Animal Science Journal
Year:2014 | Volume:27 | Issue:1 (102)|Papers Count:14

Iran has production capacity about 820 Million commercial poultry in a year. For this reason, poultries develop various strains. The production companies register their records namely performance. This study was carried out to comparison conformity of performance in five broiler strains (Arbor Acerse, Arian, Lohman, Cobb500 and Ross 308(with their catalogs). In this trial was used 400 chickens from Five strains that were allotted in randomized completely design. Weight body chickens, feed intake and feed conversion were compared with their catalogs at end of per periods. Body weight and feed intake were significant different to catalogs in 28, 42 and 45 days (P<0.05). Related to trait of body weight in 28 days the most and the least conformity whit their catalogs belonged to respectively to Arian and cobb, and in 42 and 45 days the most and the least conformity belonged to respectively to Arian and Ross. The most conformity with catalogs about feed intake in 28, 42 and 45 days belonged to respectively to Lohman, Arian and Arbor Acrse.

This experiment was performed to evaluate the different ratios of organic and inorganic selenium (0:100, 30:70, 50:50, 70:30, 100:0) on the performance and blood parameters of broiler breeders. In a completely randomized design 6 dietary groups were tested in 4 replicate pens of broiler breeders. The results showed that fertility, settable egg production, hatchability and chick percent were significantly increased among the organic selenium diets compare to the inorganic selenium diet and control. Egg quality was improved for the hens received organic selenium rich diets than that of the inorganic selenium diet and the control (p<0.05). At the 4th week, WBC was significantly lower in 30% organic selenium diet than the other groups (p<0.05). At the 8th week, the serum T4 to T3 ratio had significant difference among the 100% organic selenium diet, 100% inorganic and control diets (p<0.05). The results showed that the organic selenium supplement, improved productive and reproductive performance and egg quality in broiler breeders at the end of the trial.

Since the implementation and development of a productive activity would be recommendable and can be developed after identifying. its economic aspects, and because the accuracy of implementation of projects in different fields is extremely important, especially in animal husbandry, economic evaluation of production units in order to evaluate the performance of units is enjoy a special place. In this research effort were given to the examination of economic evaluation of ostrich fattening breeding units in Hamadan province, according to the present sitnations. units selected in this study using stratified sampling and data collected through interviews and questionnaires of ostrich farmers in Hamadan. Indices studied in this research were net present value, benefit to cost ratio and internal rate of return. The results showed that the net present value of ostrich fattening breeding units was positive and greater than zero, the benefit to cost ratio was greater than one internal rate of return was high. In other words, the construction of ostrich fattening breeding in Hamedan Province is economically beneficial.

Sweet potato [Ipomea batatas (L.) Lam.] is a versatile crop utilized for human consumption, animal feed and as raw material for industry and has dry matter digestibility above 70%. Given the importance of forage production in tropical and low-rainy regions, an experiment was performed as factorial in randomized complete block design with two factors: planting date consists 22 August, 5 and 20 September and cultivar (White and Red type) in four replicates in Minab region. The traits such as plant length, leaf and lateral stem number were recorded during the test and in the end of experiment shoot fresh weight and yield of storage root were measured. The greatest shoot fresh weight for fresh forage production was obtained from 22 August planting date with 26.8 ton/ha and the least from 20 September with 6.9 ton/ha. Red type cultivar had shoot fresh weight more than White type cultivar. Based on the results of this research, for forage production in Minab region, planting of Red type cultivar of Swet potato was recommended in 22 August.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a commercial emulsifier (Avilac E®; 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg of diet) and 2 levels of fat (soap stock) the growth performance and apparent digestibility of dietary fat in broiler chickens. In experiment 1, growth performance of 720 straight run Ross- 308 broilers (15 male, 15 female) was evaluated. In experiment 2, effect of 4 different levels of emulsifier on fat digestibility was determined during first and second weeks of experiment. Addition of emulsifier, significantly increased feed intake during 1-21 d. Body weight gain was significantly increased when 100 or 200 ppm, but not 300 ppm, of emulsifier was added in the diets from 1-21 days. Main effects of dietary fat on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio was not significant at different periods of experiment. The interaction between Avilac and dietary fat for feed intake during 1-21 and feed conversion ratio for all periods of experiment was significant. In experiment 2, Addition of the emulsifier to broiler diets had no significant effect on apparent fat digestibility, although there was a numerical improvement for 100 and 200 mg/kg levels during week 1 and 2 of experiment. Based on the result of the current study, it is concluded that the hydrophilic emulsifier had the potential to increase body weight gain (at 100 or 200 g/kg level) and feed intake during early growth.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of sugar beet pulp and combo multi-enzyme in diet on performance, egg traits, biochemical parameters and blood cells of commercial laying hens. This experiment carried out with 384 Hi-line (W36) laying hens in a completely randomized design as (4×2) factorial arrangement with four levels of sugar beet pulp (0, 2, 4 and 6%) and two levels of combo multi-enzyme (0 and 0.05%) in 8 treatments, 4 replicates and 12 birds per replicate for 12 weeks (35-46 weeks). Using 0.05% of combo multi-enzyme in diets improved the egg production performance, feed conversion efficiency and decreased the feed cost for each kilogram of egg production. In interaction effects, the best egg production performance and feed conversion ratio and the lowest feed cost for each kilogram of egg production were resulted with 4% of sugar beet pulp and 0.05% of combo multi-enzyme. The highest values of egg yolk color index, eggshell, albumin, egg yolk and Haugh unit were observed by 4% sugar beet pulp. Using 4% sugar beet pulp decreased the eggshell thickness. In interaction effects the best egg traits were obtained with diet contained 4% sugar beet pulp and 0.05% combo multi-enzyme. Using combo multi-enzyme in diets could not change the egg traits (P>0.05). Different levels of sugar beet pulp and combo multi-enzyme did not have any significant effects on blood biochemical and immune cells of laying hens (P>0.05). The overall results indicated that in laying using 4% of sugar beet pulp and 0.05% of combo multi-enzyme improve their performance, egg traits and reduced the production cost.

In the present study, the records collected by Animal Breeding Center of Iran between 2001 and 2010 were used to estimate the genetic parameters of Iranian Holstein milk yield trait with test day and 305 day corrected records. GLM procedure was used for fitting the fixed effects in the statistical models of analysis. Analysis was performed using AIREML algorithm. In random regression model the Legendre polynomial functions of orders (5, 6) were chosen to fit the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. Heritability and repeatability estimates were 0.209 and 0.392 with repeatable animal model and 0.106 to 0.278 and 0.688 to 0.810 with random regression test day model, respectively. Average heritability of milk yield in random regression model was higher than one in repeatability animal model especially late in the fourth month of lactation, therefore the selection in this period and random regression model can be more accurate.

A study was conducted to examine different levels of hull-less barley and triticale on performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broilers during 1-42 days. Five hundred and twenty five 1-d-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to 7 groups according to completely randomized design. Each group comprised five replicates with 15 chickens each. Commercial corn-soybean meal diet was used as control treatment. Other dietary treatment contained 15, 30 and 45% hull-less barley and 20, 40 and 60% triticale to replace corn as B1, B2, B3, T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous according to the National Research Council (1994) recommendation. Results showed that increasing amount of hull-less barley and triticale in the diet of broiler chickens reduced feed intake. Feed intake was affected by diets in the starter and whole period, and chickens fed 30% barley and 20% triticale had the maximum feed intake among dietary treatments. However, feed intake was no significantly affected by treatments in growth period (P>0.05). Body weight gain was significantly differrant among experimental groups in growth and whole period. In these periods, 30% barley and 20% triticale level, did not show significant differences with controls (P>0.05). Feed conversion ratio became worse in groups containing high levels of barley and triticale as compared to the control group; however, diets contains 15% barley and 20% triticale in both periods improved FCR compared with other barley and triticale groups. Abdominal fat percentage and carcass yield were not affected by diets (P<0.05). Serum triglyceride and urea concentrations were not affected by diets, but glucose has been influenced by different groups and the lowest value showed in chickens fed with 15 Hull-less barley (P<0.05). In conclusion, replacement of corn with hull-less barley up to 30% and hull-less triticale up to 20% did not have adverse effect on performance of Ross broiler chickens.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of summer savory essential oil (SSEO) with two types of diets (based on barley or corn) on performance, rumen ammonia nitrogen and some blood parameters of west Azerbaijan native kids. In a randomized complete block design with a 3x2 factorial (0.00, 200 and 400 mg/d of SSEO x barley or corn grain based diets) arrangement with 6 replications, 36 female Kids with 18±2.62 kg initial live weight were used for 11 weeks. Kids were kept in individual cages and had free access to food and water. Dry matter intake, weight gain and feed conversion ration were not affected by the treatments but rumen ammonia nitrogen was affected (P<0.05) by the SSEO were the lowest ammonia nitrogen was found in kids received 200 mg/d SSEO. The rumen pH was affected by the type of cereal grain (P<0.05) where it was lower in kids fed barley based diet. Concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, NEFA, BHBA, HDL, LDL, VLDL, blood creatinine levels were not influenced (P>0.05) by the treatments. In conclusion, the summer savory essential oil may affects the rumen degradabiltity and metabolism of nitrogen but did not affected the blood metabolites.

This research carried out to determine nutritive value of Aeluropus lagopides and to study the effects of different growth stages on its chemical composition and digestibility at three rangeland areas. The samples of A. lagopides were taken randomly at three stages including vegetative, flowering and fruiting. Samples from each stage of each area were determined for DM, CP, Ash, EE, NDF, ADF, ADL, Ca, P, K, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, DMD, OMD and DOMD. Data statistically analysed based on completely randomized design with three treatments (growth stages) and three replicates (rangeland areas). DM, Ash and ADF content of studied plant increased with growth improvement but its CP, P, K, DMD, OMD and DOMD decreased (P<0.05). This plant at vegetative and flowering stages can supply protein requirement and a great part of energy requirement of different grazing ruminant groups (sheep and goat) at rangeland areas. Ca, K, Mg, Na, Fe and Mn content of A. lagopides at different growth stages were greater than those critical limits for sheep and goat but P, Cu and Zn content at flowering and fruiting stages were less than those critical limits.

In order to evaluate of drinking water quality of dairy farms in Isfahan province, water samples were collected from 70 volunteer dairy farms in winter and summer of 2010. The Samples were sent to laboratory for determination of water quality parameters. Then, all data were analyzed by the GLM procedure of SAS software. Results were compared with standard values using one- sample T-Test. The farms categorized based on water quality by cluster procedure of SAS. Results were reported separately for each dairy farm. Results showed that there was not any significant difference between the two seasons in terms of chemical quality, with the exception of hardness, calcium, fluoride and potassium. Results indicated that chloride content in more than 80 percent of well water sample and 10 percent of tanker water sample were higher than standard value. TDS, EC, Ca and K in more than 50 percent of well sources were higher than the maximum limits (P<0.05). Hardness content in 75 percent of well source and more than 20 percent of tanker source were higher than the maximum limits and K content in more than 40 percent of well source and less than 10 percent of tanker source was higher than standard limits. It can be concluded that overall drinking water quality of many units tested for high-producing cows is unfavorable.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Watercress powder on performance and immune responses, by using 200 broilers. The brids were spilt into four groups and each group into five parts which include 10 brids. The levels of zero (N0), 1 (N1), 2 (N2) and 3 % (N3) powder of Watercress containing 82 mg/Kg quercetin were added to basal diet of each group from 4 to 42 day of old. To assay cellular immune responses, 0.1 ml PHA-P (0.2 mg/ml) was injected in the skin fold of wings at 16 d and thickness of skin were measured after 24 and 48 h. The humoral immune responses was estimated by means of injection of the 25% SRBC suspension (0.1 ml) in the breast muscle at 8 and 22 d and the titers of IgG and IgM anti SRBC was determined by haemagglutination test at 21, 28, 35 and 42 d. The results showed that feed conversion ratio was lower in N3 (1.63) than control (1.74; P<0.05). The titer of IgG was higher in N3 (6, 3.8 and 2.53, respectively) than control (4.33, 2.67 and 1.87, respectively) at 28, 35 and 42 d (P<0.05). Cell immune response was higher in N3 (0.22) than control (0.04) after 24 h from PHA-P injection (P<0.05).The results concluded that the addition of the consecutive 3% Watercress powder to diet may improve performance and immune responses of broilers.

In this study, 25 hybrids of corn in the forage experimental field of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) were assessed for qualitative nutritional value that may be targeted in breeding programs of SPII. The whole corn hybrid plants were chopped and then random samples of the forage hybrids were prepared. For approximate analysis, AOAC (1990) methods were used, and for metabolisable energy (ME) assessment, laboratory gas production technique was performed. Experimental design was laid out as a randomized complete design with 3 replications. 22 maize hybrids and 3 control hybrids (KSC700, KSC704 and KSC720) were evaluated for their metabolizable energy which per unit of dry matter were different and significant (P<0.05) among hybrids. The average gas production of experimental hybrids in 24 hours and short-chain fatty acids were different and significant (P<0.05). The final result showed hybrid no. 16 had the highest ME content (P<0.05). So corn hybrid “K47/2-2-1-21-2-1-1-1×K3545/6” is recommended for development and Planting.

This study was conducted to evaluate effect of reducing alfalfa hay particle size on feed intake, chewing activity and performance of Holstein dairy cows in mid lactation. The experiment was designed as a replicated 3x3 Latin square using 6 lactating dairy cows averaging 105±15 day in milk (DIM), 556±16 kg body weight (BW) and two parity (3 diets with 3 periods). Each period lasted for 21 days including 14 days adaptation and 7 days sample collection. Diets were chemically similar but varied in peNDF content (high, medium, and low) by altering alfalfa particle length. The physical effectiveness factors for the long (chopped), medium (rechopped twice), and fine (rechopped thrice) alfalfa were determined using the Penn State Particle Separator. The peNDF contents of the diets were 22.03, 20.17, and 19.07%, for the high, medium, and low diets by means Mertens formulate, respectively. Decreasing forage particle length increased DMI (p<0.001). Chewing time, (including eating and ruminating time), were decreased by decreasing dietary peNDF (p<0.001). Ruminal, fecal and urine pH were not significantly affected by peNDF content. Reduction of particle size increased Milk fat corrected (MFC, 4%) (p<0.001), milk fat (p<0.01), and protein production (p<0.05), non-fat total solids (p<0.05) and body weight gain (p<0.001). Nevertheless, Reduction of particle size had not significant effect on percentage of milk fat, protein and lactose. In conclusion, results showed that Reduction of particle size improved milk production and composition of Holstein dairy cows in mid lactation.