ANIMAL SCIENCE RESEARCHES (FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF TABRIZ)
Year:2013 | Volume:23 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:16

The objective of this study was to determine the nutritive value of grape pomace and pomegranate seed pulp using, in situ and in vitro (gas production) techniques. For this purpose two ruminal fistuled sheep were used. Nylon bags methods 5g of samples were incubated in duplicate in the rumen of fistulated sheep for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h. The gas production was recorded after 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36 and 48 h of incubation. The data at the different times was analyzed using completely randomized design. Dry matter disappearance of grape pomace (45.75%) at 48 h was higher than pomegranate seed pulp (36.23%). At 48 h of incubation CP disappearance of grape pomace was 43.36% that was significantly higherthan pomegranate seed pulp (40.04%) (P<0.05). The gas production volume at 48 h for grape pomace andpomegranate seed pulp were 220.46 and 167.69 mL/g DM, respectively. Contents of metabolisable energy (ME) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) for grape pomace and pomegranate seed pulp were 8.02 MJ/kg DM, 52.72% and 6.84MJ/kg DM, 44.79% respectively. It was concluded that grape pomace and pomegranate seed pulp as cheap feedstuff sources can be replaced with part of feed stuff animal’s diet.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of some nutritional and injectable mineral-vitamin supplements on milk and milk components and colostrum quality in transition dairy cows during the summer season. One hundred high yielding, multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to four groups (25 cows per treatment). The treatments were consisted of: (1) control, (2) injection of Se- vitamin E supplement, (3) minerals and vitamins supplement bolus, and (4) combinations of treatments 2 and 3. The injectable supplement was contained vitamin E and Se and the dietary bolus was contained Cu, Co, Se, Mn, I, Zn, and vitamins A, E and D3. The data showed nutritional bolus increased (P<0.05) milk yield of cows. The group supplemented with injectable vitamin E-Se with nutritional bolus had higher (P<0.05) milk protein yield (kg/d). The treatments affected milk solids nonfat and the control group had lower content (P<0.05) than those others. The nutritional bolus decreased (P<0.05) and injectable Se- vitamin E increased (P<0.05) milk somatic cell score (SCS) compared with control group. The treatments just affected the colostrum fat content. It is concluded that the nutritive bolus with or without injectable supplement had positive effects on milk and milk components and colostrum composition.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of wheat bran with or without enzyme on growth performance and carcass traits of broiler chickens. Total 320 commercial male broiler chicks (Ross 308) with equal weight were divided between 8 treatments with 4 replicates and 10 birds for each. Treatment consists of four levels of wheat bran (0, 10, 15 and 20 percent) and two levels of commercial multi enzyme (0 and 0.05 percent) respectively. On day 42, 8 birds from each treatment were slaughtered and various organs weighed separately. Data were analyzed as a factorial experiment (4×2) based on completely randomized design. The results showed including wheat bran in the diets had significant effect on performance traits. Feed intake was significant between treatments and the diets with enzyme had a higher feed intake. The weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broilers was affected (P<0.05) by the levels of wheat bran. Adding enzyme to diets improved weight gain and FCR significantly (P<0.05). Highest weight gain and lower FCR observed in diets with enzyme. The effect of wheat bran on carcass components showed that use of wheat bran increased the gizzard and abdominal fat weights (P<0.05). Adding the enzyme was also significantly reduced the weight of the proventriculus (P<0.05). The results of this experiment showed that we can use wheat bran as part of protein source in the diet of broiler.

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between concentration changes of metabolites and estrogen, progesterone, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 hormones with ovarian follicular cyst formation in dairy Holstein cows. For this purpose, blood samples of 20 dairy cows (10 healthy and 10 suspicious cows to having ovarian follicular cyst) were collected before slaughtering. After slaughtering, ovarian follicular fluid of healthy and cystic follicles were aspirated. The blood and follicular fluid concentrations of glucose, urea, triglyceride, and total cholesterol and also the amounts of estrogen, progesterone, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 were determined, using related commercial kites. This study showed that unlike of follicular fluids, the amounts of metabolites were similar in blood serum of healthy and suspicious cows. Glucose concentration was around 148.15 percent higher in cystic follicular fluid than large healthy follicle (P<0.05). The amount of triglyceride in cystic follicle fluid was 142.12 percent greater than healthy follicular fluid (P<0.05). The amounts of urea and total cholesterol did not differ between cystic and health follicular fluids. Estrogen, progesterone, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations did not differ significantly between blood serum of cystic and healthy cows. In comparison between estrogen and progesterone concentrations of follicular fluids, the levels of estrogen around 141.83 percent and progesterone around 241.44 percent were greater in healthy follicular fluid and cystic, respectively (P<0.05). Although, the amounts of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 did not differ statistically between healthy and cystic follicular fluids, the levels of insulin were 184.62 percent greater in healthy follicular fluid than cystic follicular fluid. Pierson’s correlation coefficients between estrogen and glucose, total cholesterol, progesterone, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 were positive, while these coefficients between estrogen with urea and triglyceride were negative. In addition, correlation coefficients between blood serum estrogen with triglyceride, total cholesterol, insulin-like growth factor-1 and progesterone were positive, but with glucose, urea and insulin were negative. In general, this study showed that the follicle fate is mainly dependent on the follicular fluid compositions, in particular glucose and triglyceride.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of changing stimulus ewe on sexual performance of Arkharmerino×Moghani rams. Males were submitted to two different sexual stimulation procedures. At first procedure, the same ewe was used as the female stimulus for two consecutive presentations, but at second procedures the stimulus ewe was replaced after the first presentation by a new ewe. Sexual behaviors were recorded by observers outside the pen. The only significant difference showed between two sexual procedures about latency for first mount (91.78 vs.44.15 second respectively for first and second sexual procedures, P<0.05). However, the differences between any of the groups in terms of anogenital investigations without Flehmen, anogenital investigations with Flehmen, mount attempt, Foreleg kicks, latency for first ejaculation, time from the first ejaculation until next mount and mount without ejaculation were statistically insignificant. The results showed that under cold region, crossbred rams exhibit full repertoire of sexual behaviors, Hence, the changing of stimulus ewe could not be a positive influence on sexual performance of rams.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of male on the incidence of estrous and feeding behavior of Afshari ewes.Forty-eight Afshari ewes, 3 years old, 67±2 kg live weight, body condition score 3, along with 10 Afshari rams were used to study the effects of male effect on feeding behavior of Afshari ewes in breeding season. The study was performed during a period of 6 weeks in complementary randomized design. Ewes were equally divided into three treatments (T1, T2 and T3) along with a control treatment (T4) having 6 animals in each group. Variable factors of treatments was the distance of the ram box (from the ewes), which was determined to be the T1 (0-5 meters), T2 (10-15 meters) and T3 (25-30 meters). Exposure of the ewes to the rams resulted in an earlier incidence of estrous signs (P<0.05). Moreover the total recorded estrous signs were significantly affected by the distance from the rams (P<0.05). The results of study showed a difference in feed intake of the ewes due to the distance from ram (P<0.05). In the other words, the distance of ewes from rams can significantly affect feed intake of the Afshari ewes.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different energy and protein levels in finisher diet on performance, carcass yield and blood serum lipids of broiler chicks during 42 days. In this experiment 1080 one day old ROSS 308 male broiler chicks raised on floor pens. A randomized complete design with a 3×3 factorial arrangement was used with 4 replicates and 30 male broilers in each replicate. The experimental diets consist of three levels of metabolizable energy (2700, 3000 & 3300 Kcal/Kg) and three levels of crude protein (10% lower, based on & 10% higher than the recommended level of Ross 308 broiler requirement in each level of energy) were offered during 29-42 days of age. Results of this experiment indicated that increasing dietary metabolizable energy level significantly reduced feed intake (P<0.05), body weight gain and feed conversion ratio significantly improved (P<0.01), also the energy and protein intake significantly increased and protein efficiency ratio decreased (P<0.01). The concentration of VLDL significantly decreased by increasing dietary energy level from 2700 to 3300 Kcal/Kg (P<0.05). Increasing dietary crude protein level significantly increased body weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio (P<0.01), significant increase of energy efficiency ratio, protein intake and decrease of protein efficiency ratio were observed (P<0.01), also feed cost per Kg of gain and abdominal fat significantly decreased (P<0.05). Interactions of energy and protein on feed intake (P<0.01), energy intake (P<0.05) and protein intake (P<0.01) were significant. Results of this experiment indicated that 3300 Kcal/Kg for energy level and 10% higher than Ross 308 broiler recommended level for protein in finisher diet improved performance of Ross 308 broiler chickens and reduced the cost of production.

The current study aimed to determine chemical compositions, energy contents and in situ dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) degradability in the second harvest alfalfa samples collected from different regions of Kurdistan province. Chemical compositions significantly differed among the alfalfa samples collected from different regions of Kurdistan province (P<0.05). The alfalfa samples collected from Sanandaj and Kamyarna had a higher CP content compared to the other samples (P<0.05). Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents were significantly higher in alfalfa samples from Baneh and Marivan than in the other samples (P<0.05). Alfalfa samples from Sanandaj and Kamyarna had a significantly lower neutral detergent insoluble CP (NDICP) content than in the other samples (P<0.05). Acid detergent insoluble CP (ADICP) were significantly lower in alfalfa samples collected from Baneh and Marivan than in the other samples (P<0.05). Because of a higher total digestible nutrient at production level of intake content, digestible energy at production level of intake (DE3×), metabolizable energy at production level of intake (ME3×), net energy for lactation at production level of intake (NEL3×), net energy for maintenance (NEm) and net energy for growth (NEg) were significantly higher in alfalfa samples collected from Sanandaj and Kamyarna and Ghorveh, Dehgolan and Bijar than those which collected from the other regions of Kurdistan province (P<0.05). In contrast to DM, the kinetics of degradation of OM and CP in situ differed significantly among the alfalfa samples collected from different regions of Kurdistan province (P<0.05). The alfalfa samples collected from Ghorveh, Dehgolan and Bijar had the highest effective CP degradability, while the lowest effective CP degradability was observed in Baneh and Marivan (P<0.05). Also, the highest and the lowest effective OM degradability were observed for Baneh and Marivan, and Ghorveh, Dehgolan and Bijar, respectively (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results of current study demonstrated that alfalfa samples collected from different regions of Kurdistan province differed with regard to chemical compositions, energy contents and kinetics of degradation of OM and CP in situ.

This study was carried out to evaluate effect of some blood elements and metabolites on repeated breeding in dairy cows. Blood samples (n=62) were taken from both healthy and repeated breeding cows. Then, the concentrations of glucose, urea, total protein, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol and triglyceride were measured with spectrophotometer and of insulin and progesterone hormones with ELISA. Two statistical models were used in this study: in the first model, using GLM procedure, the effects of status, parity, breeding season and milk records in sampling month (as covariate) on measured blood metabolites and hormones. The results indicated that breeding status of animal had significant effect (P<0.01) on blood phosphorus and insulin and breeding season had highly significant effect (P<0.01) on blood's phosphorus, total protein and insulin while had significant effect (P<0.05) on calcium and progesterone. Parity had significant effect (P<0.05) on blood's urea only. Milk records in sampling month had no any significant effects on any of the metabolites and hormones. In the second model, the logistic regression was used to find any relationship between animal's status with measured variables. The results showed that blood insulin concentration had significant effect (P<0.01) only. It can be conclude that with one unit increase in insulin concentration, probability ratio of healthy to diseased animals increased by 4.1021 units.

In order to study the effect of the presence of egg yolk and adding seminal plasma to coated sperm, the semen were collected from 4 Taleshi rams by using artificial vagina. To coat the sperm, semen was collected within the tube containing Tris-fructose-15% egg yolk. After the initial evaluation, the samples are mixed and centrifuged. After removing supernatant and diluting, samples were divided into 3 equal parts; they were cooled to 4oC and incubated for 44 hours. Three methods (R, M and N) were performed to add seminal plasma. In R method, sample was centrifuged and supernatant were removed. In M method, sample was centrifuged and mixed with the supernatant. In N method, nothing was done and sample was kept at 4oC. Sample, which obtained from each method, was split into three equal parts after that the amount of zero, 10 and 20% seminal plasma were added and aliquots incubated at 4oC. Sperm motility, functional membrane integrity, viability and acrosome integrity were estimated after 4 hours. The lowest of sperm motility (10.83%) and viability (57.58%) were observed by R method (P<0.05). The functional membrane integrity was higher in N method (61.33%) than R method (52%; P<0.05) and there was no difference between R method or N method and M method. The methods did not effect on the acrosome integrity. Therefore, removing egg yolk was not useful for coated ram spermatozoa after storage at 4oC.

In a completely randomized design, the effects of different levels of supplemental DL-methionine in starter diet of broilers on performance, humeral immunity, carcass efficiency and heamatological indices were investigated. Two hundred and eighty eight day-old Ross 308 hybrid chicks were divided into 16 groups (4 treatments, 4 replicates and 18 chicks per replicate). Dietary treatments were four levels of sulfur amino acids (SAA), (0.7, 0.8(control diet based on NRC), 0.9 and 1.0%). At day of 21 old, feed intake and weight gain of 0.7% SAA group, were significantly lower than other three groups (36.72 vs. 40.07, 41.52 and 39.92 g/chick/ day, for feed intake; 21.62 vs. 24.41, 25.59 and 25.96 g/chick/ day, for weight gain, respectively) (p³0.05). Chicks consuming diet with highest level of SAA had lower feed conversion rate than first group (1.54 vs. 1.70 g/g, respectively) (p³0.05). Antibody titer (HI) against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in chicks of third and fourth groups were higher (p³0.05) than second group and second group was higher (p³0.05) than first group (4.5, 4.0, 2.5 and 1.0, respectively). Chicks consuming diet with 0.9% of SAA, in starter, had lower abdominal fat than first group at day of 42 old (1.58% vs. 2.5%, respectively) (p³0.05). The results of this investigation indicated that for developing of humeral immunity of broilers and lowering of abdominal fat, quantity of SAA in starter diet must increase than NRC (1994) recommendation.

For the comparing the growth potency of crossbred and Ghezel lambs by analysis the univariate and repeated measures traits in period 40 male lambs of the same age were used. Genetic groups were included the 7 heads of pure Ghezel lambs and the 7 heads Baluchi×Ghezel crossbred lambs, 7 heads Arkharmerinoos×Ghezel and the 10 heads Arkharmerinoos×Moghani and the 9 heads Baluchi×Moghani lambs. The lambs in 90 days of age were fattened for 110 days in 5 groups. Birth weight, final weight, mean of average daily gain and mean of total average gain in 14 to 70 days of period were studied traits in this investigate. Total traits once analyzed by GLM procedure and mean of daily weight gain and mean of total weight gain in 14 to 70 days of period were analyzed by mixed procedure of SAS 9.1 software again. In second method CS structure were used as the variance and covariance structure. Within traits the effect of genetic combination was significant on the daily weight gain and total weight gain in 14 , 28 and 42 days of fattening period (P<0.05). At the univariate analyze of traits Ghezel breed lambs have a high performance in 14 and 28 days of period, and Arkharmerinoos×Ghezel in 42 days and Baluchi×Moghani crossbred lambs in 56 days too. At the repeated measures analysis of traits Arkharmerinoos×Moghani crossbred lambs have a low performance, in 28 days Ghezel breed lambs have highly performance and in 42 days Ghezel breed lambs have lowly performance. With regard to obtained results and calculated standard errors for the comparing of least square means at the analysis of tow used methods, obtained results of repeated measurement traits were more accurate than univariate analysis of traits and using this method is recommended at the same researches.

In this study the effects of late gestational protein restriction (LGPR) on birth weight, growth rate and plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), insulin, urea and glucose in subsequent sucking lambs was investigated. Forty eight singe-bearing ewes from indigenous Lori-Bakhtiary sheep were fed iso-energetic diets either with 12.5% (Control; n=24) or 8.6% (Restricted; n=24) crude protein from day 105 until parturition. Ewes were fed ad-libitum after parturition. Lambs birth weight, morphological characteristics (head size, body length and height), and growth rate and feed conversion rate until age of one-month were recorded. Blood samples were taken at birth, 4, 10 and 15 days of age and were analyzed for IGF-I, insulin and urea and glucose. LGPR decreased lambs birth weight (p<0.05) but had no significant on morphological characteristics (p>0.05). Glucose plasma concentrations were the lowest on birth day (p<0.05) and increased with age. Insulin values did not significantly differ between control and restricted lambs (0.97 vs.1.20mg/dl). IGF-I values were not affected by LGPR with 204 and 213 ng/ml for restricted and control lambs respectively. Urea concentrations were 45 and 43 mg/dl for control and restricted lambs respectively. Urea values at age 15 were significantly lower in restricted (29mg/dl) in comparison to control lambs (41mg/dl). In conclusion LGPR born lambs showed lower birth weight and lower plasma urea concentration which might be a sign of better protein metabolism in subsequent suckling lambs.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of milk production level and parity on early postpartum ovarian follicular function in dairy cows. Nineteen Holstein lactating cows were assigned based on their milk production into two high (≥35 kg/d) and low-producing (<35 kg/d) groups. Weekly ovarian follicular studying was performed using ultrasound, starting at 7 days after calving continuing for five weeks. Number and size of follicles were recorded. The bloods were collected weekly at the same time of ovarian monitoring to determine blood metabolites and estradiol hormones. Results showed no significant relation between the levels of milk production with follicle size. Mean (±standard error) of follicle size for high and low-producing cows were 9.06±0.90 and 11.13±0.58 mm throughout experimental period, respectively. Mean (±standard error) of follicles size did not differ between monoparous and multiparous cows. Blood plasma concentrations of estrogen and progesterone were greater in low and high-producing cows, respectively. Least squares means of blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C did not differ significantly during the experiment and between low- and high-producing cows. In conclusion, this study indicated that the size of preovulatory follicles were the same in low and high-producing cows and also between monoparous and multiparous cows. Therefore, milk production and parity can not reduce postpartum reproductive performance through influencing follicle size.

In the present research, a number of 25, 086 weight records at week eight (W8) of native chickens of Razavi Khorasan belonging to 25, 086 progeny (represented 432 sires and 2937 dams) during four generations between 2006-2009 were used. In the used animal model, fixed contemporary groups of generation-hatch-sex, covariable of weight at birth (W1), as well as direct and maternal additive genetic random effects were included. The results revealed that heritability of W8 was found to be 0.32. Regression coefficients of W8 on W1 were estimated to be 4.192 g and 3.2008 g for male and female chicks, respectively which were significantly different from each other (P<0.01). Direct and maternal additive genetic variances were 2042.48 and 933.92, respectively and covariance between them was found to be -936.47. Breeding values for W8 were determined by solving Henderson's mixed model equations. Mean change for breeding values over four generations and two sexes were not statistically significant. It could be concluded that in spite of a high heritability for W8, genetic selection for the trait has not been effective.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of black cumin seed in diets containing different levels of protein on performance, litter quality and tibia bone parameters of broiler chickens. This experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with 2×3 factorial arrangement containing, 2 levels of protein (NRC, 1994 recommendation level and 87% of NRC, 1994 recommendation level) and 3 levels of black cumin seed (zero, 1 and 2 percent in diet). Three hundred and thirty six day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens (mixed sex) were allocated to 6 experimental diets with 4 replicates of 14 chicks each. Results showed that the weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of birds fed diets containing NRC, 1994 protein level were significantly better than those fed 87% of NRC, 1994 protein level during the grower and whole period of experiment (P<0.05). In the grower and whole period of experiment, using 1 and 2 % black cumin seed in diets containing 87% of NRC, 1994 recommendation protein level led to relative increase in WG of birds. Litter nitrogen percent was insignificantly lower in birds fed NRC, 1994 protein level than those fed 87% of NRC, 1994 protein level. Tibia bone weight and bone external diameter was significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds fed NRC, 1994 protein level as compared to those fed 87% of NRC, 1994 protein level. Use of 1 and 2% black cumin seed in diets of containing 87% of NRC, 1994 protein level improved bone weight, tibia external and internal diameter in broilers, but no such effect was found in those fed NRC, 1994 protein level. Based on the results of this experiment, use of black cumin seed in low protein diet can improve performance and some tibia bone characteristics of broiler chickens.