Iranian Journal of Animal Science Research
Year:2013 | Volume:4 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

Two experiments were conducted to determine lysine (Lys) requirements of two commercial strains, Ross 308 and Cobb 500, from 15 to 28d of age. Basal diet was formulated to be adequate in all nutrients except for Lys. Incremental levels of supplemental Lys were added to the basal diet generating six experimental treatments in a range from 0.60 to 1.20% digestible Lys. Birds were randomized across 48 floor pens (4 replicates and 12 birds in each replicate) in completely randomized design and each pen was fed one of six amino acid levels.Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and digestible Lys intake responded quadratically to graded levels of digestible Lys, and interaction effects between Lys and strain were significant for all performance traits except for feed conversion ratio. Digestible Lys requirements were estimated using broken-line linear and broken-line quadratic models. In Ross 308, digestible Lys requirements for body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were estimated at 0.95 and 1.08% of diet, respectively, by broken-line linear model. Digestible Lys need for body weight gain was optimized at 1.05% of diet using broken-line quadratic model. In Cobb 500, Lys requirements for body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were estimated at 0.89 and 0.98% of diet, respectively, by broken-line linear model. Digestible Lys need for body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were optimized at 0.99 and 1.14% of diet using broken-line quadratic model.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of different levels of mineral and vitamin premixes with wheat and corn base diets on performance and egg traits of laying hens. Experiment carried out as 2*5 factorial include wheat and corn base diets and 5 levels of minerals and vitamin premixes (0, 0.25, 0.35, 0.45 and 0.55 percentage) in a completely randomized design with 360 Hi-Line (W36) laying hens from 65 to 77 weeks in 10 treatments, 3 replicates and 12 hens in each replicate for 12 weeks. The results showed that diets composition, level of mineral and vitamin premixes, and interaction between them significantly affected the performance and egg traits of laying hens (P<0.05). In wheat base diet in contrast with corn base diet, egg production, egg mass, feed intake and feed cost for production per kilogram of egg decreased whereas feed conversion ratio increased.The highest amounts of egg weight, egg production percentage, egg mass and the best feed conversion ratio were observed by using 0.55% of minerals and vitamin premixes. The highest amounts of egg production percentage, egg mass, the best feed conversion, and the lowest feed cost per kilogram of egg were obtained by using 0.55% of minerals and vitamin premixes on wheat base diets. Adding 0.55% of minerals and vitamin premixes in wheat- base diet increased the percentage of Albumin and decreased the percentage of yolk egg. The overall results of the present study indicated that in laying hens diets replacing of corn with wheat and adding 0.55% of minerals and vitamins premixes improve their performance and decreased egg production cost.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding of two commercial absorbent products in feeds and to compare the results with the effect of adding of natural zeolite in reducing the adverse effects of aflatoxin B1 on broiler growth, performance and immune system. In this study, 200 one day old Arian 386 broiler chickens were used in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments, 4 replications and 10 chicks per each treatment.Experimental groups were as follows: negative control fed basal diet; positive control fed basal diet plus 1 mg aflatoxin B1 kg-1 diet; and three other groups fed 25g/kg Milbond-TX, Polysorb and Zeolite with 1 mg/kg aflatoxin B1, respectively. Feed intake did not significantly differ between the groups. The body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of birds fed contaminated diets were significantly decreased and increased, respectively but adding of the absorbent materials to contaminated feed caused a significant improvement in body weight gain and feed conversion. Among the internal organs, the spleen relative weights increased by consumption of aflatoxin B1contaminated feed. Aflatoxin B1 use without absorbent materials significantly decreased antibody production against Newcastle disease vaccine in 21 day. In addition, produced antibodies against sheep red blood cells in 35 day of age in birds fed aflatoxin B1 contaminated diets were reduced. The results of this study showed that the adding of natural zeolite and commercial absorbents in feeds contaminated with aflatoxin B1 causes improved performance and immune system compared with the group that received the aflatoxin B1 alone.

On experiment was designed for evaluating the nutritienal characteristics and physico-chemical properties of steam treated sugarcane pith (19 bar, 3 min.) and some other roughages. Steam treatment resulted in a significant decreased (P<0.05) in NDF (77 vs.55%), hemicellulose to cellulose ratio (0.54 vs.0.10) and increased hemicellulose solubility of and soluble sugar fraction (20vs.124 mg/g DM). Use of steam pressure improved the physical properties of sugarcane pith such, as increased bulk density (0.20 vs.0.31 mg/ml), solubility (8.2 vs. 12.8%), functional specific gravity (0.3 vs.0.57 g/ml) and soluble organic matter (6.3 vs.11.2), and decreased the water holding capacity (2.5 vs.2.1 ml/g). There were positive and negative regressions between the physical and chemical composition of roughages. There was a negative correlation between bulk density, Functional specific gravity, and solubility with NDF, ADF and lignin. Water holding capacity had a positive correlation whit these parameters. Steam-pressure treatment may improve nutritional value of roughage particularly sugarcane by-product compared with the untreated sugarcane pith for ruminant animals.

Ferula (Ferula assafetida) is a perennial plant which belongs to Umbellifere a family is grow in a wide range of arid and semi-arid regions in Iran.Ferulla assafetida contains compounds including coumarins and sesquiterpens that has been traditionally used to treat diseases such as nervous disorders, asthma, gastrointestinal disease and epilepsy.. Effects ofasafetida gum extract on blood parameters and histopathology of testes in male Wistar rat were studied using 32 rats with the initial body weight of 252 ± 4.3 g which randomly divided into 4 groups of 8 rats each the animals were injected with normal saline (control), and 75, 150 and 300 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) body weight of asafetida gum extract respectively. The result showed that, 300mg/kg asafetida gum extract caused adverse effects on blood cholesterol, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) concentration, while 75 mg/kg had positive effects on above-mentioned parameters. Serum testosterone significantly decreased by increasing the level of asafetida gum extract and 300 mg/kg group had the lowest serum testosterone concentration. The numbers of Leydig cell layers were suppressed in asafetida-treated animals in comparison with the control. In conclusion, therapeutic effects of asafetida gum extract are dose-dependent and the level 300 mg/kg caused adverse impacts on metabolites and reproductive performance in male Wistar rats. The refers morein vivo studies with bigger experiment population are required.

The aim of this study was investigating the effect of gamma irradiation and NaOH treatment of some agricultural by products (tomato pulp, orange pulp, pistachio hull and wheat straw) on fermentation parameters and gas production test. Treatments of gamma irradiation (50, 100 and 200 kGy) and %5 NaOH was done on each source of by products. The results showed that gamma irradiation at the dose of 200 kGy numerically and %5 NaOH increased (P<0.05) cumulative gas production of wheat straw and tomato pomace. There was no effect of treatments on cumulative gas volume of pistachio hull. In orange pulps highest gas volume observed in 200 kGy gamma irradiation treatment. Gamma irradiation at the dose of 200 kGy and %5 NaOH increased fermentable fraction (b) and rate (c) of gas production in wheat straw (P<0.05). Fraction of c and b in tomato pomace, pistachio hull and orange pulp increased by irradiation at 200 kGy and %5 NaOH treating orange pulp resulted in lower b fraction compared to control and other treatments. In conclusion in the samples with lower level of cellulose and hemicelluloses, gamma irradiating can be effective in increasing the fermentation potential in in vitro condition.

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding alfalfa hay and starter fiber level on feed intake and performance of Holstein dairy calves, using thirty two male calves in a completely randomized design assigned to four diets in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. The experimental treatments were as follow: T1: starter with low fiber and without alfalfa hay, T2: starter with low fiber along with alfalfa hay, T3: starter with high fiber and without alfalfa hay and T4: starter with high fiber along with alfalfa hay. Results showed feed intake was not significantly different in pre-weaning and throughout the study but after weaning there was significant difference among treatments. Average daily gain of calves was not significantly different during pre-weaning period but during post-weaning and throughout the study there was significant difference among treatments for this trait. Feed efficiency was not significantly different among treatments in pre-weaning and post-weaning periods but it was significantly different during throughout the study. The results of this experiment showed adding fiber to dairy calves ration through both starter concentrate and alfalfa hay may reduce their performance.

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of propionic acid, formic acid, molasses and molasses plus urea on chemical composition, microbial population, ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP), and aerobic stability of corn silage. Prior to ensiling, whole crop corn was chapped and treated with water (control), propionic acid (1%), formic acid (0.8%), molasses (5%) and molasses plus urea (13%). The Ensiling process was performed in 10 litter buckets. Silos were opened after 60 days. DM content was the highest in silages treated with propionic acid and formic acid. Formic acid treated silages had greater contents of crude fat (CF) and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) compare to other treatments. The CP content of corn silage was increased by combination of molasses and urea. All additives decreased Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Total count of microorganism in control group was higher than formic acid and propionic treatments. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count in silages treated with molasses and molasses plus urea was higher than other treatments. Yeast pollution was not observed in any of the treatments. By using propionic acid, and molasses plus urea, the yeast count in the control group showed a drastic decrease, up to zero. Molasses and molasses plus urea increased potential degradability of CP. Effective ruminal degradability (ERD) of DM at ruminal out flaw rate of 0.05h-1 in formic acid, propionic acid and molasses treatments was higher compare to control and molasses plus urea. ERD of CP in ruminal out flaw rate of 0.05h-1 in silages treated with molasses and molasses plus urea was higher than other treatments. Aerobic stability in silages treated with propionic acid and formic acid was higher than other treatments. In conclusion, quality of corn silage improved by additives.

The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of Iranian Turkmen Horse using microsatellite markers (HMS02, HMS03, HMS07 and AHT04). Blood samples were collected from 51 Turkmen horses in Khorasan Shomali province, Iran. Genomic DNA was extracted and then standard Polymerase Chain Reaction performed to amplify the microsatellite markers using specific primers. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 8% polyacrylamide gel. The results have demonstrated that the number of alleles in these loci varied from 9 to 12 with mean value of 10.5. HMS02 and HMS07 had the highest (12) and the lowest (9) number of alleles, respectively. HMS02 had the highest (0.8847) and HMS03 had the lowest (0.8039) heterozygosity rates. Also, polymorphic information content (PIC) was the highest (0.86) in HMS07and the lowest (0.77) in HMS03.Finally, the highest and the lowest value of Shannon index were estimated in HMS07 and AHT04, respectively.Results have shown that these four microsatellite loci have high polymorphism and can be used as suitable molecular markers in genetic studies.

The purpose of this research was the study of reproductive performance in postpartum dairy cows with different parities. Twenty Holstein dairy cows were assigned into two equal primiparous and multiparous groups.Body weight and body condition score (based on 1-5 scoring) were measured every other week, starting from two weeks before calving till pregnancy confirmation. Daily milk yield was also recorded. Reproductive parameters including days from calving to the uterus returning time, to the initiation time of clinical oestrus signs, to the first time of insemination and number of insemination per pregnancy were recorded. Meanwhile, blood serum concentrations of estrogen and progesterone were measured. Results indicated that, the mean (±SE) of body weight and milk production was significantly higher for multiparous cows. Blood serum concentration of estrogen (mean±SE) was significantly lower for primiparous cows (61.86±17.91 vs.71.39±17.02 pg/ml). The number of insemination per pregnancy and estrus frequency did not differ between both groups. However, the intervals (mean±SE) of calving to the uterus returning time (40.0±5.41 vs.24.0±5.41 days), to the first insemination (119.62±14.17 vs.67.5±14.17 days) and the initiation of clinical oestrus signs (28.5±4.5 vs. 19.67±8.5 days) was significantly higher for primiparous than multiparous cows. In general, this study demonstrated that the effect of parity on postpartum reproductive performance is modulated through its effect of blood serum estrogen level, uterus returning time and estrus initiation time.