Journal of Animal Production
Year:2018 | Volume:19 | Issue:4 |Papers Count:16

The current study was aimed to evaluate the performance of the 13th generation of breeding improved queens in Iran Honey Bee Breeding Program, and to compare them with control queens kept in private apiaries. The mother queens were reproduced by beekeepers in south of Iran to evaluate and compare these queens with queens reproduced in private apiaries across the country. To evaluate the queens, specific questionnaires were designed based on Likert scale and completed by beekeepers. The results showed that the improved queens had better performance than control queens in terms of swarming, defensive behavior and overwintering in comparison of queens kept in private apiaries. In other words, the genetically imprived colonies significantly are different from control colonies (P<0. 05). Furthermore, swarming evaluation revealed that the superiority of bred colonies (P<0. 05). For example, despite of limited space and compacted frames, the colonies did not start to make queen cells. The results demonstrated that Iranian honey bee breeding is effective in improving of target traits and the use of these queens is essential for increasing beekeeping performance in Iran. According to the results, in spite of comparative advantage, there was no significant difference between the bred queens and control queens in terms of honey production and population. From the results, although all the efforts in desirable honey production were paid off, more time and novel methods are required to improve above mentioned traits. From the other side, resistant races against biotic and abiotic stresses should be conserved to produce high quality honey in serious time and conditions.

This study examined the effects of partial replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with heat-treated soybean meal (HSBM) in diets of heat-stressed cows. Thirty-two multiparous Holstein cows (DIM= 110± 20, milk yield= 40± 4. 1 kg) were used in a complete block randomized design with a 2×2 factorial arrangment of treatments. Treatments included two dietary crude protein (CP) levels (i. e. 17 and 15. 5%) each supplied with either SBM or HSBM partially replaced for SBM. The experiment was conducted in two periods of 28 days with the last seven days for sampling and collection of data of tempreature, nutrient intake and digestibility and blood variables. Average THI showed that cows were in mild heat stress (70. 60 and 71. 50 for periods 1 and 2, respectively). Diets with 15. 5% CP and based on HSBM increased intakes of dry and organic matter (P<0. 05); however, this was not observed in diets with 17% CP. Milk yiled and composition, apparent nutrient digestibility and blood variables were unaffected by treatments. Ruminal butyric and isovaleric acid increased in cows received HSBM (P<0. 05); however, level of CP had no effect. Results showed that feeding HSBM in diets with 15. 5% CP could improve DM intake of mild heat-stressed cows.

This research was conducted to investigate the effect of processing sesame straw with low steam pressure, sulfuric acid and enzyme mixture on digestibility and ruminal fermentation, protozoa population, rumination and some blood parameters of Arabi sheep. Twelve sheep were fed with control diet (without sesame straw), diet containing sesame straw processed with 2. 4% sulfuric acid and low steam pressure at 130° C for 120 min and 3 gr/kg DM enzyme, diet containing sesame straw processed by sulfuric acid and enzyme and diet containing sesame straw processed with water. The dry matter and organic matter intake, daily gain, feed conversion, apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, NDF and ADF did not differ between treatments. The processing did not affect ammonia nitrogen, pH, and rumen protozoa species of sheep. Chewing, rumination and resting times were different between treatments and the greatest rumination time (491. 67 min per day) was for processing with acid and enzyme (P<0. 05). The eating, rumination and chewing time for dry matter, ADF and NDF, and blood glucose and urea of sheep were not different. Therefore, according to results of this experiment, sesame straw processed with water, processed with sulfuric acid and low steam pressure and enzymes and processed with acid and enzyme can be used at the expense of wheat straw in the sheep nutrition.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding waste date and ensiling periods on chemical compositions and quality of ensiled lemon. For ensiling, different levels of waste date without stones (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%) were mixed with lemon pulp and ensiled in two-liter containers for 25, 35 and 45 days. After opening the silages, samples were taken for determination of dry matter, crude protein, ammonia-nitrogen, neutral detergent fiber, organic matter and ash. The pH of silages was determined immediately after opening. The effects of waste date supplementation without stone were studied as a factorial design (3×4). The results of this study showed that silage of lemon pulp with 30% waste date improved silage quality and increased DM, OM and pH (P<0. 05). However, CP, NDF, NH3-N and ash were decreased (P<0. 05). Also, lemon pulp silage with 30% waste date had the highest energy and sensory evaluation than those of other silages. In conclusion, supplementation of 30% waste date without stone to the lemon pulp and the optimum ensiling period of 45 days are recommended.

In this experiment, the effect of oak kernel on digestibility, rumen fermentation and some blood parameters of Arabi sheep and Najdi goat were investigated. In this research, oak kernel (63%) was used for feeding six Arabi sheep and six Najd goats with the mean live weight of 50± 3 Kg for 28 days, and digestibility and fermentation, rumination and some blood parameters were measured. Obtained data were analyzed in split plots design. The results showed that dry matter intake and digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber were not affected by treatment and type of livestock. Regardless of the type of livestock, dry matter intake and crude protein digestibility in control treatment was significantly higher and regardless of the type of treatment, the digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fibre of goat was higher than sheep (P<0. 05). The ammonia nitrogen and pH of rumen between control and oak treatments for goats and sheep was almost the same. Time to eating, rumination and chewing for dry matter, NDF and crude protein between control and oak diets in sheep and goats was not different. Feeding the livestock with oak had no significant effect on the amount of blood glucose, urea nitrogen, cholesterol and triglycerides in sheep and goats. The results of this experiment showed that 63% oak fruit could be used in diet of Najd goat and Arabi sheep.

This study investigated the effects of alfalfa hay and corn silage particle size on chewing activity, passage rate of solid fraction in the rumen and performance of pregnant ewes. The experiment has been done using 30 ewes (35± 0. 4 months) in a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates during a 30 days period. Forages were including alfalfa hay (three sizes, geometric mean 2. 42, 4. 91 and 7. 04 mm) and corn silage (two sizes, geometric mean 3. 36 and 7. 73 mm). Treatments including fine particles of alfalfa hay and corn silage had the least physical effectiveness factor (pef > 8) and pef values (pef >8, pef >1. 18) were reduced with decrease in particle size (P<0. 05). Geometric mean also decreased (P<0. 05). Following reduction in particle size of forages, passage rate of solid fraction in the rumen and terminal part of digestive tract (TDT) were increased (P<0. 05) and retention time in the rumen, TDT and total retention time were decreased (P<0. 05). Feed intake time, chewing activity and total chewing time were not affected (P<0. 05). Results showed that it is necessary to consider the appropriate balance between particle size as a representative of the physical and chemical characteristics of the diet. The treatment of alfalfa fine particle size plus corn silage long particle size in most cases showed better results, and it seems that this treatment has provided a more appropriate balance in the diet for feeding ewes. Therefore, in preparing the pregnant ewes’ diet, we can expect better performance by considering the particle size.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Ferulla alliacea resin and wire copper oxide on internal parasite control as well as growth performance of Baluchi fattening lambs. Towenty-five Baluchi lambs, aged 6 to 7 months and weighed 20± 5 Kg on average were selected as trial sample. The experiment was done using completely randomized design with five groups as treatments replicated five times for 60 days. Treatments consisted of (1) control (without additive), (2) Ferulla alliacea resin, (3) copper oxide wire, (4) combination of copper and Ferulla alliacea resin, (5) albendazole (anti parasite druge). During the experiment period, some parameters such as EPG (the number of eggs per gr of feces) and PCV (hematocrit equivalent) were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 day of experiment, as well as weight gain weekly. According to the results, body weight changes were significant in 3th, 4th, 5th and 7th weeks (P<0. 05). No significant difference was observed for PCV at all times. In addition, it appeared that copper oxide, Ferulla alliacea resin and albendasole had the same effect on decreasing EPG on 60th d. In addition, the combination of Ferulla alliacea resin and copper oxide effectively reduced EPG in a shorter time (45th d). The findings showed that Ferulla alliacea and copper oxide can be used as control of internal parasites in sheep, especially in organic systems.

In order to investigate the effect of supplementary conjugated linoleic Acid (CLA) with injectable selenium (Se) and vitamin E (E-Se) supplement on immune system of Holstein cows and their calves 40 multiparous Holstein cows were used. The animals were divided in four experimental groups in a complete randomize design based on factorial expriment. The experimental groups were basal diet (Control), basal diet plus injectable E-Se supplement, basal diet plus CLA (100 g/day) and basal diet plus CLA (100 g/day) and injectable E-Se supplement. Blood samples of cows collected at days of injection. Blood samples of calves collected at birth day pre-feeding colostrum and 7d after birth. The results showed that CLA supplement had no significant effect on mean concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG), total antioxidant status (TAS) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in calves on days 1 and 7 (P>0. 05). Effect of injectable E-Se supplement on TAS concentration of Calves’ Plasma was significant (P>0. 05). The CLA and injectable E-Se supplements had no significant effect on mean concentration of IgG, TAS and MDA of cow’ s colostrum (P>0. 05). The CLA and E-Se supplements had no significant effect on TAS concentration and hematology parameters of dairy cow (P>0. 05). Based on acquired results use of CLA supplement in transition period had no effect on immune system of cows and their calves. Supplementary injection of E-Se significantly improved total antioxidant status of newborn calves.

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of in ovo injection and dietary feeding of flavonoid (Naringin & Hesperidin) on performance, carcass quality, meat antioxidant stability and hindgut microflora by total 600 fertile eggs were used for amnion injection (17. 5th day of embryonic) and hatched chicked divided randomly in four replications with 10 birds for growing period until 42d. Treatments by completely randomize design were 1, 2 and 3) 50, 100, 175 mg/kg flavonoids in diet, respectively, 4 and 5) 15, 30 mg/egg injection of flavonoid respectively and 6) injection of 15 mg/ egg and feeding 50 mg/kg flavonoid and 7) injection of 30 mg/ egg and feeding175 mg/kg and 8) control group. Treatments did not have a significant effect on performance traits compare to control group. Reduction of Malondialdehyde substances in tight and breast meat were observed in treatments (except 4) at 28 and 42 days than in the control group significantly (P<0. 05). The results showed an increase in population of aerobic and Lactobacillus and reduction in Coliforms of treatments than the control (P<0. 05) group. Therefore, adding 175 mg with or without 30 mg injection (high levels) of flavonoid to diet improved meat quality and dietary with 50 mg with or without 15 mg of flavanoid injection caused improvement in microbial population in hindgut. In overall dietary with or without injection of flavanones have positive effects on health and meat quality of broilers.

Effects of dietary inclusion of rice bran on production performance, carcass characteristics, ileal digestibility of nutrients and some blood parameters were studied using 240 day-old (mixture of male and female chickens) Ross broiler chicken which assigned in a completely randomized design to four treatments with five replicates of 12 birds each. The experimental treatments included control diet and diets containing 2. 5, 5 and 7. 5% of rice bran. The results of this study showed that although dietary inclusion of rice bran for all inclusion levels resulted in significant reduction (P<0. 05) in feed consumption and daily gain in starter, grower and entire rearing period, it had no undesirable effects on feed conversion ratio and production efficiency index for the entire rearing period. Even though the addition of rice bran at level of 5% caused significant increase (P<0. 05) in relative weight of duodenum and ileum in comparison with control group, this increase did not lead to improved digestibility of nutrient. Dietary inclusion of rice bran linearly increased the relative weight of liver (P<0. 05), but the relative weight of Bursa of Fabricius in chicks fed diets containing rice bran was not significantly different with that of in control birds (P>0. 05). Feeding chicks with diets containing 7. 5% rice bran significantly elevated serum concentration of glucose compared with those fed diets containing 2. 5 and 5% rice bran (P<0. 05). Dietary inclusion of rice bran linearly increased serum concentrations of cholesterol and VLDL in broiler chicks (P<0. 05). The results of current study showed that dietary inclusion of raw rice bran without any processing in the diet of broiler chickens is not appropriate.

This research was conducted to study the effects of the milk thistle powder on growth performance, blood parameters and liver enzymes in the 360 male broiler chicks (Ross 308). The studied factors were milk thistle powder at 0, 0. 3 and 3% levels and antibiotic Cotrimoxazole at 0 and 0. 2% per kg diet, which was a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 3 replications. Growth performance traits, blood parameters and liver enzymes were measured at the end of the experimental period (42-day). The different levels of milk thistle powder caused a decrease in the mean of feed intake and body weight in the whole period (P<0. 05). Consumption of milk thistle powder reduced cholesterol, triglyceride, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzyme and Alanine aminotransferase (ALA) enzyme of blood serum levels up to 12. 6%, 17. 8%, 16%, and 59. 7%, respectively (P<0. 01). Based on the results of this experiment, the use of different levels of milk thistle powder has led to a decrease in the concentration of liver enzymes. Therefore, the use of milk thistle powder at a rate of 3% in the ration of broiler chickens protects their livers.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of different levels of oak acorn (OA) with and without choline addition in broilers diet. The total of 528 one-day-old chicks were used in a factorial arrangement based on completely randomized design, with six treatments, four replicates and 22 chicks per each. Two studied factors were choline (0 and 0. 3% diet) and OA (0, 15 and 20% diet). In starter (d 1-21) and finisher (d 22-42) diets, corn was replaced with 15 and 20% OA, without any change in percentage of other dietary feed ingredients. The findings indicated that feeding birds with diets containing 20% OA reduced body weight gain during starter, finisher and entire period (d 1-42) of the study when compared to the diet without OA (P<0. 05). Dietary inclusion of 15 and 20% OA increased feed conversion ratio (except for 15% OA in finisher phase) compared to the level of 0%, throughout the study (P<0. 05). Dietary supplementation with 0. 3% choline improved starter and overall feed conversion ratio (P<0. 05). There was no significant interaction between OA level and choline for body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Replacing corn with OA resulted in a significant reduction in tibia bone ash weight/length index, at 42-day of age (P<0. 05). In conclusion, substitution of corn with 15 and 20% OA reduced the performance of broilers. Addition of choline did not prevent reduction in performance of OA-fed birds.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding Ethanolic lemon pulp extract (ELPE) to drinking water of broiler chickens on performance, immune system and blood serum parameters. We used 450 male and female day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) allocated in a completely randomized design with five treatments, five replications and 18 chicks per each. Treatments include no ELPE (control), 0. 4, 0. 8, 1. 2 and 1. 6% ELPE in drinking water from 2d until the end of experiment. Adding ELPE to drinking water did not have any effect on feed intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. The highest amount of IgM and the lowest amount of IgY belonged to group that fed 1. 6% ELPE. ELPE treatments significantly increased response to Phytohemagglutinin-M (PHA-M) injection compared to control group. The levels of triglyceride, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein were significantly lower in 0. 8 and 1. 6% ELPE treatments compared to other groups (P<0. 05). For treatment with 1. 2% of ELPE, the highest levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins, and very low-density lipoproteins were observed, which was significantly higher than other treatments (P<0. 05). Considering to reducing effects of 0. 8 and 1. 6% extract treatments on blood parameters such as triglyceride, low density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoproteins compared to control, these two levels are recommended.

The effects of two sources of organic zinc on performance and immune responses of broiler chickens were evaluated by using seven-hundred and fifty day-old Arian broiler chickens which randomly allocated in 30 experimental units in a completely randomized design as a 2×3 factorial with two sources of organic zinc (zinc-methionine and zinc-glycine) and three levels of dietary zinc (40, 80 and 120 mg/kg). During the experiment, live body weight (LBW), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly. At the end of the experiment (age 42 d) two birds from each replicate were bleed and total antibody titer against Sheep Red Blood Cell (SRBC), antibody titer against Newcastle Disease virus (ND) and differential count of white blood cells (WBC) were measured. Dietary inclusion of zinc-methionine improved LBW (day 42), FI (days 0-28) and FCR (days 0-14) in comparison with zinc-glycine (P<0. 05), but did not influence on productive index and livability. Antibody titer against SRBC was higher when 80 mg/kg zinc was included in diet (P<0. 05). Dietary inclusion of zinc-methionine improved performance of broiler chickens in comparison with zinc-glycine (P<0. 05). Enhancement of some immune responses was observed by addition of 80 mg/kg organic zinc supplement to the diets. According to the results, using zinc-methionine improved broiler performance, so it should be suggested as a zinc source.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of pigments extracted from Red bell Pepper with the synthetic pigments (Canthaxanthin) on performance and egg quality of laying hens. A total of 64 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens at 75 weeks of age, were randomly divided into four equal groups each with four replications. A completely randomized design with four treatment and four replications in each treatment was conducted to study the effects of four treatments including: 1. control diet (without addition of any pigments), 2. control diet + 25 mg/kg synthetic red Canthaxanthin pigments, 3. control diet + 15 mg/kg extracted pigments from red bell pepper, and 4. control diet + 30 mg/kg extracted pigments from red pepper. Extraction of pigments from red pepper was carried out using Hexane solvent and subsequently saponified by KOH. The results showed that egg production and egg quality were not affected by any of the treatments but the index of yolk color was significantly higher in laying hens fed either natural or synthetic pigments compared to control (P<0. 01). The oxidative stability of yolk’ s lipids in the eggs stored at 18oC for 21 days, was significantly improved in the hens received red pepper pigments (P<0. 05). It was concluded that synthetic pigments in the diet of laying hens can be substituted with 30 mg/kg natural pigments extracted from red bell pepper.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of borage (Echium amoenum) powder on performance, nutrient digestibility and some blood parameters in heat stressed broiler chickens. A total of 160, one-day-old male broiler chicken (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to four treatments with four replicates, 10 chicks each, in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments consisted of T1, basal diet (BD), T2, T3 and T4 included BD plus 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kgBW borage powder, respectively. The birds reared at the same condition till 24-day of age. The birds were kept at 34° C± 2 (9. 00am to 17. 00; for 8 hours) from 25 to 42 days of age. Dietary supplementation of 1000 mg/kg body weight (BW) of borage powder increased body weight gain and significantly improved FCR compared to that of basal diet (P<0. 05). Inclusion of 1000 mg/kg BW borage powder significantly (P<0. 05) increased protein digestibility. Addition of 500 or 2000 mg/kgBW borage powder significantly increased lipid digestibility (P<0. 05). Supplementation of diet with 1000 mg/kgBW borage powder significantly reduced (P<0. 05) heterophile to lymphocyte ratio and increased glutathione peroxidase activity (P<0. 05). Inclusion of 1000 mg/kgBW borage powder significantly (P<0. 05) reduced relative weight of bursa fabricious and pancreas in broiler chickens. It was concluded that supplementation of diet with 1000 mg/kgBW borage powder improved performance, protein and lipid digestibility and decrease negative impact of heat stress in broiler chickens.