IRANIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL SCIENCE
Year:2013 | Volume:3 | Issue:4|Papers Count:30

Successful pasture-based milk production systems pivot on balancing dairy cows’ feed requirements with seasonal and annual fluctuations in pasture production. In order to maximise cow production from grazing dairy systems, it is necessary to reach an efficient utilization of grazed grass for feeding cows and the de-velopment of appropriate grazing management systems designed to maximize daily pasture dry matter in-take (PDMI) per cow and per hectare, while maintaining high sward quality over the grazing season by keeping high pasture levels of crude protein, water soluble carbohydrates and digestibility of organic matter and low levels of acid and neutral detergent fibers in the swards. To maximize PDMI, cows need to con-sume plants that have characteristics that allow rapid consumption and lead to fast rates of passage through the rumen. This review considers the role of sward factors which affect the short-term feed budget of cows at pasture and, therefore, condition cow feed requirements at grazing and influence on PDMI. Furthermore, it highlights the relevance that have for the development of pasture-based milk production systems the study of the species of grasses and / or legumes that integrate the pastures, the changes on sward structure, the seasonality in grass production, the pasture chemical constituents, the sward botanical composition, the grass feeding value, the digestibility of pastures, the intensity of sward defoliation, and the importance of sward height and herbage mass in relation to maximizing PDMI. The amount of herbage consumed is the major determinant of cow production but it is yet one of the most difficult aspects of forage quality to pre-dict. In this review, three methods for PDMI calculation are presented as faecal output/diet digestibility method, sward difference method and the grazing-behaviour method. Also, three equations for PDMI esti-mation are described considering different sward and animal variables.

This paper considers the potential problems that may militate against the adoption of organic poultry production in Nigeria. Factors identified include: higher risk of diseases like coccidiosis and Newcastle disease, disease prevention and control / herd health management, disease containment in times of outbreak, land acquisition (land tenure system), market economies / cost-benefit ratio, pasture management, attitudes to change / apathy to change, scarcity of organic inputs, feather pecking, high probability of diets being deficient in amino acids, legislation / policy framework, heavy dependence on fertilizer by northern grain growers, low ratio of veterinary personnel to livestock farmers and shallow penetration of livestock extension services.

Metabolizable protein (MP) supply and amino acid balance were manipulated through selection of highly digestible rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) sources. Effects on production efficiency and N utilization of early post-partum dairy cows were determined. Forty-two multiparous and 16 primiparous Holstein cows were assigned to the diets in a randomized complete block design immediately after parturition with 3-wk experimental periods, and then were fed a ration for 120 days in milk. Diets were formulated to provide 3 concentrations of dietary RUP (LRUP 6.65, MRUP 7.72 and HRUP 8.79% of dry matter (DM)) while rumen-degradable protein remained constant (11.3% of DM). Diets contained 26.30% alfalfa hay, 12.60% corn silage, 9.50% sugar beet pulp and 51.5% concentrate in DM basis. Ingredients within the diets were equal across treatments except for fish meal and corn gluten meal that partially replaced with steam rolled barley and soybean meal. Dry matter intake linearly increased by the treatments. Milk yield, Fat corrected milk (FCM) and protein content and yield increased significantly when cows were fed the diets with greater RUP, but milk fat and lactose was not different between treatments. Body weight (BW) changes was improved with intake of high RUP but Body condition score (BCS) changes had significant difference and improved by increasing RUP in the diet. The efficiency of N use increased linearly. Milk urea N and predicted urinary N increased linearly when cows were fed higher amounts of RUP, but differences between the control treatment and high RUP diets were not significant. Fecal N and N balance did not have significant difference. Total tract digestibility of DM and crude protein (CP) intakes increased significantly with greater RUP. In general, increasing amounts of MP and RUP improved productive performance and BCS status of fresh cows and enhanced digestibility of DM and CP.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of treated protein supplements with tannin extracted from pistachio by-product (P-PB) on in vitro gas production using fistulated sheep. One portion of P-PB was mixed with four portions of water for 48 h. The extracted product was sprayed on soybean meal (SBM) or canola meal (CM) with an equal ratio (1:1 v/w) and dried in the shade. The experimental treatments included in this study were: 1) untreated soybean meal (USB), 2) soybean meal treated with tannin extract (SBTT), 3) untreated canola meal (UCM) and 4) canola meal treated with tannin extract (CMTT). Kinetics of gas production was fitted to an exponential model. After 96 h of incubation, the medium size of each syringe was used for determining ammonia N (NH3-N) concentration using distillation method. The results obtained from this study showed that spraying tannin extract on protein supplement increased the amount of tannin to 4.4, 3.13 in CM or SBM, respectively. Although gas production rate, fraction b and fraction c de-creased by treated protein supplements in comparison with untreated protein supplements, the effects were not significant (P>0.05). The effect of tannin extract on NH3-N was significant (P£0.05). The highest and the lowest content of NH3 were for SBM with the lowest and CMTT with the highest content of tannin, respectively. Tannin from P-PB decreased organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME) and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in treated protein supplements (P£0.05). Untreated soy-bean meal and CMTT had the highest and the lowest content of OMD, ME and SCFA, respectively.

Protein oxidation M. longissimus dorsi and M. semimembranosus was studied in ram lambs of Northeastern Bulgarian Fine Wool Breed and cross of this breed with Ile de France, reared and in doors and on pasture. The degree of protein oxidation is determined by measuring the content of carbonyls, formed during the storage of the investigated muscles at low temperatures (4oС till 6th day and -20oС till 90th day). Protein oxidation was lower in pastured animals. Differences between the groups were significant at 4th (P<0.05) and 90th day (P<0.001) for the animals of Northeastern Bulgarian Fine Wool Breed and at 24 h (P<0.05), 6th and 90th day (Р<0.01) in crossbred lambs. Differences were reported in protein oxidation in the muscles at 48 h (P<0.01) and the 4th day (P<0.05) as well as at 48 h (P<0.05) and the 90th day (Р<0.001), for the lambs of Northeastern Bulgarian Fine Wool Breed and the cross, respectively. The dynamic of changes of the carbonyls in the muscles shows that storage duration influences protein oxidation. The carbonyl contents in M. longissimus dorsi were significantly higher the 90th day of the storage, compared to the other intervals in both indoor reared lambs of Northeastern Bulgarian Fine Wool Breed and the crossbred animals, as well as in pastured crossbred lambs. In M. semimembranosus differences between the contents of the carbonyls in the intervals of measurement and the 90th day of the storage were significant in both animals of Northeast-ern Bulgarian Fine Wool Breed and the cross, reared indoors.

A complete diet (Total Mixed ration) with sorghum stover (40%) as sole roughage source was prepared and offered to animals under two forms: as mash or as expanded-extruded pellets (EEP). These two complete diets were compared with a conventional diet (ad libitum chopped sorghum stover fed separately with con-centrate mixture to meet 80% of protein requirements). These three diets were randomly allotted to 30 male lambs for a period of 150 days. The lambs on conventional, mash and pelleted diet grew with an average daily gain of 62.5g, 78.5g and 101.3g, respectively, with superiority (P<0.01) of EEP diet in relation to the others. The lambs fed complete diets were more efficient in utilizing the dry matter (DM) than those fed conventional diet despite lower DMI. The haematological (total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, and per-centage of neutrophil and lymphocyte) and serum biochemical constituents (total protein, albumin, globulin and urea nitrogen concentration) at 0, 75 and 150 d of trial were not affected by diets, except haemoglobin concentration which was significantly higher in lambs fed EEP diet (P<0.001). The lipid peroxidase activity was lower (P<0.05) and the RBC catalase activity (P<0.01) was higher in both groups of lambs fed with complete diet. The humoral immune response against Brucella abortus was higher in lambs fed with EEP diet compared to the lambs fed with mash or conventional diets. The total Ig, IgM or IgG titres against 20% chicken red blood cells were higher in lambs fed complete diets and were not affected by expander extruder processing. The cell mediated immune response of lambs assessed as in vitro lymphocyte assay at 150 d of feeding was higher (P<0.05) in EEP diet followed by those in mash complete diet and lastly by those fed conventional diet.

Acid-binding capacity (ABC) of a feed is the amount of acid required to reduce the pH of feed to a special level such as 3. All poultry feed ingredients used in this study were collected from feed mills in Iran. The pH and ABC were determined using the standard methods in deionized and magnetized water at room and body temperatures. The pH of most feed ingredients was raised in magnetized water as compared to deionized (untreated water). The pH of most feed ingredients especially organic acids was decreased in warm water. Energy sources accompanied by synthetic amino acids and common salt and some additives such as prebiotic and zeolite had the lowest values of ABC (less that 400 mEq/kg). Protein sources and some supplements and additives had average ABC of about 400-1000 mEq/kg, and some vitamins and minerals had high level of ABC (more than 1000 mEq/kg) among all ingredients. Calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, along with ammonium formate and calcium propionate had the highest ABC values among all ingredients. Pelleting did not show any pronounced impact on pH or ABC of whole diet; while extruding did not alter ABC of soybean but significantly increased ABC of flaxseed. These results give indication that the type of feed ingredient, or processing and solution used for ABC evaluation, especially magnetizing treatment and ambient temperature, are determining factors for ABC of feedstuffs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of male broiler chickens in the period from 21 to 42 days of age fed diets with increasing levels of sunflower meal (SM) supplemented with an enzyme complex (EC). A total of 1920 animals of the Cobb strain were distributed in a randomized block design in a 4´3 factorial arrangement (four SM levels and three enzymes utilization types), with eight replicates, each containing 20 birds. The sunflower meal inclusion levels were 0, 8, 16 and 24%, utilized in three dif-ferent diets. The first one was calculated so as to meet all the nutritional requirements of birds, except for the nutrients which would be provided by the nutritional matrix of the EC, considered as the negative con-trol (NC). The second diet was calculated in the same way as the first one but was supplemented with 0.5% of EC (NC+EC). The last diet was calculated so as to meet all the nutritional requirements of animals, called as positive control (PC). The parameters assessed were feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, carcass parameters and productive (PEI) and economic (EEI) efficiency indices. The addition of EC in the diets for broiler chickens did not improve the parameters of feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion or carcass parameters. The increase in the SM levels in the diet worsened the parameters of weight gain and feed conversion. The best EEI was for the animals fed the diet NC + EC, with inclusion of 8.0% SM.

This experiment was conducted to examine the effect of multi-strain probiotic (Primalac) on performance, immune responses and cecal microflora in broiler chickens under cyclic heat stress condition. A total of 96 one-d-old mixed sex broiler chicks (Ross 308) were weighed and randomly allocated to two treatment groups, each with 4 replicate pens of 12 chicks. The dietary treatments were basal diet (control) and control +0.9 g Primalac/kg diet. Body weights of broilers were determined at d 1, 21 and 42, feed intake was de-termined at the same periods, and feed conversion ratio was calculated accordingly. The populations of Lactobacilli spp and coliforms were enumerated in the cecum. Antibody titers against Newcastle, Bronchi-tis, and Gumboro were measured as immune responses at 28 d of age. As a result of this study, use of pro-biotic significantly (P<0.05) increased broiler performance by enhancing body weight, daily feed intake and decreasing the feed conversion ratio. The Lactobacilli spp. population in birds supplemented with probiotic significantly was higher and coliforms population was lower than control groups at 42 d of age (P<0.05). Also administration of the probiotic appeared to improve the antibody responses to Newcastle disease virus and Bronchitis, Gumboro disease vaccination. In conclusion, the results indicate that supplementing broiler reared under heat stress condition with 0.9 g Primalac/kg diet could induce favorable influences on per-formance, immune responses and cecal microflora.

Black Bengal goat is the heritage and one of the potential genetic resources of Bangladesh. Genetic and phenotypic parameters for semen characteristics and their relationships with scrotal circumference in Black Bengal bucks were estimated in this experiment. Genetic parameters were estimated by residual maximum likelihood procedure, fitting an animal model ignoring maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects. The least-squares means of semen volume (mL/ejaculate), sperm concentration (109 cells/mL), mass motility (%), sperm livability (%) and normal spermatozoa (%) were 0.56, 2.55, 79.7, 86.8 and 90.5, respectively. Season of collection and scrotal circumference significantly affected all semen characteristics studied. Age of bucks affected all the semen characteristics, except mass motility. Body weight had a significant effect on semen volume and mass motility. Heritability estimates were moderate for sperm concentration (0.38) and low for semen volume, mass motility, sperm livability and normal spermatozoa (0.05 to 0.18). Phenotypic correlations ranged from slightly negative (-0.001) to moderately positive (0.42) and the genetic correlations ranged from moderately negative (-0.37) to strongly positive (0.99). Sperm concentration was the only semen trait of Black Bengal goat where reasonable genetic progress may be possible through selection. Selection for increased scrotal circumference should have favorable correlated response in semen characteristics.

An experiment was conducted to determine apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) and digestible CP and AA of fish meal (FM) in 21-d-old broiler chickens using the regression technique. Four diets containing 0, 1, 2, and 3% FM in place of cornstarch were formulated with FM as the sole contributor of CP and AAs in the sequential diets. Eighty 14-d-old broiler chicks were weighed, and sorted by body weight and randomly allotted to the experimental diets with 4 replicates per diet and 5 chicks per replicate. Titanium dioxide was added to the diets at the rate of 5 g/kg diet as an indigestible marker. They were fed the experimental diets till d 21 post hatch when they were killed by asphyxiated with CO2 and digesta from the last two-third of ileum collected. The concentrations of CP and AA in the diets increased as dietary FM increased. Apparent digestibility of CP and AA significantly (P<0.05) increased with dietary FM inclusion but with a decrease in the 3% FM diet. The digestibility values of CP, lysine and methionine estimated as slopes of the regression of the amount of CP or AA digested dry matter intake dry matter intake (DMI) at the terminal ileum against CP or AA intake dry matter intake (DMI) were 88.7, 97.2 and 97.0% respectively. The digestible amounts of CP, lysine and methionine of FM were 63.63 g, 5361.04 mg and 1801.45 mg. Results of the study suggest a maximum level of 2% inclusion of FM was adequate for broiler starter chicks as higher levels may induce higher endogenous CP and AA flow and hence reduced digestibility of these nutrients.

A2 ´ 3 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of enzyme Endofeed W (EEW) at 0 and 0.05%, thyme essential oil (TEO), probiotic Primalac Ò (PP) and non-feed additive, on intestinal histo-morphology of broilers fed wheat-based diet. Each of the 6 dietary treatments was replicated 4 times with 12 chicks each from 0 to 42 days of age. There was n interaction between enzyme and growth promoters on any measured parameters. Data showed that supplmentation of wheat-based diet with EEW enhanced (P<0.05) intestinal histomorphology including jejunal villus height (VH), villus width (VW), villus surface area (VS), crypt depth (CD), mucosa layer thickness (MCL), muscular layer thickness (MSL) and number of goblet cells (GC) and ileal VH, MCL and GC at 21 and 42 days of age, as compared to broilers fed con-trol diet. The TEO in diet did ameliorate (P<0.05) some jejunal and ileal morphological parameters, but it was less effective as compared to EEW or PP supplementation. The PP improved (P<0.05) the intestinal histomorphology in the present study in all measured parameters except the jejunal and ileal VH:CD. It was concluded that dietary EEW and growth promoters (TEO or PP) supplementation improved (P<0.05) gut health in broilers fed wheat-based diet, but the effect of probiotic PrimalacoeÒ was more pronounced as com-pared to natural thyme essential oil.

A3 ´ 3 factorial experiment with three levels of fennel extract (FE) (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg of diet) and three levels of added vitamin D3 (Vit D3) (0, 3500 and 4200 IU/kg of diet), was carried out to evaluate reproductive performance and immune response of post molted broiler breeders (76-84 weeks). Broiler breeders were weighed at 10 week after molting (74 weeks) then randomly distributed into 36 pens in order to have a similar mean pen body weight (BW). Each pen consisted of 10 hens and 1 rooster. The birds received experimental diets at 74 weeks of age. Performance data were recorded daily, whereas egg quality traits were determined every 4 weeks. To determine the settable hatch, fertile hatch, embryonic mortality, real hatch, chick quality, chick sexing, chick weight and relative chick weight, eggs from each pen were collected three times a week, marked and incubated in a commercial hatchery for 21 days. Two blood samples were taken from two hens in each pen to assay Newcastle and Influenza antibody titers every two weeks. Dietary fennel extract supplementation significantly increased egg production, chick quality and improved Newcastle antibody titer over time (P<0.022). Furthermore, the addition of FE to diet significantly decreased double yolk and pewee eggs (P<0.001). Yolk color was affected by the addition of vitamin D3 in the whole experimental period. Significant interactions between FE and vitamin D3 on embryonic mortality were observed. The results of this study showed that supplementation of diet with FE exhibits beneficial effects on egg production, double yolk eggs, peewee eggs, chick quality, and Newcastle antibody titer. Dietary supplementation of vitamin D3 improved yolk color with no adverse effect on productive performance.

A total of 300 one-day old male broilers (Cobb 500) were randomly divided into four treatment groups. The groups comprised of 15 birds each, and were defined by diet and the birds in each group were fed 0 (control), 3, 5, or 7 kGy electron-beam irradiated diets. A total of 5 replicates were performed. The chemical composition of the diet was not affected by irradiation. Irradiation doses of 5 and 7 kGy completely eliminated microbial load in diets (P<0.05) and decreased the total aerobic and coliform counts in ileum and cecum at increasing rate at 14, 28 and 42 days of age (L: P<0.001; Q: P<0.0001). Total coliforms of the ileum decreased with the increased irradiation dose at 21 and 42 days of age (Q: P<0.0001). Lactobacillus counts improved with increased EBI dose, except for lactobacillus in cecum at 42 days of age. There was a linear increase in villus height (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) with higher irradiation doses at 21 and 42 days of age. Additionally, a linear increase and a decrease in villus height: crypt depth were observed in the jejunum at 21 and 42 days of age, respectively (P<0.05). The villus height: crypt depth of duodenum and jejunum followed a linear increasing rate (Q: P<0.001) with the increased irradiation dose. Feed intake, mortality (all periods), body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were similar between treatments at 1-14 and 14-28 days of age. Body weight gain, however, increased at a rising rate (Q: P<0.001), and feed con-version ratio decreased at a diminishing rate (Q: P<0.01) with higher irradiation doses during 28-42 and 1-42 days of age. The ileal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ether extracts, gross energy, and apparent metabolizable energy increased with the irradiation dose (Q: P<0.001). Our results indicated that electron-beam diet irradiation reduces microbial coliform counts and supports lactic acid producers in the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, the ileal digestibility of nutrients, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio improve with irradiation.

In this study, the effects of late gestational undernutrition (LGU) on plasma concentration of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I), leptin, insulin and glucose in subsequent sucking lambs was investigated. Ten twin-bearing ewes were fed either restrictedly (Restricted) or adequately (Control) during the last six weeks of gestation and were fed ad libitum after parturition. Blood samples were taken from subsequent suckling lambs at birth day, 7, 17 and 35 days of age. The average growth rate of restricted lambs was significantly lower than control lambs (292±21 vs. 216±19 g/d) during first two weeks of suckling period. Lambs in both groups were hypoglycemic (2.5±0.2 mmol/L) and had lowest level of leptin (0.6±0.08 ng/mL) at birth. Plasma glucose and leptin increased sharply by 7 days of age to 5.9±0.2 mmol/L and to 0.6±0.08 ng/mL respectively. Late gestational undernutrition reduced plasma glucose in restricted (3.1±0.2 mmol/L) at birth but not in control lambs (2.1±0.3 mmol/L). Plasma insulin was the highest at 7 days of age (0.9±0.08 ng/mL). Restricted lambs had highly significant lower insulin values (0.6±0.1 vs. 1.3±0.1 ng/mL) and significantly higher ratio of glucose/insulin than control lambs. Insulin-like growth factor I values at birth was not affected by LGU. However, during suckling period restricted lambs had lower IGF-I than control lambs. In conclusion, LGU decreased insulin plasma concentration, changed the ratio of glucose to insulin, and decreased the concentration of IGF-I in subsequent offspring. Results also confirm the finding that circulating glucose rather than insulin is a determinant of leptin secretion in suckling lambs.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of improving productive performance and immunity of growing Japanese quail reared during summer in Egypt by supplementing the diets with or-ganic zinc (Bioplex zinc) and prebiotic (mannan oligosaccharides). Diets were a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 20 mg Bioplex zinc (3.0 mg Zn) (Zn1), 40 mg Bioplex zinc (6.0 mg Zn) (Zn2), 1.0 g prebiotic (P), P + Zn1 or P + Zn2. Ambient temperature and relative humidity ranged between 34 to 36 oC and between 45 to 51%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and mortality of the treated quails when compared to the control group. The effect of treatments on the carcass traits and relative weights of the lymphoid organs and thyroid gland was not significant. The primary and secondary immune responses were the highest in the treated quails. The results showed that plasma total protein of the (P) and (P+Zn2) treated quails increased significantly when compared to the control group. The level of plasma total lipids and cholesterol decreased significantly (P<0.05) in quails fed the supplemented diets. No significant change was observed in the plasma AST and ALT enzyme activities and triiodothyronine concentration. It is concluded that, supplementing diets of growing Japanese quails reared during summer in Egypt with 20 or 40 mg Bioplex zinc/kg each alone or in combination with 1.0 g/kg prebiotic (mannan oligosaccharides) had no significant effect on productive per-formance but improved their immune response.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ginger powder on the performance of Salmonella challenged broiler chicks and to compare its efficacy as growth promoter with an antibiotic, avilamycin. In a completely randomized design, 300 chicks were divided into six groups, five replicates with 10 birds per each replicate. The treatments included negative control (basal diet without ginger or antibiotic and challenging), positive control (basal diet without ginger or antibiotic, but with challenging), ginger treated group (5.0 g/kg ginger, without challenging), challenged ginger treated group (5.0 g/kg ginger, with challenging), antibiotic treated group (100 mg/kg avilamycin, without challenging) and challenged antibiotic treated group (100 mg/kg avilamycin, with challenging). The lowest mean of mortality was recorded in the antibiotic treated group and the highest in the positive control. Inclusion of ginger to the diet of challenged chicks decreased numerically the mortality as compared with the positive control. Broilers in the positive control had the lowest overall daily gain. Dietary inclusion of ginger or avilamycin increased (P<0.05) daily weight gain, but the effect of avilamycin was greater than ginger. In the overall period (days 0-42), challenging increased feed conversion ratio and inclusion of avilamycin and ginger to the diet decreased (P<0.05) it, but the effect of avilamycin was greater than ginger. Finally, inclusion of ginger powder in the diet could improve the performance of unchallenged and challenged chicks, but its efficacy is lower than avilamycin.

Many in vitro methods of semen quality evaluation have been developed for predicting fertility of bull semen in routine AI practice. Conventional semen evaluation has some limitations due to the difficulty to detect some functional sperm cell impairments, which are responsible for decreased fertility (Aitken, 2006). Bavister (1990) and Rowe Semen quality and its relationship to fertility are major concern in animal production. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between frozen thawed sperm characteristics and fertility following in vivo fertility through Artificial Insemination (AI). Semen samples were collected from four buffalo bulls. Semen volume and sperm concentration appeared to be significantly different (P<0.05) among bulls, while sperm motility and live sperm percentage did not vary in fresh semen. Frozen thawed semen was evaluated for motility, viability, sperm abnormalities, membrane integrity and in vivo fertility. A significant variation was found in semen parameters among bulls after thawing. Highly significant (P<0.001) differences in membrane integrity between fresh vs. frozen semen samples were noticed. Pregnancy rate was significantly (P<0.05) different among bulls. Significant correlations were found between motility and sperm abnormalities (r=-0.64; P<0.05) and membrane integrity (r=0.64; P<0.05). A significant negative correlation (r=-0.73; P<0.01) has been reported between sperm abnormalities and membrane integrity. In addition, a correlation between pregnancy rate and live sperm percent-ages (r=0.65; P<0.05), has also been reported. In conclusion, in this study motility was correlated with sperm abnormalities and membrane integrity. Live sperm percentage was the only parameter correlated with fertility. Motility and live sperm percentage can be used as a predicative measure in semen evaluation.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on survival, activation and growth of ovine primordial follicles using histological studies. Pieces of ovine ovarian cortex were obtained and cultured for 6 days in Minimum Essential Medium supplemented with or without FSH (50 ng/mL). These fragments were then process to be used for histology compared to each other and non-cultured group. The results showed that the lowest percentage of normal follicles in control medium was observed after 6 days of culture. A higher percentage of growing follicles was observed in presence vs. absence of FSH. Moreover, an increase in diameter of both oocyte and follicle was observed in those fragments that have been cultured in presence of FSH. This study demonstrated that FSH not only maintains the morphological integrity of ovine preantral follicles cultured for 6 days in vitro, but also stimulates the activation of primordial follicles and the growth of activated follicles.

In order to study the signs of oestrus in the West African Dwarf goat, 28 non pregnant females younger than 24 months of age were used. Most of them (94.7%) had waggled the tail during heat. The frequency of micturition was higher in the presence of the male. The swelling of the vulva was observed in 68.4% of goats in heat. The cervicovaginal mucus was significantly (P£0.05) abundant and elastic during oestrus. The duration of oestrus was 1.91±0.07 day and increased with the female age. Signs of heat were less prominent in younger than in older females. Behavioural changes, vulva appearance and the characteristics of cervico-vaginal mucus can be used as criteria for detection of oestrus in the West African Dwarf goat.

This study was conducted to investigate the hair production and fleece characteristics of hairy goats according to the sex and age of animals. The material of the study consisted one total data of 73 hair goats, which were between more than one year-old and one year-old Lori goats from both sexes (26 males and 47 females). The overall fleece weight, fiber length, lock length, washing yield, hair fiber diameter, coefficient of variation f diameter, breaking load, tenacity and elongation were 429 ± 23.7 g, 6.2 ± 0.3 cm, 8.9 ± 0.4 cm, 73.9 ± 0.6%, 82.6 ± 1.8 micron, 24.3 ± 0.8%, 7.6 ± 0.3 kgf, 10.2 ± 0.4 gf/Tex and 14.0 ± 1.0%, respectively. It was found that age and sex had a significant effect on fleece weight and lock length. Furthermore, fiber length, fiber diameter and coefficient of variation of fiber diameter were affected by age of Lori goats. Adults showed a tendency to present higher fiber tenacity (10.3±0.6 gf/tex) and lower fiber elongation (12.4±1.4%).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cottonseed meal (CSM) treated with sodium ben-tonite (SB) on certain blood components and immune response of laying hens. A 3 ´ 3 factorial arrangement with 3 levels of SB (0, 10, and 20 g/kg of diet) and 3 levels of CSM (0, 100 and 200 g/kg of diet) were used within 9 dietary treatments of 4 replicates each. Nine mash diets were fed to 288 commercial Hy-Line W-36 hens from 51-63 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected at the end of trial to evaluate the blood constituents. The SB, CSM, or their interaction (SB´CSM) did not have any adverse effect on blood cells and activity of serum enzymes. Sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were used as antigen to quantify the antibody response. Two birds per replicate were injected with SRBC at 60 week of age. After 7 and 14 d of SRBC inoculation, blood samples were obtained from the brachial vein of each hen, and total anti-SRBC, IgG and IgM titers were determined. A significant difference of SB, CSM or their interaction was not observed for total antibody response against SRBC inoculation; however, IgG was significantly increased with 20% CSM at 7 d (7.62 vs. 8.45) and with 2% SB at 14 d (2.79 vs. 3.66) after injection of SRBC. The interaction of SB and CSM for IgG was significantly different among dietary treatments and diet with 2% SB and 20% CSM had the highest titer (5 vs. 2.5) at 14 d after injection of SRBC. In conclusion, SB, CSM or their inter-actions did not affect blood constituents but significantly changed immune response of the birds.

The aim of this study was to test the genotypes effect of DGAT1 gene on breeding value in Iranian Holstein milk production traits. For this purpose, 103 semen samples of registered bulls were collected and then gen-otyped for partial region of DGAT1 gene. The studied traits were milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY), protein yield (PY), fat percentage (FP) and protein percentage (PP). First lactation records of 43044 dairy cattle from 2000 to 2007 were used. The PCR-RFLP method was used for genotyping DGAT1 gene. The Hardy Weinberg equilibrium for allele and genotype frequencies was analyzed with Chi-square test using PoP-Gen software. Genetic parameters of studied traits were estimated by REML method under animal model with DFREML software. The breeding value of individual was predicted by BLUP method. Different geno-type effect of 97 of 103 proven bulls on breeding value of milk production traits were investigated by GLM procedure of SAS (9.1) software. The mean of breeding value of proven bulls with different genotype were compare with Duncan test. The observed genotype frequency results showed KK (0.592), KA (0.408) and AA (zero) and the allele frequency obtained was K (0.7961) and A (0.2039). The KK genotype was con-firmed by sequencing method and the K allele, with long of 411 bp, was registered in gene bank of NCBI with accession number EU077528. Estimated heritability of studied traits were 0.35 (0.02), 0.33 (0.02), 0.31 (0.017), 0.28 (0.02) and 0.27 (0.016) for MY, FY, PY, FP and PP, respectively. The average breeding values of MY, FY, PY, FP and PP were estimated as: 180.2 (28.8) kg, 3.7 (1.26) kg, 2.3 (1.06) kg, -0.036 (0.014) % and -0.03 (0.01) %, respectively. The average breeding value of MY for KA and KK genotypes were 288.8 and 109.6 kg, respectively and the difference was significant (P<0.01). The average breeding values of FY in bulls for KK and KA genotypes were 5.6 kg and 0.91 kg, respectively (P>0.05). The aver-age breeding values of PY for KA and KK genotypes were 0.025 and 5.5 kg, respectively (P<0.05). Differences between means of breeding values for FP and PP were significant (P<0.05), these values for genotype KK and KA were -0.009% and -0.067% for fat and -0.016% and -0.059% for protein, respectively.

In this study, the incomplete gamma function, an exponential function, a mixed-log function and a polyno-mial function were evaluated to describe the lactation curve in Moroccan Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Data from 1990 to 1999, comprising 77130 monthly milk yields of 6029 dairy cows in 280 dairy herds, were used. Edits were carried out by considering the lactation length (<305 d), days in milk (DIM) at which the first test-day was recorded (>5 d and <50 d) and the interval between two consecutive recordings (<60 d). The models were compared based on the mean square error, the adjusted coefficient of determination and the estimated difference between actual and predicted milk yields. The estimated mean square errors of the models were slightly equal differing only in the first decimal for the incomplete gamma function (33.8) and for the other three models (33.7). The adjusted coefficient of determination was estimated to be 0.18 in the exponential function, mixed-log function and polynomial function but 0.91 for the incomplete gamma function. The estimated difference between actual and predicted milk yields was zero for all the models. It was concluded that all models provided an acceptable level of accuracy in describing the shape of the lacta-tion curve for Moroccan Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, but Wood model is observed to be the most suitable.

The objective of the present study was to determine polymorphism within the promoter region of somato-tropin receptor genes in indigenous Sistani cattle (Bos indicus) and associations between this polymorphism and breeding value of birth weight. The pedigree structure was included by considering 1173 animals with 600 progeny birth weight data obtained from a Zhark breeding station in Sistan and Baluchistan. Heritability was estimated for birth weight using different univariate models with the derivative-free approach of restricted maximum likelihood algorithm (DFREML). The average weight of each birth was 23.9 ± 3.16 kg. The effects of non-genetic factors were significant (P<0.01) for birth weight. Direct heritabilities (h2) in single trait analyses were 0.31 ± 0.06. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood and semen using conventional methods. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assays were used to genotype this candidate gene in 72 individuals with the birth weight record. The observed al-lele size was similar to that reported in the literature. The Sistani cattle showed higher frequency of alleles ALuI (+) than ALuI (-) in population. Statistical analysis was conducted to test the association of this poly-morphism with the breeding value of birth weight data. There was not significant association between pro-ducing genotypes and birth weight trait. Future research on another candidate gene and growth trait strongly is encouraged to deep in the understanding of growth pattern in this breed.

The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic and phenotypic parameters for some reproductive traits of Black Bengal does. Genetic parameters were estimated by Residual Maximum Likelihood procedure, fitting an animal model ignoring maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects. The least-squares means of litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), litter weight at birth (LWB), litter weight at weaning (LWW) and gestation length were 1.50, 1.29, 1.58 kg, 6.37 kg and 144.71 days, respectively. The effect of parity of doe was significant for LSB, LSW, LWB and LWW. In general, LSB, LSW, LWB and LWW increased with the progress of parity. The effect of season of kidding was significant for LSW, LWB and LWW. Estimates of heritability for LSB, LSW, LWB, LWW and gestation length were 0.08, 0.13, 0.10, 0.00 and 0.18, respectively. The low estimates of heritability obtained for reproductive traits indicated that selection based on the doe’s own performance may result in slow genetic improvement.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of age and sex on the fleece characteristics of 40 Iranian indigenous Khorasan goats. Goats were divided into two different sex and age (kids and adults) groups. Fiber characteristics under study were: fleece weight, fiber length, lock length, fiber diameter, coefficient of fiber diameter, breaking load, resistance, elongation, hair percentage and down fibers percentage. The results showed that sex and age had a significant effect on fleece weight and fiber diameter. The average fleece weight was 214.6 ± 0.5 g in males and 186.9 ± 4.15 g in females while 196.2 ± 15.8 g in kids and 205.5 ± 15.8 g in adults. The average fiber diameter was 88.4 ± 4.5 microns in males and 73.5 ± 3.9 microns in females while 73.4 ± 3.9 microns in kids and 88.5 ± 4.5 microns in adults. The resistances of hair in kids (8±0.9 grf/t) were lower than in adult goats (10.5±0.7 grf/t). Fleeces had down fibers (1-30% with the average amount of 11.1%±2.2), average fiber diameter of 16.4 ± 0.6 micron and coefficient of variation of fiber by 18.3 ± 1.1%. The correlation between fiber length and lock length, resistance and lock length were 0.9 and 0.6, respectively which was considered highly positive. In the overall view, according to the approximately low fleece weight, low fiber length and including of down fibers in the fleece of indigenous Khorasan goats, they are categorized in hair goats with medium quality fleeces.

Black Bengal goat is the heritage and one of the potential genetic resources of Bangladesh. Least-squares means for body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 1.09, 5.12, 8.02, 10.92 and 14.47 kg, respectively. Sex of the kid has significant (P<0.05) effect on body weights at 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Type of birth and parity of the dam has significant (P<0.01) effect on birth weight only, whereas season of birth affected (P<0.05) all the body weight traits. Heritability estimates for body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 0.45, 0.47, 0.45, 0.49 and 0.47, respectively. Genetic correlations between body weight traits ranged from 0.34 to 0.83, whereas phenotypic correlations ranged from 0.34 to 0.90. The high heritability estimates obtained for body weights indicated that mass selection would generate substantial selection responses at all stages of growth.

To investigate the characteristics of skin and leather of hairy goats according to their sex and age, 120 goat skins were selected from the western part of Iran. Results indicated that sex and age had significant effects on weight and area of skin and leather. Moreover, sex and age had significant effects on thickness in different parts of skin except the belly. In this regard, the overall mean weight of skin and leather were 1074.8 ± 27.9g and 427.2 ± 25.9 g, respectively. High coefficients of variation (28.3 and 66.3 percent, respectively) were found in these traits. The ranges of skin and leather area were from 30 to 80 dm2 and 38 to 115 dm2, respectively. Parts of the body (shoulder, hip and ribs) and sample position (parallel and perpendicular) significantly affected the mean of breakage force, tensile strength and elongation of tested pieces. A wide range of breakage force, tensile strength and elongation 4.5-66.0 kgf, 63.4-558.3 kgf cm-2 and 22.0-141.3% were found in the goat leathers, respectively. The results of this study indicated that there are differences between quantitative and qualitative traits of skin and leather of different goats. To achieve better quality goat products, attention should be paid to differences in skin quality of different sexes and ages of goats.

Black Forest horses are typically chestnut colored with flaxen mane and tail. However, as their coat color can get very dark, they are sometimes also indicated as silver, a color depending on a black base color. To analyse if the silver allele is present in the Black Forest horse population, we genotyped 250 horses of this breed for formerly reported coat color mutations within MC1R and SILV. As a result, all Black Forest horses of this study were chestnut colored due to MC1R genotyping. Surprisingly, the silver mutation (SILV-1852C>T) occurred with a prevalence of 0.8%. As chestnut coat color is predominant in this breed, the silver mutation is expected to have very few to no phenotypic appearance in Black Forest horses and presumably results from incrossing of another breed.