals, but this difference could not be proved statistically. The other alleles had no significant effect on the evaluated traits.

The slaughter value of live animals can be assessed during visual conformation scoring, as well as by examining different molecular genetic information, e.g. myostatin gene, which can be re-sponsible for muscle development. In this study F94L, Q204X, nt267, nt324 and nt414 alleles of the myostatin gene were examined in relation to birth weight (BIW), calving ease (CAE), 205-day weaning weight (CWW), muscle score of shoulder (MSS), muscle score of back (MSB), muscle score of thigh (MST), roundness score of thigh (RST), loin thickness score (LTS), and overall muscle development percentage (OMP) of Charolais weaned calves in Hungary. Multi-trait analysis of variance (GLM) and weighted linear regression analysis were used to process the data. Calves carrying the Q204X allele in heterozygous form achieved approximately 0.14 points higher MSB, MST and LTS and 1.2% higher OMP and gained 8.56 kg more CWW than their counterparts not carrying the allele (p

Ecology and life characteristics of overwintering larvae of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) (Lep.: Crambidea) are partly unexplored due to their hidden lifestyle. In plant protection research the best way to study these phenomena is to apply less used, non-destructive, in vivo methods. The objective of our CT survey was to examine the factors influencing the location of the overwintering O. nubilalis larvae in maize stalks. The findings obtained by CT-analysis can be used for monitoring the presence and location of O. nubilalis larvae in the stalk, as well as both their displacement and movement. Our results showed that both the location and the distance from the brace root of O. nubilalis larvae were significantly influenced by the sampling time, the number of larvae per plant, the stalk diameter and finally the prevailing temperature. The location of the larvae situated nearest to the brace roots (first larvae) was significantly lower in stalks containing several larvae, than those where only a single larva was found in the stalk. The thickness of stalks was related to the simultaneous presence of more larvae, and to the ground level position of the first larvae. These overwintering larvae were located closer to the brace root (and to the soil), possibly because of having moved downwards inside the stalk, where the temperature is slightly milder than in the upper part of the stalk.

The impact of supplementation of vitamin E or organic selenium in DDGS (dried distillers grains with solubles) diet on fatty acid composition in two meat cuts of finishing Holstein bulls was investigated. Twenty-four Holstein bulls were allotted to treatments in three groups of eight bulls per group for a 100-day trial. The treatments were adequate Se and vitamin E supplementation in control group (C), supranutritional vitamin E supplementation in vitamin Group E (E), supranutritional Se supplementation in selenium group (Se). At similar age, slaughtering Group C had higher slaughter/carcass weight and EUROP fat score than Se counterparts. The killing out percentage and proximate composition of muscles differed among treatments. Inclusion of the vitamin E or Se supplement led to expected increases (P < 0.05) in vitamin E and Se contents of the brisket and loin. Higher vitamin E concentration caused significant lower SFA and greater PUFA. Higher Se level influenced significant SFA in brisket and PUFA in both muscles. Vitamin E or Se dietary treatments in DDGS-supplemented diet resulted in beef meat cuts considerably beneficial PUFA/SFA but markedly higher n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio and even higher health index in both meat samples opposite to Group C.

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the breeding value of fertility (BVF) and the breeding value of beef (BVB) in Hungarian Simmental cattle. Genotypes were determined on a high-density Illumina Bovine DNA Chip. Data screening and data identification were performed by multi-locus mixed-model. Statistical analyses were carried out to find associations between individual genotypes and the investigated quality values. Three loci showed considerable association with BVF (–log10 P = 9.5, 9.9 and 14.5, respectively) on chromosomes 9, 28 and 29, respectively. The frequencies of their minor alleles (MAF) were 0.375, 0.355 and 0.354, respectively. Two loci showed association with BVB (–log10 P = 25.3 and 22.7) on chromosomes 2 and 11, respectively (their MAF were 0.438 and 0.229). The abovementioned loci provide a straightforward possibility to assist selection by molecular tools.

In total, 30 Hungarian Simmental bulls were reared to 300.07 ± 43.78 kg initial live weight and 274.57 ± 19.73 d of age. Animals were distributed into three feeding groups with different maize silage to concentrate ratios (670 : 330 = F/ HC; 750 : 250 = F/ LC 1; 800 : 200 = F/ LC 2) based on dry matter. The low concentrate groups (F/ LC 1 and F/ LC 2) received linseed supplemented concentrate during the fattening period. Feeding high concentrate (F/ HC) caused the significantly highest daily gain. The slaughter weights, dressing (%), lean (%) and fat (%) did not show any significant differences between feeding groups. Carcass conformation of all groups was assessed mainly as U. Bulls of group F/ LC 2 had the lowest amount of kidney fat. Bone proportion of the carcasses was affected by the diet (F/ HC: 18.65 %; F/ LC 1: 18.41 %; F/ LC 2: 17.91 %). The tendon proportions were lower in groups F/ LC 1 and F/ LC 2 but not significantly (F/ HC: 1.15 %; F/ LC 1: 1.1 %; F/ LC 2: 1.08 %). The intramuscular fat content varied between the three muscles investigated. Psoas major muscle contained the highest fat concentration in all three feeding groups. The mineral content of muscles (iron [Fe], copper [Cu], zinc [Zn]) was only affected by muscle type, but not by diet. In linseed supplemented groups (F/ LC 1 and F/ LC 2) the palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid proportion was decreased (P

Title of the paper: Effect of feeding on the fatty acid composition of different fatty tissues of Hungarian Grey and Holstein Friesian bulls. II. 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) investigations In this attempt the relaxation times using 1H-NMR spectroscopy from three different (subcutaneous, perinephric and internal fat) fat depots of Hungarian Grey and Holstein Friesian extensive or intensive fattened young bulls were measured. The relaxation properties were compared with the analysis of fatty acid compostion. The different diets and the sample location have a higher influence on the relaxation times than the breed. In fat samples from extensive groups the T1-relaxation time was longer, while the T2-relaxation time was significantly shorter in intensive fed groups. The T2-relaxation time, as well as the relaxation time of T21- und T22-components were the shortest in extensive fed animals, while the proportion of T21-component was the highest in kidney fat, furthermore the difference was statistics proved. The T2-relaxation time showed a close negative relationship with the ratio of saturated fatty acids (SFA). The ratio of v21 and v22 depends on chemical composition of fat samples. In fat tissues with a high SFA percentage caused a higher proportion of v21. It is suggested that differences in fatty acid compositon of fat samples caused also alteration in the relaxation time.

The objective of the trial is to compare fattening performance, slaughter results and meat quality of bulls from international cattle breeds with local Hungarian breeds fattened under the same conditions. Altogether 62 growing bulls – Angus, Charolais, Holstein, Hungarian Grey, Hungarian Simmental, Charolais × Hungarian Grey – were fattened in small groups. The daily gain varied from 897 (Hungarian Grey) to 1 240 g/day (Angus). In general, the lower gain value is caused by the semi-intensive fattening system with low concentrate supplementation. The slaughter weight showed a similar tendency as final weight, there was a significant difference between Angus and Hungarian Grey. The killing out of Charolais (59.50 %), Angus (56.80 %) and Hungarian Simmental (57.84 %) was significantly higher than Hungarian Grey (55.13 %) and Holstein (55.03 %). Due to Charolais crossing the dressing percentage of Hungarian Grey was developed by about 1.5 %. The EU conformation scores of Charolais (9.50) and Hungarian Simmental (9.33) and the fatness scores of Angus (8.33) and Charolais × Hungarian Grey (7.33) were significantly higher than that of the other genotypes. The tissue composition of dissected carcass as well as ribs joint composition determined by X-ray computerised tomography method showed the lean meat of Hungarian Simmental and bone proportions of Holstein to be the highest, whilst Angus had the highest fat content. Charolais und Hungarian Simmental had significant higher longissimus muscle area in ribs joint compared to Angus, Holstein and Charolais × Hungarian Grey. Angus and Hungarian Grey had the highest intramuscular fat level of the three examined muscles.

In this experiment the effect of the extensive diet (grass/grass silage and concentrate linseed supplemented) versus intensive diet (maize silage and concentrate) on the amino acid composition and mineral content of Hungarian Grey and Hungarian Holstein Friesian young bulls was analysed. In addition the relationships between fatty acid profile and amino acid composition as well as mineral content of longissimus muscle were investigated. The extensive diet caused some changes in the proportion of some amino acids including isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, cysteine, glycine, proline, serine and ammonia. The breed influenced only the histidine concentration of longissimus muscle. In extensive groups arginine to glycine and arginine to leucine ratios were higher compared to intensive fed bulls. The mineral composition of longissimus muscle was mainly influenced by diet and there was a breed x diet interaction, whereas breed differences were detected for calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na). The phosphorus (P) and the iron (Fe) content in longissimus muscle of extensively fed animals were significantly higher, whereas Na and copper (Cu) content were lower. The beef of Hungarian Grey bulls contained less Ca and Na compared to Holstein counterparts. Cysteine and leucine concentration were positively correlated to intramuscular fat content and negatively with n-3 and n-6 fatty acids (FA). Among minerals the P and Fe content correlated negatively to intramuscular fat content. The closest correlations were determined between P and linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) as well as nn-6 and n-3 fatty acid ratio in extensive groups occured simultaneously with higher proline, valine, phenylalanine, P, and with lower glycine, cystine, leucine and sodium proportion in longissimus muscle.

Until the middle of the last century, selenium was considered to be toxic, but recently it turned out to be a micronutrient with important physiological effects, whose lack impedes the functioning of several enzymes, while in the case of a prolonged deficiency, disease processes can also occur in the body. Hungary belongs to the selenium-deficient regions in Europe; therefore, our aim was to contribute to the improvement of selenium supply of the population through increasing the selenium content of milk and dairy products. A daily supplementation of 1-6 mg organic selenium to the feed of dairy cows increases the selenium content of milk from the value of 18 μg/kg to 94 μg/kg in 8 weeks, decreasing again to the initial value in 6 weeks after stopping the supplementation. After producing various products from the control milk (18 μg/kg selenium content) and the selenium-enriched milk (53 μg/kg) obtained from dairy cattle fed on a feed supplemented with 2 mg selenium/day, we concluded that the selenium content of selenium-enriched milk compared to the products produced from the control milk increased from the value of 18.6 to 58.5 μg/kg in the case of yogurt, from 66.0 to 138.1 μg/kg in the case of telemea, from 80.8 to 163.7 μg/kg in the case of orda (urdă) and from 88.6 to 200.0 μg/kg in the case of semi-hard cheese obtained by mixed-coagulation. The selenium content of whey also increased significantly (from 8.8-9.7 μg/kg to 20.1-25.8 μg/kg), which could also be used as a food for people or feed for animals. According to our calculations, the selenium requirements of the developing organism could be satisfied by the consumption of 2-3 dl selenium-enriched milk until the age of 8 and with 4-6 dl selenium-enriched milk until the age of 20.

Objective To estimate effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms on the intramuscular fat content (IMF) of Hungarian Simmental bulls. Methods Genotypes were determined on high-density Illumina Bovine DNA Chip. After slaughtering of animals, chemical percentage of intramuscular fat was determined from longissimus dorsi muscle. A multi-locus mixed-model was applied for statistical analyses. Results Analyses revealed four loci (rs43284251, rs109210955, rs41630030, and rs41642251) to be highly associated (-log10P>12) with IMF located on chromosome 1, 6, 13, and 17, respectively. The frequency of their minor alleles was 0.426, 0.221, 0.162, and 0.106. Conclusion The loci above can be useful in selection programs and gives the possibility to assist selection by molecular tools.

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of acylCoA-diacylglycerol-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), leptin and thyroglobulin (TG) loci on the milk fat, milk protein and milk yield in Holstein Friesian, Jersey and Hungarian Simmental cows. Leptin and DGAT1 genotypes were determined by qPCR assay, while TG genotypes were identified using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP). DGAT1 GC/GC cows had the highest 305-day milk yield values. Difference between AA/AA and GC/GC genotypes was significant (P

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of leptin, thyroglobulin (TG) and acylCoA-diacylglycerol-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) loci and linoleic acid supplemented diet on the marbling of meat in the Hungarian Angus population. All genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) assay. At leptin and TG loci TT bulls showed the highest fat percentage values in the musculus longissimus dorsi ( LD ) and musculus semitendinosus ( ST ), the difference between CC and TT genotypes was significant ( p p p

The aim of this series of experiments was to examine the opportunity for application of X-ray computer tomography (CT) in cattle production. Firstly, tissue composition of M. longissimus dorsi (LD) cuts between the 11-13 th ribs (in Exp 1. between the 9-11 th ribs), was determined by CT and correlated with tissue composition of intact half carcasses prior to dissection and tissue separation. Altogether, 207 animals of different breeds and genders were used in the study. In Exp. 2 and 3, samples were taken from LD cuts, dissected and chemical composition of muscle homogenates was analysed by conventional procedures. Correlation coefficients were calculated among slaughter records, tissues in whole carcasses and tissue composition of rib samples. Results indicated that tissue composition of rib samples determined by CT closely correlated with tissue composition results by dissection of whole carcasses. The findings revealed that figures obtained by CT correlate well with the dissection results of entire carcasses (meat, bone, fat). Close three- way coefficients of correlation (r = 0.80-0.97) were calculated among rib eye area, volume of cut, pixel-sum of adipose tissue determined by CT and intramuscular fat or adipose tissue in entire carcasses. Estimation of tissue composition of carcasses using equations including only CT-data as independent variables proved to be less reliable in prediction of lean meat and bone in carcass (R 2 = 0.51-0.86) than for fat (R 2 = 0.83-0.89). However, when cold half carcass weight was also included in the equation, the coefficient of determination exceeded R 2 = 0.90. In Exp. 3 tissue composition of rib samples by CT were compared to the results of EUROP carcass

Title of the paper: Effect of feeding on the composition of the intramuscular fat in longissimus muscle and different fatty tissues of Hungarian Grey and Holstein Friesian bulls. 1. Fatty acid profile The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of nutrition, genotype and nutrition x genotype interaction on the fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat from longissimus dorsi muscle and different fat deposits using Hungarian Grey cattle bulls (HG) in comparison to Holstein Friesian bulls (HF) kept under extensive and intensive conditions. The extensive group was kept on pasture and was fed a concentrate supplemented with linseed meal in the last month of the trial. The extensive diet influenced the linoleic and linolenic acid ratio and the CLA content of longissimus muscle more advantageous concerning human nutrition. The meat from HG contained more CLA and less n-6 fatty acids also in case of the intensive diet than that of HF bulls. In the fat deposits from HF the PUFA mainly the linoleic acid was in a significant higher proportion available, however in the fat deposits of HG was the percentage of linol- and linolenic acid favourable. The extensive nutrition resulted in a lower linoleic acid and a higher linolenic acid content in both breeds and all three fat deposits. The PUFA content in the fat samples was altered contrary in both analysed breeds because of the different diet. In case of the extensive UG was the PUFA higher in all three fat deposits. In conclusion, the fatty acid composition of beef can be modified favourably by extensive feeding and concentrate which is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, however the beef of Hungarian Grey has a more wholesome influence on human health, than that of Holstein-Friesian bulls.

Title of the paper: Influence of feeding on fattening performance and carcass quality of young Hungarian Grey and Holstein Friesian bulls The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of nutrition, genotype and nutrition x genotype interaction on growth performance and carcass quality using Hungarian Grey cattle bulls (HG) in comparison to Holstein Friesian bulls (HF) kept under extensive and intensive conditions. In groups extensive and intensive days on feed lasted for 221 and 201, respectively. Higher relative growth rate was recorded in Hungarian Grey than Holstein Friesian in extensively fed group and higher final weights were recorded in intensive groups compared to extensive groups. Differences between genotypes were not different. Carcass weight and length, amount of perinephric and trimmed fat were higher in intensive groups as well. Higher lean meat content in carcass was measured in Hungarian Grey breed. For treatments extensive and intensive means were 71,0 % and 67,5%, respectively. The ratio of bone in carcass varied in line with the four feet percentage and weight. Similarly to the ratio of perinephric and trimmed fat, the amount of fat in carcass was lower in extensively fed groups, which proves the varied effect of different feeding. The tissue composition of carcass can be analysed by Computer-Tomography (CT) - examination of prime rib samples. These results are more representative as the EUROP-classification of evaluation for carcass quality. Findings reveal that considerations on the utilization of the native HG breed on development of novel beef cattle production systems especially on roughage-based diets seems to be justified.