ANIMAL SCIENCE RESEARCHES (FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF TABRIZ)
Year:2016 | Volume:26 | Issue:1|Papers Count:15

BACKGROUND: Flushing program can improve performance in sheep industry.OBGECTIVES: The aim of this study was evaluation the effects of using supplemental fat in Lori-Bakhtiari ewes flushing diet on their lambs' weaned weight.METHODS: Three hundred healthy and non-pregnant Lori-Bakhtiari ewes were selected and randomly allotted to three nutritional groups (n=100) as: basal diet (control or C treatment), basal diet with 250 grams barley grain(B treatment) and basal diet with 144.5 grams barley grain + 50 grams supplemental fat(BF treatment). Ewes received dietary supplement from day 14 before up to day 21 after ram introduction. Ewes' weight and body condition score before mating, ewes' weight at lambing, the number, sex, weight and type of lambs born, lambing date of ewes, lambs weaning weight and number of lambs weaned were recorded.RESULTS: Mean of ewes' weight at lambing in the BF group was higher than other groups (P<0.05).However, average lambs birth weight was numerically higher in BF group but, its difference with other groups was not statistically significant. Total birth weight of lambs per ewe exposed to mating was differ (P<0.05) and was highest in the group BF and lowest in control group. Similarly, total weaned lambs weight was highest in the group BF and lowest in the control group (P<0.01), however, the differences between groups BF and B, and B and control were not statistically significant.CONCLUSIONS: The use of supplemental fat with barley grain in Lori-Bakhtiari ewes flushing diet can be improved weight of weaned lambs.

BACKGROUND: Studies indicate elements and vitamins play an important role in reproductive function activities.OBJECTIVES: The present study was concluded to investigate the effect of organic and inorganic selenium supplements along with vitamin E to improve the properties of estrus in Ghezel ewes using CIDR.METHODS: Forty-four Ghezel ewes (Age: 2-3 years old, weight: 55±2 kg, body condition score 3) were used. Animals allocated in four groups including eleven ewes in each group. Treatments were divided into four groups: first group: As a control group (basal diet), the second group (basal diet + Barley grain), the third group (basal diet + Barley grain + vitamin E + selenium organic), and the forth group (basal diet + Barley grain+ vitamin E + inorganic selenium). Ewes received the experimental diets 2 weeks before mating and continued 3 weeks later. Oestrus was synchronized using CIDR.RESULTS: The highest and the lowest rate of return to estrus were observed in control group (45.5%) and in the fourth group (18.2%) respectively (P<0.01). Moreover, the first observed estrus after CIDR removal was belonged to third group which was significantly different compared to other groups (P<0.01). The estrogen levels of third and fourth groups during proestrus and estrus and progesterone concentration of third and fourth groups in 21 days after mating were significantly different from groups control and second group (P<0.01).CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the use of flushing diets containing organic and inorganic selenium along with vitamin E increased the estrus, the probability of fertilization and decreased the non-pregnant ewes.

BACKGROUND: The molasses and whey are byproduct. These are very beneficial as silage additive while increased silage nutritional value.OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to determine the effects of adding molasses and whey on the chemical composition, quality characteristics and also degradability of sorghum silage by nylon bag technique.METHODS: Sorghum was harvested in flowering stage with an average %25 DM. Experiment was done with three treatments and four replications. Treatments were included: 1. sorghum silage without additives (control), 2 and 3. Sorghum silage with %10 molasses (molasses) and %10 whey (whey) respectively. The forage was ensiled in a plastic bucket and stored for 81 days.RESULTS: The results showed that, in silages treated with molasses, dry matter, calcium, phosphorus and sodium significantly (P<0.05) increased and the amount of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) decreased (P<0.05). The qualitative characteristics of silages showed that whey and molasses significantly reduced ammonia nitrogen and pH (P<0.05) and resulted in significant increase in Flige Points (P<0.05). Also the water-soluble carbohydrate was higher in molasses silages (P<0.05). Quickly degradable fraction of dry matter and crude protein were higher in silages contained molasses (P<0.05). Silage treated with additives had higher effective degradability of dry matter, crude protein and cell wall on passage rates all per h compared with silage without additives (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: It is concluding that adding molasses to sorghum silage, increased some Chemical composition include DM, Ca, P and K and decreased NDF compared control and whey treatments. Using of additives improved quality of sorghum silage (decreasing of pH and N-NH3).

OBJECTIVES: This study was evaluated the pregnancy rates of fixed time artificial insemination after synchronization of follicular wave Ovsynch+ CIDR and Co-synch + CIDR protocols compared with artificial insemination after estrus detection in select synch protocol.METHODS: In this study, 42 cyclic buffaloes, uncertain stage of the estrous cycle, were randomly assigned into 3 groups. 1) Ovsynch + CIDR (n = 14), administration of GnRH at days 0 and 9, PGF2α at day 7 and insertion CIDR from days 0 to 7. Buffaloes of this group were inseminated 16 h after the second GnRH administration. 2) Co-synch + CIDR (n = 14), insertion the CIDR and administration of GnRH at day 0, administration the PGF2a at day 7 with remove the CIDR, and day 9 with second administration of GnRH, artificial insemination was performed.3) Select synch + CIDR (n = 14), hormone treatments of this group were similar to two other groups. But, there was not the second injection of GnRH and artificial insemination was performed after estrus detection during 3 days.RESULTS: The pregnancy rates of Ovsynch + CIDR (28.57±12.53%), Co-synch+ CIDR (50±13.87%) and Select synch + CIDR (28.57±12.53%) had not significantly difference.CONCLUSIONS: In summary, it can be concluded that Co-synch + CIDR protocol due to non-significantly higher pregnancy rate is more effective method, when compared with other protocols. and non-necessary to estrus detection as well as low labor.

BACKGROUND: Study of management and hygienic factors involved in mastitis and also offering appropriate treatment is very effective in lactating animals production.OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the conformity between organoleptic and microbial culture techniques to diagnose mastitis in industrial and traditional dairy herds in Daland city and to determine the kind of pathogens in milk samples and also antibiogram test for the common antibiotics.METHODS: Eight dairy cattle herds (four as industrial and four as traditional) were selected from the region. Three cows from each herd that seemed to be infected to clinical mastitis (according to visual, tactile and etc.) were selected and two morning milk samples were collected from each. Initially, samples incubated in general culture to observe colonies and then, differential tests were performed to identify Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Antiobiogram test was performed to determine the sensitivity to oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline and gentamycine.RESULTS: Results of microbal culture showed the incidence of mastitis in the most of suspected cow. Staphylococcus aureus infection was observed in all industrial herds' samples except one, and in 100% of traditional herds' samples, while Escherichia coli infection was only observed in one-fourth of industrial herds' samples and in 100% of traditional ones showing a significant difference between them (P<0.05). Antibiogram test showed that all pathogens were resistant to chlortetracycline, resistant to semi-sensitive to oxytetracycline and mostly sensitive to gentamycine. There was no significant difference between industrial and traditional herds.CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated the high conformity of organoleptic method with bacteriological method to diagnose clinical mastitis. Staphylococcus aureus in both industrial and traditional herds and also Escherichia coli mainly in traditional herds are mediated in dairy cows mastitis in this region. Udder pathogens in both kinds of herd in this region are relatively resistant to oxy- and chlortetracycline while gentamycine can be effective.

BACKGROUND: Cinamon and Turmeric have the active components that can be useful for the broiler chickens under heat stress condition.Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effect of supplementation of turmeric and cinnamon powders on performance, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters of broiler chickens under heat stress.METHODS: Two hundred one-day-old male chicks (Ross 308) were allotted to four treatments with five replicates each (10 birds per replicate) based a completely randomized design. The treatments were: the control (heat stress and without any supplements), and the heat stressed birds fed the 0.5% turmeric, 0.5% cinnamon, and a blend of cinnamon and turmeric (0.25% each). The experimental diets werefed during from day 25 to 42 of age and under the heat stress condition (32oC as cyclic).RESULTS: The results showed that the consumption of all experimental diets (turmeric, cinnamon and both together) increased the feed consumption and weight gain of broiler chickens as compared to the control during the finisher (25 to 42) and whole experimental period (1 to 42) (P<0.01). During the finisher period, heat stressed chicken had the highest feed consumption ratio (P<0.01). The consumption of experimental diets decreased the blood triglyceride as compared to the control (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, dietary consumption of 0.5% cinnamon and turmeric alone or together (0.25% of each one) improve the performance of broiler chickens under heat stress.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative lime pretreatment can be an effective method for treatment of lignocellulosic biomass in ruminant nutrition.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this experiment was to investigate effect of oxidative lime pretreatment on in vitro digestibility of dried date palm leaves.METHODS: A completely randomized experiment with a 3´3 factorial arrangement of treatments was conducted using 3 levels of temperature (40, 80, and 100oC) and 3 time periods (80, 160, and 240 minutes). Pretreatment of leaves was performed in a 2-walled reactor containing 600 ml water and under an oxygen pressure of 6.9 Bars.RESULTS: Increasing the processing time and temperature caused a significant decreased in lignin content from 13.3% in the unprocessed leaves to 3.6% in date palm leaves pretreated at 100 oC for 240 min (P<0.01). Highest levels of cell wall (84.9%) and cell wall without hemicellulose (60.5%) in the processed samples observed in dried leaves pretreated at 40oC for 80 min. Gas production potential increased with increasing temperature and time of the processing. Organic matter digestibility was 21.9% in unprocessed leaves and 40.1% in the leaves processed for 240 min at 100 oC. Oxidative lime pretreatment increased the metabolizable energy content and short chain fatty acid production of the leaves in the gas production experiment.CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that heating up during oxidative lime pretreatment increased the nutritive value of dried date palm leaves.

BACKGROUND: Pomegranate seed pulp (PSP) as a valuable and low cost feed may be used as a cereal grain replacement in ruminant diet.OBJECTIVES: This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of replacing some of cereal grains of diet with ensiled PSP (with or without added urea) on dry matter intake and production performance of south Khorasan crossbred goats.METHODS: A total of 21 goats with average daily milk yield of 645.8±0.15 kg and average body weight of 26±2.5 kg were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets based on collected records at pre-experiment period. Experimental diets were included: 1- control (without PSP), 2- containing 10% of ensiled PSP without urea, and 3- containing 10% of ensiled PSP with urea (DM basis), were fed individually as totally mixed ration to goats.RESULTS: Replacing some of cereal grains of diet with ensiled PSP without urea increased (P< 0.01) feed intake and decreased (P< 0.05) milk production, compared to control diet, but 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) production was not affected. However, replacing some of cereal grains of diet with ensiled PSP with urea had no effect on milk and 4% FCM production compared to control. The results of this study showed that replacing some part of diet’s grains by ensiled PSP without urea reduced the milk yield and feed conversion of goats but this replacing using ensiled PSP with urea did not affect the goat's performance.CONCLUSIONS: Ensiled PSP with urea can be used as a cost effective by-product for replacing of some part of diet’s grain and thereby reducing the production costs.

BACKGROUND: Vermicomposting can feed industry and its economy play crucial role.OBJECTIVES: An in vitro gas production technique was performed to investigate fermentation response to vermicomposting produced with the epigeic earthworm, Eisenia foetida. In order to prepare vermicompost, the rumen content was mixed with the three substrates including several mixtures of oyster mushroom and vegetable waste, and cattle manure.METHODS: The treatments of T1) control: rumen content T2) rumen content + vegetable waste+ oyster mushroom waste T3) rumen content + vegetable waste + cattle manure T4) rumen content + oyster mushroom waste + cattle manure, were adjusted using a completely random design.RESULTS: The results of present study showed that, unlike having lower amount of ash, NDF and ADF, T2 had higher (P<0.01) CP, EE and DM after vermicompost compared to control and other treatments. The cumulative gas production overall the incubation times increased significantly compared to T1 while the gas production rate had not been changed statistically. However, increased cumulative gas production at later times for T3 and T4 was evident (P<0.01). The estimated nutritive values such as ME, NEL, DOM and SCFA were increased significantly relative to other treatments (P<0.01).CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that the vermicomposting can be used to manage the organic wastes by biological processing to produce animal feedstuff. The results of this study indicate that the vermicomposting of the rumen content supplemented with the vegetable waste had valuable nutritive values as animal feed. The results of the present study were reported for the first time in which we investigated the application of vermicomposting of several organic waste as feed in animal nutrition. However, it is safe to say that our suggested method used in this study was the first research in which we used the several mixture of organic wastes in vermicomposting to produce animal feedstuff.

BACKGROUND: Macro-minerals in diet and water are the main sources of milk minerals in cows. OBJECTIVES: 1) Determination of macro-mineral concentrations and their local variations 2) Relationships among minerals in cows' milk and water consumption.METHODS: A 110 water and milk samples were prepared in north, south, west and east of Urmia, Iran. A 10 ml water and milk from each cow collected and analyzed for minerals. Data were assessed by case summaries, ANOVA and correlation methods.RESULTS: Milk calcium, magnesium and potassium were higher than in water and water sodium was higher than in milk. The lowest and highest mineral concentrations in water were phosphorus and sodium and in milk were potassium and calcium, respectively. The mean sodium and potassium in water and milk and chloride in water were different among locations (P<0.05). The highest water concentration of sodium and chloride were in the east, potassium in the west and chloride in the south while milk sodium and potassium were in the east of Urmia. Water and milk calcium and magnesium in different locations were not significant. No correlations observed among water minerals, but positive correlations were between calcium/phosphorus, calcium/magnesium and phosphorus/magnesium. Water and milk calcium and magnesium revealed optimal correlations with each other, while not between sodium and potassium in water and milk. The highest correlation rate was between calcium milk/drinking water (r=0.90) and magnesium milk/drinking water (r=0.70).CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of milk calcium and water sodium were the greatest elements. Milk and water sodium and potassium levels were different among Urmia distinct with the greatest in the east. Water minerals were not correlated with each other but milk calcium, phosphorus and magnesium did. Water and milk calcium and magnesium showed positive correlations with each other, thus, calcium and magnesium could provide the mineral necessities in milk yield.

BACKGROUND: Perspolis powder has compounds that is effective on performance and immune system of quails.OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding different levels of propolis powder (0, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg / kg) on performance and immune system of quail chicks.METHODS: Three hundred and twenty day-old Japanese quails (hatche) were allocated in a completely randomly design with 4 treatments and 4 replications per treatment until 36 days olds. At the end of experiment, live weight, feed conversion ratio, feed intake, European production efficiency factor, performance index, protein efficiency ratio, immune response and carcass parameters were measured.RESULTS: At 36 days of age, results showed that using 1000 mg/kg propolis powder as compared to other treatments increased live weight and improved feed conversion ratio, European production efficiency factor and performance index (P<0.05). Consumption of propolis powder had not significant effect on carcass percentage of quails. Feeding 1000 mg/kg propolis powder as compared to control group increased antibody titers against Newcastle disease and influenza and the total number of white blood cells in the males and females (P<0.05). Consumption of 1000 mg/kg propolis powder increased weight of bursa fabricius gland in females (p<0.05). Propolis powder consumption increased percentage of hematocrit in males as compared to control group (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: According to results of this experiment, growth performance and immune system of Japanese quail chicks fed diet containing 1000 mg/kg of propolis powder was better than other treatments.

BACKGROUND: Parasites and intestinal worms are one of the main causes of the economic decline in the sheep industry.OBJECTIVES: This research carried out for consideration of microsatellite polymorphism in the intron 5 of DRB2 gene and its association with the egg numbers of Nematodirus parasite in Ghezel sheep breed.METHODS: Blood and fecal samples were obtained from 80 male lambs at the age of 4-6 months. Fecal samples were collected from the lambs' rectum and the number of fecal eggs was calculated by the Clayton Lane technique. The DNA was extracted using Chloroform-Amyl Alcohol; and Microsatellite regions of intron 5 of the DRB2 gene were amplified. PCR products were electrophoresed on 3% Agarose gel. Allele sizes were determined by ladder 25 bp and Uvidoc software. The Proc Mixed was considered for evaluation of genotypes effects on the traits.RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed there was significant correlation between the numbers of Nematodirus parasite eggs and the polymorphism of DRB2 gene. Therefore, lambs that had the genotypes 300-300 in intron 5 of DRB2 gene had significantly (P<0.01) lower number of eggs in compare with the others.CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the polymorphism at this locus can be utilized as a useful tool in the selection programs based on markers.

BACKGROUND: Lamb survival is a complex trait that is influenced by the maternal ability, management practices, and environmental variables at the time of birth and during the rearing period.OBJECTIVES: In this study genetic and non-genetic parameters affected on lamb survival from birth to weaning were estimated for Baluchi, Iranblack and Zandi lambs.METHODS: Numbers of observation were 10793, 4826 and 6140 record of lamb survival from birth to weaning for Baluchi, Iranblack and Zandi breeds. Genetic parameters were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedure under 16 different models, inclusive animal, and sire and threshold models by ASReml software. In addition to an animal, sire and threshold models, using a logit link function, were used for analyses of lamb survival. The most appropriate model was determined based on Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) method.RESULTS: Mean of survival was 89.11, 84.44 and 87.37% for Baluchi, Iranblack and Zandi lambs, respectively. The most appropriate model for survival in Baluchi sheep including direct additive genetic effects and common litter effects, for Iranblack sheep including direct additive genetic effects, maternal additive genetic effects, maternal permanent environmental effects, common litter effects and covariance between direct and maternal additive genetic effects. However, the most appropriate model for survival of Zandi sheep only including direct additive genetic effects. The most appropriate model under sire models for Baluchi sheep including direct additive genetic effects and common litter effects, for Iranblack sheep including direct additive genetic effects, maternal permanent environmental effects and common litter effects. Also for Zandi sheep including direct additive genetic effects and maternal permanent environmental effects. Estimated direct heritability for survival with animal model was 0.08±0.01, 0.07±0.02 and 0.09±0.02 which after correction were changed to 0.22, 0.20 and 0.20 for Baluchi, Iranblack and Zandi sheep, respectively. Estimated direct heritability for survival with sire model was 0.06±0.02, 0.06±0.03 and 0.05±0.02 which after correction were changed to 0.17, 0.16 and 0.13 for Baluchi, Iranblack and Zandi sheep, respectively. In addition, the estimation of heritability for lamb survival from threshold model was 0.16±0.04, 0.22±0.07 and 0.17±0.06 for Baluchi, Iranblack and Zandi sheep, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the corrected heritability obtained from animal model and sire model did not differ from the estimated heritability from the threshold model.

BACKGROUND: The poultry meat and egg production, over the past years, has experienced upward trend in Iran. Production and distribution of products in the poultry industry needed to provide inputs. Corn is one of the most important inputs that can be pointed to it. Much of the corn required is provided by imports. Participation in the world futures markets or launch a futures market in Iran, as a tool of hedging, have significant role in reduce volatility of input and products prices as well as improving the welfare of consumers. The question that arises is that what amount of purchase is necessary as future purchase? This is the hedge ratio.OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to calculate the hedging rate.METHODS: that is calculated with two models: “Minimum variance” and “Mean- variance”. For this purpose, the monthly data of spot and futures prices of corn and exchange rates in the period March 2010 to February 2014 is used. The data are collected from the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs, the Central Bank of Iran and the Chicago Board.RESULTS: The results show that if 79% of the corn as future purchase, 57% of price risk decreases. With the entry of exchange rate to the models, hedge ratio is greatly increased, and if hedging instruments does not increase, the efficiency decreased.CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that importers and politicians consider the participation in world futures markets and the creation of a futures market in Iran as a hedging instrument.

BACKGROUNG: Meat is one of the important commodities in households Bundle. In many cases, types of meat intended as substitute commodities and consumers depending on the price of meat, income and consumer preferences of made the right choice. Mostly, household preferences changing due to economic problems and expectation is that, increasing awareness, change structure for different types of meat.OBJECTIVE: In this study, will be investigate the structural changes in consumer preferences.METHODS: Parametric and non-parametric approaches used to analysis the meat demand in Iran. Required data between (1995)-(2013) years collected from the Central Bank of Iran, Statistical Center of Iran and livestock Support Corporation.RESULTS: The results of non-parametric approach indicated that there is an inconsistency in the WARP matrix in (2000) year. Also parametric approach proves that there is a stability structural changing in different types of meat consumption.CONCLUSIONS: It seems an outbreak of BSE disease in Europe, was one of the important factors for this result. So import controlling and quarantine performance were recommended for reducing price fluctuation.