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The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of high iodine intake in ewes on haematological and biochemical parameters of the blood of ewes and their lambs. Twelve pregnant ewes of the Sumava sheep breed and their newborn lambs were included in the experiment. Control group (A) consisted of 6 ewes with 7 lambs and experimental group (B) comprised 6 ewes with 6 lambs. The feed ration was enriched with calcium iodate by addition of 3 and 5 mg/kg in group A and group B, respectively. The studied parameters in ewes and lambs were haematocrit value, red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration in blood, concentration of urea and total proteins, and alkaline phosphatase activity in blood plasma. No differences were found out in haematocrit value, red blood cell count, concentration of haemoglobin and total proteins between groups of ewes A and B with their lambs. Urea concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity were higher in ewes of group B and their lambs during the entire experimental period. An increase in the values of urea and alkaline phosphatase in the group of ewes and lambs with higher iodine intake indicates a potential risk of high iodine intake associated with changes in the thyroid activity in ewes and their lambs.

The aim of this paper was to find out what the system of the technical solution to housing for calf breeding is the most suitable from the point of view of welfare. There were compared four basic types. We focused on the comparison behavior of stabled calves like a lying and eating time. These behavior were observed in all four seasons. At the same time we observed some microclimatic conditions. We focused on the cooling value that refers to the thermal comfort of stabled animals. With a comprehensive examination of all collected and measured values can be recommended to prioritize individual outdoor sheds under shelter and calf house from lightweight steel construction, according to actual economic situation of breeders.

In 2010 and 2011 two experiments on gimmers of Šumava mountain sheep were performed. The first experiment was carried out on 12 animals (experimental period was 11 months); control group was fed with 3 mg I*kg−1 in dry matter per day and experimental group was fed with 5 mg I*kg−1 in dry matter per day. The second experiment lasted 10 months and it was carried out on 12 animals. Feed ration for control group contained 10 mg I*kg DM−1. Feed ration for experimental group contained 10 mg I*kg DM−1 too; moreover it included rapeseed meal and 1 g of sodium nitrate. The aim of the first experiment was focused on impact of high iodine intake on structure of thyroid gland. The aim of the second experiment was to discover effect of strumigens during high iodine intake on structure of thyroid gland. The animals were slaughtered after the experiment and there was executed the dissection of thyroid gland. The samples of thyroid gland were processed during classic paraffin method and dyed with haematoxylin and eosin. For finding of histometrical parameters was used program Leica IM 500 Version 4.0. The length, the width and the area of follicles were measured. The follicles were divided into three groups after this procedure (by the length); in each group were measured 20 thyreocytes. In group with intake 5 mg I*kg DM−1 (experiment from year 2010): higher weight of thyroid (p < 0.01), significant higher (p < 0.05) proportional representation of large and medium follicles, significantly (p < 0.05) higher average size of follicles, demonstrably lower (p < 0.05) height of epithelium were found. There were not found any differences in monitored parameters between the groups from experiment which was carried out during the year 2011. After comparing results from the both experiments significantly higher percentage representation of large follicles a significantly lower representation of small follicles, distinctly higher average size and higher height of epithelium in all size categories, in groups with iodine intake 10 mg I*kg DM−1was found (from second experiment – year 2011).

The aim of this study was to evaluate histometric and biochemical properties of the thyroid gland of sheep supplemented with high doses of iodine. The study was conducted on ewes (n = 12) and gimmers (n = 12) of Sumava mountain sheep; each group was subdivided into two groups (group A and B) of six animals. Feed of group A was supplemented with 3 mg iodine/kg of dry matter; group B was given 5 mg iodine/kg dry matter. The iodine in feed mineral supplement was in the form of calcium iodide. The ewes were at first carrying, subsequently lambing, lactating and finally remained barren. The experiment ended after 11 months, when all animals were slaughtered and a sample of the thyroid gland was taken for histometric examination and determination of iodine content by modified colorimetric method. Prior to the slaughter, blood samples were collected for determination of thyroidal hormones and the thyroid-stimulating hormone in blood serum. Thyroid glands of sheep from group B showed higher thyroid weight, larger follicles, higher percentage of large follicles and lower follicular cells compared to groups A. Normal or lower content of triiodothyronine and thyroxine, lower content of their free fractions and bordering or elevated concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone were detected in blood serum of all four groups. This trend can signalize the tendency of lowering activity of the thyroid gland. The results of this long-term study show impacts of higher iodine intake on the structure and function of the thyroid gland in sheep. Morphometric, thyroidal hormones, PCNA, epithelium, thyrocytes

The study aimed at defining the immunity risks connected with high iodine supplementation in ewes and their lambs. The feed ration for control group (C) of ewes (n=6) contained 3.1 mg of iodine per kilogram of dietary dry matter and for experimental group (E) of ewes (n=6) 5.1 mg of iodine per kilogram of dietary dry matter. The animals were fed the diets for 8 months. Parallelly with different iodine supplementation, some immunological parameters (percentage of γ-globulins, concentration of immunoglobulin G, and white blood cell count) were examined in ewes and their lambs. The difference in the average concentration of immunoglobulin G between the ewes of group C and E was not significant during the experiment. A significant decrease (P

The aim of this work was to determine the impact of high selenium intake on pregnant ewes considering the number of leukocytes and the representation of T cell subsets in the blood of newborn lambs. An experiment was conducted on nineteen sucking newborn lambs of the Sumava sheep breed. The ewes were divided into three groups of five animals: control C (without Se supplementation), experimental E1 (sodium selenite supplementation, Se content 160 μg.kg-1 DM) and E2 (Chlorella as a carrier for selenium, Se content 160 μg.kg-1 DM). After birth blood samples were taken from lambs on days 1, 3, 10, 30 and 60. The WBC count and proportion of lymphocytes in blood smear were detected by microscopic analysis, and the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets in blood were detected by flow cytometry. The differences determined were not statistically significant due to high variabilities within the groups. In lambs whose mothers were supplemented with selenium bound to the alga of the genus Chlorella a statistically significant increase in the proportion of both subsets of T lymphocytes was proved. The results document a tendency to a lower level of the selected parameters of immunity in lambs without Se supplementation.

Morphological and histometric parameters of the thyroid gland in slaughter cattleThe study presents an evaluation of morphological and histometric parameters of the thyroid gland of slaughtered cattle (29 cows, 10 bulls, 7 heifers and 4 calves). The thyroid gland of bulls contained 34.7% of large follicles while their content in cows and heifers was 32.6% and only 19.2%, respectively. The average follicle length was 162.0±19.8 μm in bulls, 153.5±24.8 μm in cows and 122.4±10.1 μm in heifers. The highest thyreocytes were found in heifers and bulls (9.45±1.17 and 9.42±1.50 μm, respectively) and the lowest in cows (8.46±2.13 μm). A positive relationship was determined between the iodine content of the thyroid gland and the percentage of large follicles (r = 0.55) while the relationship between iodine content and thyreocyte height was negative (r = -0.21). In the thyroid gland of older cows medium and large follicles with low cubic to flat thyreocytes were dominant. Some follicles contained necrotic thyreocytes and the cytoplasm contained lipofuscin. The results suggest the influence of an increased iodine content in the thyroid gland on follicle size and thyreocyte height.

The objective of the study was to assess the metabolic risk of excessive dietary iodine intake in ewes and neonatal lambs.Pregnant Šumava ewes received an experimental diet containing 3.1 mg iodine per kg of dietary dry matter in Group A (control, n=13, 6 ewes and 7 lambs) and 5.1 mg iodine per kg of dietary dry matter in Group B (experimental, n=12, 6 ewes, 6 lambs) for eight months. Iodine was administered to ewes as calcium iodate. TSH in blood serum; TT3, TT4, fT3, and fT4 in blood plasma were examined in both groups of ewes and lambs to assess the risks of iodine intake above the permitted limit, as it applies to thyroid gland activity.Group B ewes showed a significant increase in TSH and TT4 only on day 1 after parturition. The highest values of TT4, TT3, and fT3 in lambs were recorded on day 1 after birth. The lowest values of fT3 and fT4 in lambs were measured on day 60 after birth with no differences observed between the groups. In lambs of Group B the lower concentration of TSH until day 3 after birth was followed by a significant increase from day 10 after birth.Our results indicate a risk of postnatal hypothyroidism among lambs from pregnant and lactating ewes having a high iodine intake.