Iranian Journal of Animal Science
Year:2015 | Volume:46 | Issue:3|Papers Count:13

The aim of present research was to locate genomic loci (QTL) on chromosome 2. Itis associated with the carcass traits in Japanese quail. The F1 population was created by using reciprocal crosses between two strains of white birds (layer) and wild (broiler) birds. The F2 birds (422 birds) were derived by random mating of the F1 birds. All of the F2 birds were slaughtered at 35 days of age and recorded for carcass traits. Blood samples were collected at slaughtering time to genotype for four microsatellite markers on chromosome 2. Genotypic and phenotypic data were analyzed for QTL mapping with interval mapping method based on regression applying three different genetic models. A total number of 15 loci was found to be significantly associated with carcass traits. In the first model all traits with dominance effect were significant. The second model often had significant QTL with dominance and imprinting effects and all the traits were closest to the GUJ0084 marker. When it comes to the third model, most of the traits were significant in the female with dominance effect. Results of this study showed the role of Non-Mendelian inheritance (genomic imprinting) and pleiotropy as well as single gene effects in some traits.

The aim of the current study was to assess effects of different levels of Origanum vulgare (0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg/L) on kinetics of gas production, some ruminal digestion and fermentation parameters, methane production and also to determine its potential in controlling rumen acidosis using in vitro method in four separate phases. In the first phase, the asymptote of gas production (A) and gas production rate (b) were changed nonlinearly and lag phase (L) increased linearly with increasing doses of oregano essential oils (P<0.0). The highest A and b and the lowest L were observed at 250 mg/L of the essential oil. In the second phase, the in vitro true dry matter (IVTDMD) and organic matter (IVTOMD) degradability, and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) concentration decreased at doses higher than 500 mg/L. However, the gas produced after 24 h of incubation (GP24) and microbial biomass (MB) were increased at doses up to 750 mg/L. The molar proportion of acetate and propionate increased and that of butyrate decreased at doses higher than 500 mg/L. Using oregano essential oil resulted also in a nonlinear decrease in concentration and percentage of produced methane, but had no effect at any of the used doses in controlling rumen acidosis.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different heating treatments (Autoclaving, roasting, steam flaking and Microwave irradiation) on chemical composition, anti- nutritional compounds (tannin and phenolic), in situ dry mater (DM) and crude prate in (CP) degradability. Three fistulated bull in a complete randomized block design and in vitro gas production kinetics (complete randomized design, 3 different runs, 3 replication for each of treatments) pre cleaninig chick pea wastes were used. Unprocessed and wastes (control) had DM (g/100 g), CP (%DM) and ash (%DM) content of 89.2, 26.1 and 2.26, respectively, in situ DM and CP effective degradability (g/100 DM & CP, respectively, k=0.02), digestible OM (g/100 g) and microbial protein yield (g/kg DOM) was 65, 79.5, 52 and 62.7, respectively. Heat treatments significantly (P<0.05) reduced soluble protein fraction, resulted in lower QDP, microbial protein yield and the higher amount of protein passing into the small intestine in compare to control group. Microwave irradiation had higher efficiency in reduction of tannins and phenolic compounds and lowest effective protein degradability was belonged to autoclaved materials. Roasting had higher efficiency in reducing QDP, without negative effects on OMD and ME estimates. According to the obtained results, cost and availability of processing, roasting is the best of processing method to reduce the rate of protein degradation in the rumen. In vivo experiments are needed for more evaluation of processing efficiency and economical values of chick pea pre cleaninig wastes in ruminants’ nutrition.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary levels of an active phospholipids source on immune system response in broilers using 180 male Ross 308 broilers chicks. Experimental diets containing 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6% of active phospholipids were prepared in a way that they had the same metabolizable energy, protein and other nutrients. Blood samples were collected at days 16 for Newcastle test, day 41 for differential measurement of white blood cells and at days 36 and 45 for SRBC test. The obtained results showed that different levels of active phospholipids source had no significant effect on lymphoid organs, number of heterophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, basophil, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, IgG and IgM titer as well as anti-Newcastle antibody titer in broilers. In conclusion, it seems that levels of used active phospholipids source had no effect on the evaluated immune parameters in this experiment.

The objective of this study was to explore the reproductive consequences of using sex-sorted semen on sex ratio, conception rate and reproductive disorders (dystocia, abortion, stillbirth) in Holstein heifers. Reproduction performances records which were collected during 2006 to 2013 from 4 large dairy herds in Isfahan province of Iran were used and analyzed by GENMOD procedure of SAS software. Rate of female born of sexed semen (86.3%) was 1.8 times higher than those of conventional semen (48.5%). Conception rate was generally decreased in three first services from 61.0% to 47.2% (P<0.001) in group of using sexed semen. Use of sexed semen was significantly decreased the incidence of dystocia in heifers (from 20.3% to 16.8%). There was no significant difference in abortion and stillbirth incidences between two groups of semen (P>0.05). The results of this study can used for analyses of cost- revenue for using sex-sorted semen dairy herds.

High through put sequencing of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) has revolutionized the fine scale analysis of the population structure in different species. Various methods have been proposed and used for the study of population structure using whole-genome marker data that each has advantages and disadvantages with respect to their characteristics. Super Paramagnetic Clustering (SPC) which is based on data mining was used in this study in order to investigate the population and sub-population structures in simulated populations. The purpose of applying this method was to achieve population structure without using any information from ancestral population. After editing the data, 29209 autosomal markers from 159 animals were analyzed. The results showed that animals are placed properly in their respective population and sub-populations based on their similarities and dissimilarities. The main advantages of this method are the computational efficiency and not requiring any prior assumptions. Therefore, it might be used to analyze the data from thousands of animals without any pedigree and ancestry information to reveal their population structure.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using powder and hydroalcoholic extract of Carum copticum on growth performance, blood parameters, relative weight of internal organs, intestinal microflora, intestinal histomorphology and meat quality in broilers in comparison to Virginiamycin antibiotic. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 8 treatments, 3 replicates and 12 birds in each replicates. Experimental treatments consisted of control diet (without any additives), antibiotic virginiamycin (100 mg/kg), Carum copticum powder (1, 2 and 3%) and Carum copticum extract (150, 250 and 350 mg/kg). Based on the results, in 1-42 d period, supplementing diets with virginiamycin, 1% powder and 350 mg/kg extract improved body weight gain and FCR. Blood parameters and the relative weight of carcass components (back, heart, liver, abdominal fat, gizzard, and pancreas) were not significantly affected by the treatments. Using 1% powder and different levels of the extract reduced the coliform bacteria population in the small intestine in compare to the control. Different levels of powder significantly increased villus height and crypt depth in compare to the control and virginiamycin treatments. Supplementing diets with 1 or 2% powder and different levels of the extract significantly reduced TBA. In conclusion, Carum copticum powder (1%) and extract (350 mg/kg) can be used as a good alternative to replace with growth promoters antibiotics.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of frequency of feeding total mixed ration (TMR) on total-tract digestibility, milk production and composition in lactating cows, using meta-analysis and meta-regression approaches. Data of fourteen experiments having containing 25 comparisons between treatment (higher feeding frequency) and control (lower feeding frequency) groups, defined selection criteria, were used. Data were analyzed using effect size method in STATA/SE. Increasing frequency of feeding decreased dry matter intake (DMI; weighted mean difference (WMD)= ‒0.134 kg/d) but had no effect on milk yield. Forage level of diet and days in milk (DIM) were the source of heterogeneity for standardized mean difference (SMD) of DMI. In this meta-analysis, higher feeding frequency had no effect on milk fat and milk protein content and yield. Increasing feeding frequency improved NDF digestibility (WMD= 5.663%). Results of univariate meta-regression showed that increasing frequency of feeding in diets containing high level of grains improved NDF digestibility, but in high forage diets lowered NDF digestion. In conclusion, delivery of TMR containing equal amounts of forage and concentrate three times vs. one times in a day decreased DMI but did not change milk yield.

In this research, two mating schemes for the management of recessive genetic disorders affecting abortion in a dairy cattle population were simulated. The first mating scheme was performed under three different scenarios: 1. The mating of a pair of two carriers of the same lethal haplotype was avoided. 2. It was avoided matings in which the service sires and cow's sire carried the same lethal haplotypes. 3. It was avoided matings in which the service sires and cow's sire or maternal grandsire carried the same lethal haplotypes. In the second mating scheme, matings were done randomly. The mating schemes were developed for 20-year time horizon. Similar genetic trend was observed for lifetime net merit in the three scenarios and the second mating scheme over time. The highest and the lowest cost belonged to the first and third scenario, respectively. In the second mating scheme, on average 22 cases of abortion due to the lethal haplotypes were occurred for an average 2290 matings per year. In the first scenario, no case of abortion resulting from the lethal haplotypes was observed. In the second and third scenario the approximate number of abortions for an average 2290 matings per year was 10 and 4 cases, respectively. The results of this study showed that in the current situation the third scenario with the lowest cost and less animal losses is suitable option for management of recessive disorders affecting abortion in dairy cattle population.

In order to evaluate the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on ascites incidence using this experiment was conducted 136 male one day (chicken Ross 308) in a completely randomized design with 2 treatments and 4 replication and 17 chickens in each replicate. Treatments includes: diet contain 4% soybean oil (n3:n6:0.112) and diet include 5.5% poultry oil (n3:n6:0.201). Birds were raised up to 48 days of age and exposed to a cool temperature (15±1oC) from day 21 thereafter. Blood samples (2 mL) were obtained from the wing vein at 21 and 48 days of age. At 21 and 48 days of age, 2 birds in each replication were slaughtered and the hearts, Liver and pulmonary artery were removed and dissected to measure right ventricular hypertrophy. The results have shown diet with 5.5% poultry oil significantly decreased blood viscosity (P<0.05). However concentration of thyroxin, rectal temperature and glutamate dehydrogenase activity were also significantly increased in this treatment (P<0.05). Malondialdehyde as an oxidative stress index significantly increased by diet contain 5.5% poultry oil. Based on results of this research it can be concluded that high ratio of n3:n6 in poultry oil couldn’t decrease ascites mortality as compare with soybean oil.

The objective of this study was to estimate the effective number of breeders in Sarabi cattle population using heterozygote-excess method based on single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Data consisted of 20 Sarabi cows. SNP genotyping was performed using Illumina High-density Bovine BeadChip designed to genotype 777, 962 SNPs. Average observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, minor allele frequencies and percentage of deviation from Hardy-Weinberg test were estimated. Effective number of breeders was estimated per each chromosome using NEESTIMATOR (v2) software based on heterozygote-excess method. Average chromosome-wise effective number of breeders was equal to 28 and corresponding average confidence interval was between 17.3 and 40.2. Results of this study indicated that Sarabi breed is on serious risk of extinction. Design of appropriate programs is necessary to conserve remaining purebred cattles.

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding fermented diets as a protein supplement, using different diets in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 7 replications per treatment for 50 days in apiary in Karaj area. Honey bee colonies were assimilated in terms of honey, population and same age sister queen. Experimental treatments included: 1. Fermented gluten meal, 2. Gluten meal, 3. Fermented soy bean meal, 4. Soy bean meal, 5. Pollen, 6. Sugar syrup. Actually, sugar syrup and pollen were used as control treatments. The results of statistical analysis of data showed significant difference in food consumption (P<0.05), where the highest to lowest food consumption of belonged to: fermented Gluten meal, Pollen, fermented Soy bean meal, Gluten meal, Soy bean meal and sugar respectively. Significant effect was seen on brood rearing (P<0.05), Fermentation gluten and soybean meal had the highest and lowest brood rearing between treatments respectively. No significant differences were seen in body protein and population size (P>0.05). The results of this experiment showed that fermenting protein sources has positive effects on health and increasing brood rearing in honeybee colonies.