Publications by authors named "Damian Knecht"

Natural compounds are important source of desired biological activity which helps to improve nutritional status and brings many health benefits. St. Hill.

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Numerous studies have shown that improvements in the sperm and semen quality of males of many species can be achieved with appropriate dietary supplements added to feed or fodder. Particularly promising seems to be the inclusion of omega polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diets of males. Among other things, it has been shown that linseed oil ethyl esters (EELO can be an excellent source of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in animal diets.

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The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 30 min bloom time and the type of muscle on pH and color parameters together with the possibility of estimating these measurements. The research material consisted of 270 samples from 6 muscle types: LD- , LL-, IL-, SEM-, CT-, LTD-. Measurements included pH and color of fresh pork at 0 min, and after 30 min bloom time.

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The fatness and muscularity of Polish Landrace, Polish Large White gilts and sows and their hybrids were determined on the basis of ultrasound measurements in three consecutive parities, and then the relationship between these parameters and reproductive performance was established. Ultrasound measurements demonstrated the highest fat thickness in first parity and the highest fat area over LD muscle in hybrid gilts (PL × PLW). Pure-bred gilts were characterized by poorer muscularity.

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The development of research methods and tools related to microbiome investigation, as well as widened knowledge and awareness concerning the significance of microorganisms inhabiting mammalian organisms, has led to an increasing popularity of studies in this field. This review paper presents some issues related to the swine microbiome, its development starting from an early age of life and its status in adult animals, as well as factors affecting the microbiome in pigs. Attention is paid to the role of probiotics and prebiotics as alternatives to antibiotics in the context of post-weaning diarrhea treatment, and to the role of microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract of pigs in performance indices formation.

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The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between the quality evaluation of loin and the quality evaluation of ham and belly from the same carcasses for trying to predict the quality parameters of ham and belly based on measurements made on the loin. The research material consisted of 105 pork carcasses, from which three elements were cut and marked: loin, ham and belly. Quality evaluation included: pH, color, water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), and sensory analysis.

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The aim of this study was a detailed analysis of the boar genotypes used in AI stations with an indication of their production capacity, including age and a precise analysis of their culling time and reason. The study included 334 boars: 81 Polish Large White (PLW), 108 Polish Landrace (PL), 49 Pietrain (P), 56 Duroc × Pietrain (D × P) and 40 Hampshire × Pietrain (H × P). Semen volume, spermatozoa concentration, total number of spermatozoa, number of motile spermatozoa, and number of insemination doses were analyzed.

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Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the lifetime and culling reasons for boars used in insemination centers (AI centers).

Methods: The data collected from 355 culled boars from 1998 to 2013 included: age at start of semen collection, boar herd life, culling reason, daily gain and lean meat content, and number of ejaculates not meeting sales requirements after dilution. Culling reasons were divided into 7 groups: low semen value (LSV), low or lack of libido (LL), leg problems (LP), infectious diseases (ID), old age (OA), reduced demand for semen from the given boar (RD), and others (OT).

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The objective of the present research was to eliminate seasonal fluctuations in year-round reproductive performance of sows and to improve litter parameters by administration of oxytocin into liquid semen insemination doses. A 2-year experiment was performed on crossbreed sows, Polish Large White × Polish Landrace, which were partitioned into two groups: control, insemination without any modification with 100 mL semen doses and oxytocin, insemination with 100 mL semen doses to which 5 IU of oxytocin was added just before insemination. A total of 10,486 inseminations were made.

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Forty-eight gilts were submitted to a 30% restriction of feed (groups F and F1) or protein intake (group P) from 90 to 118 days of age, followed by realimentation from 119 to 168 days of age. Control pigs (C) were fed during the whole experiment according to a semi ad libitum scale. During realimentation all animals were fed according to semi ad libitum scale except pigs F1 which were fed ad libitum.

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The aim of the present study was to determine an influence of parasites invasion on fodder consumption and slaughter yield of fatteners in three different maintenance systems. The experimental part of the study was conducted on pigs farm producing in a close cycle. The study on internal parasites of fatteners were conducted based on coproscopic methods.

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The aim of the present paper was to determine an influence of the presence and a level of intestine parasites infection on the quality of pork carcass expressed by the content of meat in carcass (meatiness) in pigs. The experimental part of the study was conducted on pigs farm produced in a closed cycle. The population in the study included 120 fattening pigs maintained in two keeping systems: group I--60 individuals kept on slatted floor, and group II--60 individuals kept on deep litter.

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