Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2020 (vol. 68), issue 1
The Effect of High Summer Temperatures on Reproduction in Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh
Jiří Bezdíček, Andrea Nesvadbová, František Louda
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 9-16 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010009 
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the hot summer season on the length of service period (number of days from calving to the next conception). For the analysis was created two databases of twins. Twins had the same sire and dam and the first and second lactations took place on the same farm. In the first database (105 pairs) one of the twins was calved (and had the following service period) during the summer months and the second of the twin was calved in the cooler months. To compare the difference in service period between twins in the hot and cool seasons, it was made also second group of twin pairs with reproduction only during...
The Effect of Feeding System on the Carcass Quality of Crossbred Lambs with Texel
Angela Cividini, Dušan Terčič, Mojca Simčič
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 17-24 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010017
The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of feeding system on the growth rate and carcass quality of crossbred Improved Jezersko-Solčava x Texel (JSRT) lambs and to evaluate the effect of sex on these traits. The trial was conducted in nature according to the traditional rearing systems. The trial included 44 crossbred lambs, which were born and reared until the slaughter in three different flocks. In the age of 10 days suckled lambs were offered with ad libitum corresponding diets according to the feeding system. All lambs were slaughtered in seven consecutive days by the same procedure. The effect of feeding system significantly...
Czech Farmers' Experience with Bt Maize: Fulfilment, and the Opposite, of Monsanto's Promises
Veronika Chvátalová
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 25-38 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010025
Genetically modified (GM) Bt maize MON810 is promoted as being beneficial for farmers and the environment. The aim of this study was to compare particular claims of the benefits associated with this GM maize with Czech farmers' practice. Ten semi-structured interviews and 27 questionnaires obtained from Czech farmers who had grown Bt maize for at least one year in 2005-2016 were analysed qualitatively.The alleged benefits of MON810 cultivation regarding lower levels of fungal disease infestation, yield increase, reduction of insecticide usage, lowered costs, time saving and simple manipulation were enjoyed by a varying proportion...
System for Changing the Radial Response on Car Wheels
Petr Jilek, Jan Němec
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 39-47 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010039
The paper deals with the possibilities of change in adhesion force for experimental measurement on a road vehicle. The article deals with the ways in which the road vehicle can be brought to skid limit while driving at a safe speed. These are two newly designed systems (SlideWheel and Alternative SkidCar) to complement the experimental car. Both systems allow for the reduction of the adhesion force on car wheels, depending on the reduction of radial force transmitted by the car wheel. Their main difference is in the spatial arrangement and in the method of attachment to a car. The wheel units are mounted under the axles in case of SlideWheel and attached...
Comparison of Basic Internal and External Egg Quality Traits of Brown and White Egg-laying Hens in Relationship to their Age
Adam Kraus, Lukáš Zita, Ondřej Krunt, Zdeněk Volek, Milan Tyller, Vojtěch Anderle
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 49-56 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010049
This study was focused on the comparison of the brown and white eggs from two laying hybrids. The objective was to assess basic quality traits of eggs from both groups of hens and compare them. The impact of how age influences the technological value of eggs was also observed. The most important correlations were calculated. Products of Czech original genetic programmes, Dominant Brown D 102 and Dominant Leghorn D 229 hens were included. A total of 1500 eggs were analysed. The egg collection was made for three consecutive days when the hens were at the 28, 35 and 59 weeks of age. The results showed that eggshell weight, yolk weight and yolk share increased...
The Genetic Structure of Slovak Spotted Cattle Based on Genome-wide Analysis
Kristína Lehocká, Barbora Olšanská, Radovan Kasarda, Ondrej Kadlečík, Anna Trakovická, Nina Moravčíková
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 57-61 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010057
The objective of the study was to determine the membership probability and level of admixture among Slovak Spotted cattle and historically related breeds (Ayshire, Holstein, Swiss Simmental and Slovak Pinzgau). The analysis was based on the panel of 35 934 SNPs that were used for genotyping of 423 individuals. The optimal number of clusters was estimated in two ways; by analysis of Bayesian information criterion and Bayesian clustering algorithm. The optimal number of clusters ranged from 3 to 5, depending on the applied approach. Subsequently, the population structure was tested by discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and unsupervised...
Automated Estimation of Loin Muscle Mass in Living Rabbits Using Computed Tomography
Zsolt Matics, György Kovács, Ádám Csóka, Virág Ács, Rozália Kasza, Örs Petneházy, István Nagy, Rita Garamvölgyi, Zsolt Petrási, Tamás Donkó
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 63-72 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010063
The objective of this study was to present the updated segmentation technique predicting the loin muscle weight of rabbits based on in vivo computed tomography measurements.The segmented muscle volumes are used to estimate the weight of the loin muscle and the predicted weights are compared to the real weights of meat cuts measured after the dissection of the animals. The R2 value of the proposed technique is 0.74 which is significantly better than the determination coefficients than that of the of the previously used method (R2 0.49). The proposed technique is suitable to be involved in the breeding selection program of rabbits...
The Effect of Socialising Piglets During Lactation on Performance, Suckling Behaviour and Weaning Aggression: a Preliminary Field Study
Nikolina Mesarec, Urška Pačnik, Alja Mesarič, Janko Skok, Dejan Škorjanc, Manja Zupan, Maja Prevolnik Povše
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 73-79 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010073
The post-weaning aggression among piglets is a serious problem in modern pig production which compromises animal welfare and health, as well as could cause considerable economic losses. To prevent post-weaning aggression between piglets an approach of early socialisation of piglets during lactation was tested in the present study. In the group farrowing pen (GFP) three individual farrowing pens were interconnected whereby piglets had free access to move across pens and/or cross-suckled alien sows that were still individually crated - passage between pens was released within 24h postpartum. Piglets/litters in the control group went through the conventional...
Street Furniture for Seniors
Martin Mrázek, Ludvika Kanická
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 81-94 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010081
Street furniture is an independent discipline. It addresses detailed solutions of products designed for human use in an exterior environment. Based on present-day studies, senior citizens constitute the fastest growing segment of the population. The sample element with defined ergonomic parameters has been defined by analyzing the standard and most used component of street furniture - bench, by the comparison of used materials and chosen construction. During the comparison and the subsequent conclusions, a great emphasis was placed on the functionality and durability of the individual components. The categories of street furniture have been based on...
Influence of Moisture Content for Bonding Quality of European Beech and English Oak
Tomáš Pipíška, Pavel Král
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 95-99 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010095
This study focused on the comparison of the bonding quality of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and English oak (Quercus robur L.), due to variability of moisture content (MC) in the wood. Hardwood species as a material, often yield a more difficult drying process, which can cause problems between various MC in the process of bonding. Specimens were bonded in two groups of MCs: 10/10% (control) and 6/14%. After reaching the equilibrium MC in standard conditions, specimens were cut into sample dimensions. Afterward the specimens were tested for bonding quality according to the EN 13354. In general, there is increase of the bonding quality...
The Effect of Genotype, Sex and Intramuscular Fat Content on the Colour of Pork
Libor Sládek, Eliška Dračková
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 101-108 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010101
The goal of this experiment was to establish the effect of genotype, sex and intramuscular fat (IMF) content in the musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis (MLLT) on the colour of pork. The values of meat colour parameters were balanced in both gilts and barrows without significant differences (p < 0.05). The average value of the lightness parameter L* was 61.35 ± 5.31 in barrows in our research and 60.14 ± 4.94 in gilts. The percentage of yellow spectrum b* ranged within a narrow zone of from 13.67 ± 2.14 (gilts) to 13.88 ± 2.02 (barrows). The colour saturation value (C*) for meat from barrows (14.42 ±...
Rumination Time Monitoring as a Possible Tool to Improve Diagnostics of Heat and Parturition
Renata Toušová, Jaromír Ducháček, Radim Codl, Jan Pytlík, Martin Ptáček, Matúš Gašparík, Luděk Stádník
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 109-117 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010109
Rumination time is one of possible parameters for observing not only feed management and health status, but also some reproductive characteristics such as heat or periparturient period. The evaluation of rumination time in this study was done on Holstein dairy cows in period around heat (n = 297) and around parturition (n = 322) during one year. SAS 9.3 was used for statistic evaluation. Factors such as heat or periparturient period but also a parity or month within the year have significant impact on rumination time. The decrease of rumination time in the average of 19% (more than 100 minutes) was observed in heat time against days before heat. Similarly,...
The Utilization of Vegetable and Fruit Wastes for Saccharomyces cerevisieae Cell Wall Based β-Glucan Production with Antioxidant Activity
Gemilang Lara Utama, Florensia Irena, Elazmanawati Lembong, Indira Lanti Kayaputri, Tensiska Tensiska, Roostita Lobo Balia
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 119-127 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010119
The study aims to determine the number of mass and antioxidant activity of β-glucan extracted from S.cerevisieae which grown on vegetable and fruit wastes. The method used is experimental with descriptive analysis which consisted of 3 treatments namely banana waste, papaya waste, and napa cabbage waste as fermentation medium, repeated thrice. Fermentation medium was made by mixing waste with water with the ratio of 1:2. Ten percent (w/v) of S.cerevisieae was inoculated and incubated for 48 hours, at 27 ℃. Extraction of β-glucan was carried out using acid-alkaline methods and antioxidant activity was tested by DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrayl)...
Oilseed Rape (Brassica Napus L.) Nutrition by Nitrogen and Phosphorus and its Effect on Yield of Seed, Oil and Higher Fatty Acids Content
Mária Vicianová, Ladislav Ducsay, Pavel Ryant, Marek Provazník, Alexandra Zapletalová, Marek Slepčan
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 129-136 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010129
The effect of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) application on yield, oil and fatty acids content (especially oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid) in rapeseed was investigated in the field experiment. Also effect of weather conditions was evaluated. The polyfactorial trial was realized in experimental years 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 in terms of agricultural cooperative in Mojmírovce. The experiment was based on three variants of fertilization treatments by the block method in three replications. The size of each block was created by plots with size 600 m2. The first level of treatment 10 was non-fertilized control. The second...
Performance of Six Sigma Rebalancing for Portfolios Mixing Polar Investment Styles
Martin Boďa, Mária Kanderová
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 139-155 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010139
The paper investigates usefulness of a rebalancing strategy that was proposed in 2014 by Boďa and Roháčová and is based on ideas borrowed from the managerial concept Six Sigma. Centring upon a small investor who is willing to invest into S&P 500 Index components in an attempt to track the S&P 500 Index, the paper compares the performance of different rebalancing strategies for four different sets of monthly data ranging from 2011 to 2017. Rebalancing is undertaken on a monthly basis and tracking portfolios are diversified by investing in proportions into stocks belonging to investment styles defined by size (big/small caps) and market-to-book...
Why Do Firms Voluntarily Adopt Environmental Management Systems? The Case of the Czech Republic
Eva Horváthová
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 157-168 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010157
We examine why firms voluntarily implement environmental management systems. Employing the ISO 14001 management system and using firm-level data for the Czech Republic, we find that environmental management systems are typically adopted by large firms and by those firms that initially pollute the environment more. These systems are more commonly implemented by firms operating in service industries. On the other hand, we find little support that the adoption of environmental management systems is influenced by the firm's financial performance and labor costs.
Identification of Interfunctional Coordination Items Important for Business Performance of SMEs
Zuzana Hübnerová, Eva Tomášková, Josef Bednář
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 169-179 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010169
This paper provides a deeper analysis of the relationships between interfunctional coordination (IFC) and business performance (BP). IFC is studied in many fields such as marketing, management, logistics, informatics or human resources. The novelty lies in offering an original perspective on IFC and its impact on individual items of BP. The statistical analysis of the relationship between IFC and BP is based on a survey of small and medium-sized manufacturers. Sufficient models were identified by a stepwise backward procedure based on Akaike information criterion (AIC). The results show that it is possible to find a sufficient model for each item of...
Knowledge-intensive Specialisation and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in the EU Regional Scope
Tomasz Kijek, Anna Matras-Bolibok
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 181-188 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010181
The aim of the paper is to assess the impact of knowledge-intensive specialisation on Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in the EU regional scope. To calculate TFP defined as the aggregated output-input ratio, we employ the multiplicatively-complete Färe-Primont index as it satisfies all economically-relevant axioms and tests from the index number theory. The knowledge intensive specialisation of EU regions is captured by the statistics on high-tech industry and knowledge-intensive services, i.e. the employment in high-tech sectors as a percentage of total employment (HTS). The research sample consists of 248 EU regions at NUTS 2 level. The key findings...
Consumer Brand Love for Luxury Brands in India
Maria Kostritsa, Hildegard Liebl, Rupert Beinhauer, Jana Turčínková
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 189-197 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010189
To establish brand love as the strongest bond between consumer and brand is a valuable target: different approaches explaining the antecedents of brand love can be found in literature. Concerning the outcome, most authors conclude on some positive relations towards brand loyalty, the willingness to pay a price premium and spreading positive word of mouth. Because of the growing importance of the luxury industry especially in emerging markets, this study investigates on the existence of brand love for luxury brands in the Indian market where so far, no quantitative research about brand love for luxury goods exists. The objective of this study is...
Impact of Destination Image on Satisfaction and Loyalty
Andrea Králiková, Astrid Peruthová, Kateřina Ryglová
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 199-209 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010199
Tourist destinations are currently subjects of strong competition and their visitors are influenced by various factors, including the image of a destination. This paper deals with the topic of destination image and its influence on the tourist overall satisfaction and loyalty towards a destination. The study is aiming at domestic tourists in the Czech Republic. The data were obtained through a questionnaire survey with quota sampling. Sixteen destination image factors were researched. Nine of the factors have an influence on overall satisfaction (the most influential one being the attractiveness of a destination, the uniqueness of a destination and...
The Relationship Between Board of Directors and Sustainability Reporting: An Empirical Study in German Large Listed Firms
Thi Thuc Doan Nguyen
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 211-218 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010211
To improve quality of sustainability reporting, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines have been issued and widely applied. Board of directors' characteristics can be seen as essential factors to facilitate the implementation of these practices. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between board of directors and GRI adherence in sustainability disclosures. The research uses Tobit regression for 388 observations from 97 German listed firms in the period from 2013 to 2016. The findings indicate significant negative relation between board size and GRI adherent level of sustainability reporting. Further analysis is implemented for environmentally...
Internationalization, the Highly Qualified and the Innovation Output
Zuzana Potužáková, Jan Öhm
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 219-228 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010219
The process of Internationalization strongly influences the developed economies, including the EU, whereas the large scale of international trade in goods is characterized by production with high value added. Based on this, the fabrication of such commodities requires a highly qualified workforce and is very often followed by international patent protection.This paper focuses on the link between the fraction of highly educated with tertiary education and the innovation output, measured by the number of EPO patent applications per million inhabitants. Due to the rising mobility of a highly qualified workforce, we have also tested the correlation...
Estimation of the Marketing Activity of Banking Structures
Nestor Shpak, Ihor Kulyniak, Maryana Gvozd, Yuliya Malynovska, Włodzimierz Sroka
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 229-242 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010229
Well-designed marketing activities and the use of modern marketing tools can increase the competitiveness of banks on the market. Given this fact, the main purpose of the study is to develop theoretical and practical provisions for estimating the level of marketing activity of banking structures. This is based on the definition of the integral index and takes into account all the elements of the marketing-mix and their partial indicators. The urgency of solving this problem comes from the fact that it is precisely the estimation of the level of marketing activity of the banking structures that directs managers to make the appropriate adjustment of...
Understanding Regional Product Characteristics and Consumers Purchasing them in the Czech Republic
Michal Stoklasa, Eva Pitrunová
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 243-253 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010243
This article deals with regional products in the Czech Republic. The goal is to examine the regional product characteristics, purchasing behavior when buying said products and basic segmentation criteria of their consumers. After an analysis of WoS and Scopus articles focusing on regional brands, we have concluded that areas explaining how consumers understand regional products (their characteristics), purchasing behavior and basic segmentation criteria are under-researched. Thus we have planned our research to tackle these areas. Our sample consists of 1050 respondents from the Czech Republic, gathered through questionnaire by professional agency...
Do the Subsidies Help the Young Farmers? The Case Study of the Czech Republic
Marie Šimpachová Pechrová, Ondřej Šimpach
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 255-262 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010255
To ensure the generation renewal in the European Union there are subsidies for setting up of young farmers' businesses and the retirement scheme and top-up direct payments. In the Czech Republic are provided subsides to interest rates with preference of young farmers and intergenerational succession of the farm is tax-free. Together with other incentives, those factors shall facilitate enter of young people to the sector. The aim of the paper is to assess whether the policy measures help the young farmers with setting-up of their business. Based on the primary survey on 510 young Czech farmers the most motivating for enter the sector were tax relief...
Traditional and Alternative Business Cycle Dating Procedures: Evidence for the Euro Area and the Czech Economy
Ľubica Štiblárová
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 263-274 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010263
This paper examines to which extent the results of multivariate principal component analysis based on a set of macroeconomic indicators used by one of the leading economic research organizations - the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), mimics traditional, univariate Bry and Boschan (1971) business cycle procedure. Using almost 20 years of observations, we estimate the euro area aggregate and the Czech business cycles by classical, as well as alternative multivariate method. Comparison of the euro area aggregate classical business cycle with that of the CEPR reveals minor discrepancies. The estimation of the Czech business cycle using principal...
Creating a Food Menu Application for Mendel University in Brno
Petr Tykal, Diana Brnovik, Jaromír Landa
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 275-280 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010275
The presented paper describes the creation of a mobile application module for showing a current menu at Mendel University cafeterias. Nowadays, the students and the university staff have the menu accessible through a static webpage. The presented solution serves as a dynamic presentation of the current menu for all Mendel University in Brno cafeterias. Most cafeteria menu applications use the REST architectures for the server backend. The contribution of the paper is in usage of the Google Firebase Realtime database as a server backend. Unlike in traditional REST architecture, the data e.g. the food rating is instantaneously changed and the users have...
Non-Parametric Anova Methods Applied on Students' Performance Development in Course of Statistics
Martina Zámková, Martin Prokop, Radek Stolín
Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2020, 68(1), 281-289 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun202068010281
This study intends to use non-parametric statistical methods for comparison of mean values in assessing the changes of overall grades in basic statistics at the College of Polytechnics in Jihlava. The data covering students' grades were transferred to the ordinal scale and evaluated with the use of the corresponding non-parametric statistical methods, due to failing the data normality test. In order to identify statistically significant grade differences over the years 2006-2018, we have used the test of equality of means as well as the relevant analyses of variance, i.e. the Mann-Whitney U test to compare two samples, the Kruskal-Wallis test...