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The primary objective of this research was to evaluate boar ejaculate variability and the occurrence of anomalies in spermatozoa, considering climatic factors during spermatogenesis breed, and utilization frequency. This study involved 17 boars (n=129 ejaculates) and fertility testing was conducted during the most critical period of the year, from August to October. The observed sperm characteristics included: ejaculate volume (VOL), sperm concentration (CON, spermatozoa/ml), total number and number of functional spermatozoa (NT, NF), percentage of sperm motility in the native ejaculate and after dilution (MOTN, MOTD), number of produced doses (NPD), percentage of dead and live spermatozoa (PM, PZ), and sperm anomalies. The assessment of the effect was performed using a General Linear Model procedure. The breed did not influence sperm variability, while the frequency of boar utilization impacted on the occurrence of secondary anomalies. The determined regression coefficient indicated that extending the interval by one day increased PPPK by 0.340-0.348%. The maximum daily temperature during semen collection (model 1) and the value of the TH index during semen collection (model 3) influenced ejaculate volume. An increase of one ℃ in temperature, or one unit in THI value, led to a (p

This study aims to explain the variability in organizational commitment by examining a range of individual and organizational factors. The predictors include personality traits from the HEXACO model, organizational orientations, subjective wellbeing, perceived employment uncertainty, duration of employment, and income satisfaction. The sample consisted of 1,127 employees, with 49.4% from the private sector and 50.6% from the public/state-owned sector. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the models were statistically significant for both sectors. Public sector employees demonstrated higher levels of continuance commitment, likely due to job security, while private sector employees exhibited higher levels of affective and normative commitment. The model accounted for 51.8% of the variance in organizational commitment for public sector employees and 39.2% for private sector employees. These findings underscore the distinct commitment patterns between sectors and emphasize the role of both dispositional and contextual factors in shaping organizational commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trial was conducted on 108 piglets of crossbreeds Landrace x Large White. Aim of this study was to determine influence of this aroma on production parameters of growing pigs. Whole trial was in total 57 days, and it was split in three trial periods. Piglets were weaned on day 27, when the trial started. First trial period was 18 days (27-44 day), second was 28 days (45-72 day) and third was 11 days (73-83 day). The control groups received standard farm mixtures, and the trial groups had added aroma Vanilla Sweet in different concentrations (0.02; 0.04%, respectively). During the first period, there was statistical difference (p

The study of the production traits of 22 genotypes of fattening pigs was carried out on two pig farms (Farm A and Farm B) in Central Serbia, under the influence of the following factors: farm, genotype and sex of fattening pigs, and pre-slaughter weight. The characteristics of fattening animals included in the research are: warm carcass side growth (WCSG); bacon thickness - rump (FTR); bacon thickness - back (FTB); bacon thickness - rump + back (FTRB); meat yield - carcass sides (JUSKG) and meat yield in percentage (JUSPRO), as well as weight and ratio of French dressing in warm carcass sides (FDKG and FDPRO). Animals of both sexes were used in the trial (female non-castrated rats and surgically castrated males). Total of 1166 fattening animals were included in the trials. Statistical data processing was performed using the Harvey software package. All included factors in the used models show a highly statistically significant effect on the variation of fattening traits (P

Background/Aim. There is a reduction of the psoas muscle with aging, and histopathological analysis (HPA) on postmortem material also shows its significant changes with advancing age. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and distribution of types I and II muscle fibers in the human psoas muscle in individuals of different ages and genders. Methods. The material consisted of tissue samples of the right iliopsoas muscle taken from 30 adult cadavers (18 males and 12 females), aged from 30 to 90 years, divided into three age groups. The material was obtained from the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Serbia. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used in the H PA of muscle cells. Results. The values of astereological parameters (area, perimeter, and Feret's diameter) of type I and type II muscle fibers were greater in male cases in comparison with female ones, although with no statistically significant difference. Based on the histochemical and morphometric analysis, it was concluded that, after 70 years of life, a loss of type II muscle fibers occurred, which was more conspicuous in female cases. Conclusion. During aging, the loss of type II muscle fibers, as well as the atrophy of type I and type II muscle fibers, demonstrate similar dynamics in both genders.

Background: The relationship between motor coordination and physical fitness in preschool children is of significant interest due to its implications for overall health and development. This study aims to investigate the correlation between gross motor coordination, as assessed by the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK), and health-related physical fitness components. Methods: A cross-sectional study, involving 139 preschool-aged children, was conducted. Physical fitness was assessed using the PREFIT fitness test battery, which includes measures of flexibility, muscular strength, speed/agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Motor coordination was evaluated using the KTK test, comprising four subtests. Results: Pearson correlation analysis revealed weak to strong positive and negative correlations between motor coordination and various physical fitness measures, including flexibility (r = 0.402; p = 0.01), muscular strength (r = 0.178; r = 0.487; r = 0.601; p < 0.05), speed/agility (r = −0.742; p = 0.01), and endurance (r = 0.539; p = 0.01). Additionally, hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated significant influence of motor coordination on physical fitness, explaining a notable percentage of the variance across different fitness components (3.2–55%). Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of motor coordination in shaping physical fitness levels in preschool children. Promoting motor coordination skills early in childhood may have long-term benefits for overall health and fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the use of fish meal in the nutrition of weaning piglets were observed. The trial included 80 weaned piglets of the same genotype (Large White x Danish Landrace) distributed in two feeding treatments. In the first period of the experiment, animals were fed during 10 feeding days, with a pre-starter mixture containing 21.1/20.8% of the crude protein. The second period lasted for 25 days and piglets were fed with mixture containing also 21.0/21.1% of the crude protein. And in the final period of the experiment, which lasted 22 feeding days, the meals were formulated to contain 19.5/19.9% of the crude protein. The control group was fed with standard farm mixtures, while the trial group were fed with mixtures containing 4/3/2% of fish meal. The obtained results showed that the use of fish meal resulted in better average daily gain and feed conversion in starter period (27-51 day).

The main objective of the study was to determine the influence of breed on the traits of boar ejaculate: ejaculate volume (VOL, ml), sperm concentration (CON, x106 sperm/ml), total sperm count in ejaculate (TNS, x109 spermatozoa), sperm motility in native ejaculate (MON, %), sperm motility after dilution (MOD, %) and number of doses produced (NPD). The aim was also to evaluate the correlation of the boar performance test traits: average life daily gain (g), backfat thickness measured in two locations (mm), depth of longissimus dorsi muscle (mm) and carcass meat content (%) with ejaculate traits. Total of 931 ejaculates of 36 boars during reproductive exploitation were analysed (16 Landrace boars and 20 Large White boars). The effect was assessed using the procedure of the general linear model of the statistical package SAS 9.1.3 (SAS Inst. Inc., 2002-2003). The model for analysis included the influence of breed, season and the linear regression influence of body weight at the end of the performance test. The correlation of the traits was determined by applying the Pearson's correlation coefficient. Most of the examined ejaculate traits (VOL, CON, MOD and NPD) varied under the influence of boar breed (p

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the applied method of the quality carcass in 201 descendants, both sexes (n=108 male castrated animals and n=93 females), of studied boar-sires. For the determination of the meat yield (JUS1) and the share of meat (JUS 2) in carcass sides, on the basis of the performed measurements, tables for meat pigs, which are an integral part of the Rulebook on the quality of slaughtered pigs and categorization of pork meat (OG SFRY, 1985), were used. Share of meat (EC 94 and EC 06) was determined on cooled left carcass sides by method of partial dissection (according to methodology recommended by EU-Walstra and Merkus, 1996). Research was carried out on pig farm and in experimental slaughterhouse of the Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun. Housing, care and nutrition of animals were in accordance to breeding technology in investigated herd. The average share of meat determined by the application of the Rulebook (JUS2) was 43.58% with a lower absolute variation compared to the EU regulation from 1994 (EC 94; 53.56%) and from 2006 (EC 06; 56.55%). The estimated lean meat content by the application of the Rulebook (JUS 2) was by 9.98% lower compared to the EC 94 regulation and by 12.97% lower compared to EC 06. If we are talking about the selection of offspring for breeding, if we consider only the estimated leanness, we see that within the Landrace (L) breed we have high and very significant (P

The objective of this research paper was to estimate heritability coefficients (heritability) of growth traits in the lambs of indigenous Sjenicka Pramenka breed. The research was conducted on a sample which included 421 lambs the descendants of 15 sires and 187 sheep-dams, raised on 3 private farms in Kolubarski district, Serbia. The effect of fixed factors was studied while the values of heritability coefficients were estimated within the frame of SAS software package. A statistically highly significant (**=P

The effects of the use of antibiotics and garlic powder in the nutrition of weaning piglets were compared. The trial included 120 weaned piglets of the same genotype (Large White) distributed in three feeding treatments. In the first study period (day 27-56), a feed mixture with 20% protein was used, while in the second period (day 57-84), a mixture with 18% protein. The control group was fed with mixtures containing antibiotics in the amount of 0.2%, while the two experimental groups were fed with mixtures containing fermented garlic powder (FGP) in the concentration of 0.05% and 0.2%. The obtained results showed that the use of FGP, instead of antibiotics, resulted in better gain in second trial group, and also better feed conversion ratio, in both trial groups by 3.84% and 6.93% respectively, during the entire research period.

In the present study, the aim was to determine the impact of the following factors: age, farm, and gilt genotype, as well as the regression impact of body weight at the end of the performance test on the following tested properties: age at the end of the test/final age (FA), lifetime daily gain (LDG), the backfat thickness measured in two places (according to the Main Breeding program for Central Serbia), the depth of the long back muscle (BM) and the estimated lean meat content/meatiness (M). The study included two farms of pigs (farm 1 and farm 2), for three consecutive years (year 1, year 2 and year 3). The number of tested heads per year was 974 (year 1), 1311 (year 2) and 757 (year 3). The tested gilts were of Swedish Landrace, Large White and Duroc breeds. The gilts originated from 97 sires, while the number of daughters per sires ranged from 10 to 100. The results show that the Duroc animals were the oldest (245 days), which had the highest values for both measures of backfat thickness, but the lowest values for meatiness. In the third study year, the lowest average values were determined for the properties of the LDG, BM and M. The female animals from the farm 1 showed less growth/gain and had lower values for the estimated meatiness. As a result of the study, it was established that all included factors had a very high statistically significant influence on the variation of the tested properties (P

On the territory of the Mačva and Braničevo region, reproductive properties for 1902 litters were monitored in 6 pig genotypes: Swedish Landrace (SL), Large White (LW) and crosses - SL x LW, LW x SL, German Landrace (GL) x LW and LW x GL. The following parameters were observed: number of live-born piglets in the litter, number of stillborn piglets in the litter, number of piglets reared per litter, duration of lactation (days), and litter mass at weaning (kg). All sows were reared on medium size and large farms (from 20 to 120 sows). The highest number of live-born piglets was determined for LW genotype (12.39), as well as the highest number of piglets reared per litter (11.32), while the highest number of stillborn piglets was found in sows SL x LW and GL x LW (0.50). The lactation duration was the highest in genotype LW x SL (34 days), while the greatest mass of the litter was determined in sows of the LW genotype - 93.42kg. Observing the region as a factor, it was found that all investigated parameters vary statistically significant (P

Good rearing conditions are the key factor for health and welfare of calves. Diarrhea, respiratory and navel infections are commonly referred to as the most common health problems in calves. The aim of this study was an observation of rearing conditions and the occurrence of the most common health problems in calves on small rural farms in Danube Region of Serbia. Data were colected from 30 farms by surveying the farmers. The questionary consisted of 75 questions pertaining to the following: general information on the farm, and on calving, nutrition, weaning, housing, hygiene of space for cows and calves, on calf diseases and diseases prevention measures. According to the answers, the average number of all categories of cattle at the fams is 18 heads. Calves are separated from their mothers immediately after birth at 67% farms. They receive colostrum up to two hours after birth at 47% of the farms and immediately after birth at 20% of the farms. Average age of calves at weaning is 13 weeks. Calves begin to use hay usually between the 1 st and 2 nd week of life, and a concentrated feed in 2 nd week. They are held in different types of pens. Farmers specified diarrhea and respiratory diseases as the most common health problems in calves. Rearing conditions at the farms often do not meet the recommendations and the breeders do not implement all of the necessary preventive measures. Corrections in this regard could contribute to better health of calves.

The research aimed to investigate whether alterations in the measurement protocol, accounting for dehydration, resulted in variations in body composition parameters among participants with different weekly training frequencies. The sample consited of ninety healthy participants categorized into three subgroups; the first group (n=28, body height 172.13±9.12 cm, body weight 67.05±11.38 kg) included students with low levels of weekly PA, the second group (n=35, body height 172.93±7.76 cm, body weight 67.53±9.06 kg) consisted of students whith medium level of PA, and the third group (n=27, body height 175.87±9.27 cm, body weight 71.14±11.58 kg) comprised students with high weekly training frequencies. Using the body composition analyzer, InBody770, various morphological characteristics were measured, including Body Height (BH), Body Weight (BW), Body Mass Index (BMI), Percent Body Fat (PBF%), Body Fat Mass (BFMkg), Fat Free Mass (FFM), Total Body Water (TBW), Intracellular Water (ICW), Extracellular Water (ECW), Proteins (PROT), Minerals (MNRL), Soft Lean Mass (SLM), Skeletal Muscle Mass (SMM), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), Visceral Fat Level (VFL), Visceral Fat Area (VFA), and Obesity Degree (OD). It can be detected that there is generally no significant difference between the initial and final measurements within the variables describing body composition. Additionally, when analyzing the effect size on the overall sample, it was found to be insignificant in almost all variables, except for the following parameters: Body Fat Mass (ES=.28); Body Mass Index (ES=.21); Percent Body Fat (ES=.21); Visceral Fat Level (ES=.24); Visceral Fat Area (ES=.26); Obesity Degree (ES=.22). The results of this study, following the water intake treatment, revealed a notable overall difference in body composition parameters. However, upon closer examination by group, it becomes evident that a statistically significant difference is particularly pronounced in individuals with a high exercise frequency (Group III), indicating their body's efficient capacity for rapid water absorption into various body composition parameters. These findings underscore the critical importance of adhering to the prescribed protocol when diagnosing body composition using the InBody 770 device, particularly among highly trained individuals.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With this study we aimed to investigate the impact of a 12-week manipulative skills exercise programme on the motor proficiency of young individuals with intellectual disabilities. A total of 32 learners diagnosed with mild intellectual disabilities, with an average age of 17.81 ± 1.44 years, were divided into 2 equal-sized groups: a control group and an experimental group engaged in a manipulative skills intervention programme. Motor proficiency was assessed using the short form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT™-2), while the participants' coordination level was evaluated using the Body Coordination composite of the BOT™-2. Results show that the manipulative skills intervention programme led to significant improvements in the experimental group's total motor proficiency score on the short form BOT™-2 (45.31 ± 12.01 vs. 37.12 ± 7.00, ANCOVA: F = 48.65, p = 0.00) as well as the Body Coordination composite (42.69 ± 11.31 vs. 39.84 ± 11.75, ANCOVA: F = 44.35, p = 0.00). These findings suggest that the experimental exercise programme had a positive effect on enhancing the motor proficiency of young individuals with mild intellectual disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Proper posture, characterized by the appropriate alignment of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar segments of the spine, enables these regions to maintain their normal curvature. Body composition is recognized as one of the factors that can influence overall postural alignment of the spine. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of the parameters of body composition on the prevalence of postural disorders in the sagittal plane. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 152 children of both genders (78 boys), at a mean age of 11 years ± 6 months. In order to evaluate postural disorders, the Formetric 4D System, a tool manufactured by Diers, Schlangenbad, Germany was used. Based on its output data, the following variables were obtained: hyperkyphosis, hyperlordosis, kypholordosis, flatback, and normal alignment of the body in the sagittal plane. The evaluation of body composition parameters was conducted using the InBody 770 device. To determine how body composition influences the postural status of the spinal column, a discriminant analysis was employed. The results showed that approximately 65.8% of children exhibit various types of postural disorders when assessing the alignment of the spine in the sagittal plane. The most prevalent disorder observed was hyperkyphosis, affecting 34.2% of the subjects, followed by kypholordosis at 16.4%. Moreover, the results demonstrated that body composition significantly influences body posture (p = 0.004). An increase in fat mass corresponds to a deviation from normal body posture, whereas an increase in the percentage of skeletal muscle mass and fat-free mass is associated with a reduction in postural abnormalities in the sagittal plane. Considering the results, it is clear that body composition parameters serve as more reliable predictors of the influence on body posture compared to simply calculating the body mass index. Furthermore, it can be concluded that there are consistent patterns of influence by specific body composition parameters, including fat mass, percentage of skeletal muscle, and fat-free mass, on body posture among children from various climates. These results underscore the significance of implementing strength exercises in children, particularly during periods of rapid growth and development, as a means of preventing and correcting postural disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]