IRANIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL SCIENCE
Year:2015 | Volume:5 | Issue:2|Papers Count:30

In this experiment 240 Hy-Line (W-36) laying hens from 65 to 75 weeks distributed in 5 treatments and 4 replicates (12 birds per replicate) in a completely randomized design were used. The amounts of watermelon skin meal (WSM) used to set the treatments were 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% in 1 to 5 experimental groups. The results showed that using WSM up to 2% significantly improved the performance and egg traits of laying hens (P<0.05). The highest amounts of egg weight, egg mass and egg production percentage, the best feed conversion, the lowest feed price for production per kilogram of egg, the highest albumen quality percentage were observed by using 2% WSM. By using 2% WSM the eggshell and yolk weight significantly decreased (P<0.05). The overall results indicated that in laying hens, using watermelon skin meal up to 2% of diets, significantly improved their performance and reduced the production cost.

Chicken has been used as a suitable model for lipid metabolism studies, because dietary modifications especially dietary fat type can change chicken body composition. Fats act as a condense source of energy and certain fatty acids such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are required for both animal and human health. The n-3 PUFAs, especially, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are well known for their favourable effects on human health. The n-3 PUFAs act as feed originated modulators of fatty acid oxidation and are feedback inhibitors of new fatty acid synthesis. This regulatory mechanism not only decreases overall liver lipid content and VLDL secretion, but also removes excessive very long-chain PUFA from cell membranes that may cause oxidant stress or damage membrane integrity. This paper reviews in brief the most important metabolic effects of PUFA in chickens.

The present study investigates the gap between the daily milk production potential and the effective milk yields in six herds. These two parameters and their changes were observed in the Gharb irrigation scheme (northwest of Morocco), during a five months study period. They were analyzed in relation to the changes in the rations of the cows and in their live weights. Results reveal that under conventional cattle rearing conditions in Morocco, i.e. the vast majority of smallholder units and farms with an area less than 20 ha, dairy production suffers from numerous setbacks. One of the most evident is farmer's lack of knowledge of cows’ dietary requirements and their changes throughout the lactation period. Moreover, dairy farmers seem to ignore the changes in forages net energy, rumen degradable and metabolizable protein contents, which induce many errors in providing concentrate supplements. Results also show that the effective milk yield is often inferior to the lactation potential, given the limited availability of forage coupled to errors in rations formulation. Finally, the results emphasize the need to reconsider the use of high genetic merit cows, because of their rising prices, in farms characterized by erratic fodder availability coupled to the absence of balanced rations formulation.

The aim of this study was to compare conventional and organic diets in beef production. Thirty-two dairy beef calves were used in 4 treatments: organic diet with three levels of forage [70% of organic diet with high amount of forage (ORH), 55% of organic diet with medium amount of forage (ORM), 38% of organic diet with low amount of forage (ORL)] and conventional diet (CON). The dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate (FCR) of calves were measured. The calves were then slaughtered at the end of the study. DMI was significantly differed among groups after the 5th period. However, FCR and ADG were significantly differed among the treatments in several periods. Carcass physical size, lipid and cholesterol were lower in organic diets compared to the CON. Significant increases were observed in organic meat for C18:2, C18:3 fatty acids, heminic iron, α-tocopherol and ß-carotene. The results of the study showed that calves fedorganic diet with high amount of forage had significantly lower FCR compared to the other diets.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of milking frequency (three times daily vs. two times daily) on the lactation curve shape, partial and 305-d lactation performance in Holstein dairy cows in Iran. Data from February 2000 to December 2012 comprising 217345 lactations on 141364 cows distributed in 324 herds collected by the Animal Breeding Center of Iran were used. The mean milking frequency was 2.88 (0.32) times and increased from 2.72 (0.004) times in 2000 to 2.97 (0.002) times in 2012. The shape of the lactation curve for cows milked thrice daily tended to be higher and flatter than that for those milked twice. The first parity cows milked twice daily had a significant lower days in milk (DIM) until peak (79.52 (0.49) days) than those milked thrice (88.66 (0.28) days). In all parities except for parity ≥ 4, lactation persistency was higher in the cows milked thrice daily than in those milked twice. The percentages of increase in 305-d milk yield due to increasing milking frequency from two times to three times daily, were 12.34, 14.02, 12.79 and 14.76% for cows in parity 1 to parity ≥ 4, respectively. The 305-d milk yield was higher by 959 (28.89), 1175 (32.7), 1099 (38.6) and 1271 (45.0) kg for cows milked thrice daily than those milked twice in parity 1 to parity ≥ 4, respectively. The corresponding values for the 305-d fat yield were 4.35 (0.98), 16.68 (1.11), 17.19 (1.28) and 18.76 (1.51) kg. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that increasing milking frequency not only increased milk yield but also improved the initial yield, peak yield and lactation persistency.

Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) of dairy cows was determined in relation to breed. A total of forty (40) Pabna and red Chittagong dairy cattle each of twenty (20) were selected to know the milk composition, nutritional status and milk urea nitrogen. Live weight of Pabna Cattle (187±14 kg) was higher than that of red Chittagong cattle (174±4 kg). In Pabna cattle milk yield (4.94 kg), minerals (0.15%) and lactose (5.38%) is more than red Chittagong cattle milk yield (3.62 kg), minerals (0.12%) and lactose (5.37%) but fat (5.04%), protein (3.7%) and solid not fat (SNF) content (9.92%) was more in red Chittagong cattle than Pabna cattle fat (4.03%), protein (3.64%) and SNF (9.87%). The metabolic energy 74.93 MJ/day, dry matter 9.47 kg, crude protein 0.84 kg, ash 1.24 kg, crude fiber 2.18 kg and true digestible nutrient 5.43 kg was required for Pabna cattle and in red Chittagong cattle metabolic energy 72.60 MJ/day, dry matter 9.14 kg, crude protein 0.660kg , ash 1.16 kg, crude fiber 1.93 kg and true digestible nutrient 5.19 kg was required. Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration was higher under in Pabna cattle (38.15 mg/dL) than red Chittagong cattle (RCC) (29.30 mg/dL). Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) differ Pabna cows and red Chittagong cows.

This study was conducted to compare digestibility of wheat straw (WS) by fungi and whole rumen microorganisms (WRM). Dry matter (DM), neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF and ADF) digestibility of WS were compared with in vitro digestion (IVD), gas production (GP) and specific rumen anaerobic fungi culture (SRAFC). Dry matter, NDF and ADF digestibility of WS by WRM of buffalo (60.80, 49.93 and 17.45%, respectively) were more than cattle (53.00, 38.63 and 10.62%, respectively) (P<0.05). Regardless the type of microorganisms, digestibility of DM (P>0.05), NDF and ADF by buffalo (51.03, 44.41 and 12.09%) was more than cattle (48.04, 36.34 and 8.76) (P<0.05). Potential of GP (B) by fungi and WRM in cattle was more than buffalo (P<0.05). Rate of GP (C) for WRM and fungi of cattle was less than buffalo (P<0.05). Regardless the type of microorganisms, C in buffalo was more than cattle (P<0.05) and was vice versa for B (P<0.05). Regardless the type of animal species, WRM had higher digestibility and B than fungi (P>0.05), but rate of GP of them was same. In SRAFC, DM digestibility of WS by fungi of buffalo at days 3 and 12 was more than cattle (P<0.05). The number of fungi in cattle rumen was more than buffalo (P<0.05). The potential of fungi and WRM of buffalo were more than cattle. Therefore, the results were shown the advantage and supremacy of buffalo in usage the low quality roughages.

Fourteen different morphological traits in 169 and 131 cattle of Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili, respectively were recorded and analyzed using a multivariate approach. The characters measured included heart girth, wither height, rump height, rump length, rump width, chest depth, body length, neck length, cannon circumference, ear length, ear width, head length, horn length and tail length. Breed significantly influenced all the traits investigated. Correlation coefficients among the body measurements ranged from 0.12 to 0.85 in Oulmes-Zaer and from -0.14 to 0.81 in Tidili cattle. In the varimax rotated principal component factor analysis, three factors were extracted, which explained about 65.1% and 55.4% of the total variation in Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili cattle, respectively. The communality ranged from 0.28 (horn length) to 0.82 (heart girth) in Oulmes-Zaer cattle and from 0.25 (horn length) to 0.79 (rump height) in Tidili cattle. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed that 9 out of 14 body measurements were found to have a potential discriminatory power. The canonical discriminant analysis showed that the squared Mahalanobis distance between breed means was significant, indicating that significant differences exist between Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili breeds. The raw canonical coefficients for the first canonical variable provided the greatest difference between the breed means (1.498 vs. -1.933). The second canonical variable did not provide any difference between means. The discriminant analysis showed that 98.2% and 100% of Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili animals, respectively were correctly classified. It was concluded that clear morphological differences existed between Oulmes-Zaer and Tidili cattle indicating that there were two distinct populations.

This study was performed to investigate two polymorphic sites from Cyp19 gene (PvuII and MspI) and one polymorphic site from ERα gene (SnaBI) in four cattle breeds including Mazandarani, Taleshi, Sistani and Simmental. In overall 278 samples for CYP19 and 206 samples for ERα marker sites were genotyped using polymerase chain reactionsingle-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) procedure. For CYP19/PvuII, the frequency of A allele ranged from 0.89 in Mazandarani to 0.98 in Taleshi. For CYP19/MspI, Taleshi was the only monomorphic breed with just AA genotype. Other breeds were polymorphic with A allele frequency ranging from 0.93 (Simmental) to 0.98 (Sistani). No BB individuals were observed in the studied sample. Considering two loci in combination with each other, only 5 out of 8 theoretically possible combined genotypes were observed in the genotyped samples. For ERa/SnaBI, all populations showed polymorphism. The highest and lowest frequencies of A allele were observed in Sistani (0.55) and Simmental (0.96), respectively. Based on Nei’s method, the most genetic distance was observed between Sistani and Simmental and the least genetic distance was observed between Mazandarani and Taleshi breeds. The results of the present study showed significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies among four investigated breeds. These findings may be used in further researches, such as association studies for performance traits in cattle breeding.

The study was carried out for a period of 150 days on 120 Holstein Friesian crossbred dairy cows between mid to late lactation to quantify the influence of body condition score (BCS) on yield and composition of milk. Total 12 dairy farms having same housing systems and holding at least 20 crossbred dairy cows per farm between mid to late lactation were selected for this study purposes. BCS of individual cows was recorded in a 1-5 scale. Milk samples were collected from individual cow. Samples collected from cows having same BCS were mixed together to make composite sample. Chemical analyses of the samples were carried out in triplicate for fat, protein, lactose, ash, total solids (TS) and solids not fat (SNF). Results indicated that, BCS significantly (P<0.05) affected milk yield, milk fat and ash content in crossbred Holstein Friesian dairy cows. Highest milk yield (13.45±1.80 kg/day) was recorded with moderate BCS (3.00) followed by lower (2.75 to 2.25) and higher (3.25 to 4.00). Milk protein, lactose, TS, SNF and specific gravity (SG) increased non significantly (P>0.05) with increasing BCS up to 4.0. Correlation coefficient matrix indicated that BCS was negatively correlated with milk yield. However, there was a positive relationship of BCS with milk protein, lactose, TS, SNF and SG even though the strength of association was variable.

Sperm selection techniques have became an important tool to improve sub fertile ejaculates. The main aim of this study was to assess the dynamics of motile sperm subpopulations of ejaculates from subfertile stallions subjected to density gradient centrifugation (DGC) involving a double layer colloid [DGC2], before and after storage for 24 and 48 hours. Ejaculates from eight stallions with fertility problems were subjected to the different treatments: 1) control [C]; 2) centrifugation [CT]; 3) density gradient centrifugation involving a double layer colloid [DGC2] and 4) post storage density gradient centrifugation involving a double layer colloid DGC2 post]. In the C, CT and DGC2 treatments, sperm variables were analysed at 0 h and after 24 and 48 h of storage at 4-7 oC. In the DGC2 post treatment, the semen was stored at 4-7oCand sperm samples selected by DGC2 at 24 and 48 h. Viability, sperm abnormalities and motility were then examined using a computerized system. Four motile sperm subpopulations with different motility characteristics were observed in the all treatments. The DGC2 sperm had faster, straighter moving and more active cells at 0 h. At 24 and 48 h, however, the motility variable values fell and the slower spermatozoa subpopulations increased in size. The DGC2 post treatment returned better overall sperm motility variable values at 24 and 48 h; a larger percentage of spermatozoa fell into the faster subpopulations. In conclusion, DGC2 could be used to improve semen from subfertile stallions as well as semen showing poor fertility after storage.

An experiment was carried out to evaluate how interactions between forage to concentrate ratio and dietary crude protein level may alter nitrogen efficiency and UT-B expression in growing Baluchi male lambs. Four Baluchi male lambs [30±2 kg BW] were used in a 4 × 4 latin square design with 28-d periods and a 2×2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments. The treatments fed forage: concentrate [FC; DM basis] ratios of 45:55 low concentrate (LC) or 25:75 high concentrate (HC) with dietary levels of CP of 14 low protein (LP) or 18% high protein (HP) [CP, DM basis]. Dry matter intake increased as dietary concentrate level increased. Treatments, dietary CP content and F: C ratio had significant effect on CP intake. Increasing dietary N content of the diet increased dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and organic matter (OM) digestibility. Forage to concentrate ratio had a significant effect on neutral detergent fiber(NDF) and OM digestibility. Treatments had significant effect on the CP, NDF and OM digestibility. There were an interaction between dietary CP content and F: C ratio on the ruminal pH, NH3-N concentration, individual volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, acetate: propionate ratio and BUN concentration. Except ruminal pH, all ruminal fermentation and blood metabolitefactors were affected by both dietaryCP content and F: C ratio in trial.Treatments had significant influence on the NI (g/d) and urinary N excretion (g/d) (% of N intake). Also, both dietary CP content and F: C ratio had significant effect on NI. The lambs consume high crude protein treatments tended to have greater urinary N excretion (g/d) than those consume low crude protein treatments. The F: C ratio had a significant effect on urinary N excretion (g/d). Approximately 6.56 times more UT-B was expressed by the rumen ventral sac for lambs on the treatments contain 18% crude protein relative to those on the treatments contain 14% crude protein. In conclusion this study shows that changes in characteristic of the diet produce significant changes in UT-B urea transporter expression within the ovine rumen. Changing urea entry into the GIT via dietary regulation of UT-B could serve as important mechanism to maintenance of nitrogen balance and increase nitrogen efficiency in Baluchi growing lambs. Our findings suggest that the dietary regulation of urea transporters plays a major role in altering urea entry into the gastrointestinal tract.

In this study, the nutritive values of treated Walnut hull by Neurospora sitophila were evaluated. The chemical composition of samples was evaluated by laboratory analysis. In vitrodigestibility experiment was done to determine digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter and also digestible organic matter in dry matter (DOMD) to estimate the metabolizable energy (ME) content oftreated Walnut hull. In addition, organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) disappearance of samples were determined by In-Situ method at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after incubation and their kinetics were described using the equation P= a + b (1-e-ct). The nutritive value index (NIV) of samples was calculated using the equation: NIV= a + 0.4b + 200c. The collected data was analyzed in a completely randomized design. The content of tannin and phenol in walnut hull decreased significantly by processing (P<0.05). No significant effect was seen on degradability parameters and nutritive value index. Digestibility coefficient of dry matter, organic matter, digestible organic matter in dry matter and metabolizable energy of treated walnut hull were significantly (P<0.05) lower than untreated Walnut hull.

The present study was conducted to investigate the possibility of using a modified in vitro gas production technique in place of the nylon bag method to estimate protein degradability of alfalfa hay in ruminants. In the in situ experiment dacron bags were filled with 3 g alfalfa hay. This was incubated in the rumen of three ruminally cannulated Ghezel rams for the periods of 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36 and 48 h. At the end of the experiment, dry matter, organic matter and crude protein degradability (CPD) were calculated. In the in vitro experiment, buffered rumen fluid was prepared in a solution of 19:1 artificial saliva to rumen fluid, which was pre-incubated by rapidly fermentable carbohydrates for 4 h. After pre-incubation, 30 mL of the buffered rumen fluid were added to 100 mL syringes, containing the alfalfa sample, with 7.5 mg N. The samples were incubated for 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours, after which net gas production was computed. In the third experiment, 25 grams of faeces were mixed with 50 mL of artificial saliva, which was then made up to 1 liter by adding more artificial saliva and filtered. Then, the suspension was pre-incubated for 4 h. After pre-incubation, the same steps used to measure gas production were conducted. Results showed that there were significant differences between gas production with rumen liquor and faeces suspension at 2, 4, 24, 36 and 48 h of incubation, while no significant differences were found at other incubation times. There was a close relationship between crude protein degradation at different times and amount of gas production using rumen liquor [CPD= 58.93 + 0.32 gas (r2=0.76, n=18)] and fecal suspension [CPD= 58.38 + 0.27 gas (r2=0.60, n=18)]. The results indicated that faeces suspension can be used instead of rumen liquor as the medium in the gas production method. Development of the gas production technique could result in reducing the need to use fistulated animals in feed evaluation studies.

This study was conducted to collect comprehensive identification about Markhoz goat population and to simulate past dynamics of the population under its living conditions. Census data of the population size and the required parametersfor the simulation modelwere obtained frompublished data or were collected in its habitat in the last 3 years. In this study, past population dynamics and expected loss of genetic diversity in the population were simulated by population viability analysis (PVA) using Vortex modeling program version 10.0.Markhoz breeding goats and population size showed a downward trend on its own habitat. The last known number of breeding does, bucks and total population of the Markhoz goat breed on its habitat were 917, 55 and 1669 heads in 2012. Computed and simulated inbreeding rates (ΔF)were 2.4%and 3.9%, respectively. Simulated Ne for this population was 128 which are near to critical size of 100.Furthermore, the extinction probability (EP) of 0%, stochastic growth rate of -0.1624, losing genetic diversity of 5% and inbreeding of 0.0311 were simulated using the PVA for a past time horizon( from 1996 to 2012). Having considered different parameters and threats with the reliable values and probabilities, PVA model simulated correctly the past period of population dynamics. Based on our findings, 1) future viability and the expected loss of diversity should be estimated under obtained demographic and environmental parameters. 2) different management scenarios should be examined to provide a conservation program.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the crude protein fractionation, in vitro gas production and the biological effects of tannins in alfalfa silage treated with different levels of pistachio by-products (PB) extract. PB was soaked in water with a ratio of 1:5 (w/v) for 12 h. After filtering and concentrating, the crude extract was added to fresh alfalfa to a final concentration of 1%, 2% and 3% tannin dry matter (DM) and then ensiled for 60 days. Four treatments were as follows: alfalfa silage without addition of PB extract as a control (T0), PB tannin added at 1% (T1), 2% (T2) and 3% DM (T3). Treating alfalfa silage decreased the formation of non-protein nitrogen (NPN) compounds and increased crude protein fraction B2 during ensilage. Cumulative in vitro gas production after 96 h incubation, organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) decreased in T2 and T3 compared to the control. The gas production and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) of treated silages increased in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) which indicates that the presence of phenolic compounds and tannins depressed the gas production. It can be concluded that treating alfalfa silage with PB extract can reduce the nitrogen losses during ensilage and degradability of organic matter (OM) by microbial inhibition.

The objective of the present study was to detect polymorphism in follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and beta subunit of follicle stimulating hormone (FSHb) genes and their relation to litter size and body weight trait in Baluchi, Iran black and Arman sheep breeds. PCR-RFLP technique using ACCI and HinfI enzyme treatments employed to detection of polymorphism in FSHb marker site but detected no polymorphism pattern in this locus. SSCP analysis used for more survey on detection of polymorphism in FSHb marker site which resulted in AA and AC genotypes in Baluchi sheep, AA and AB genotypes in Iran black population and no polymorphism pattern detected in Arman breed and all samples showed AA genotype. Polymorphism in FSHR gene has been detected by treatment with MSCI restriction enzyme. Three genotypes of AA, AB and BB were observed among studied breeds. The B allele was found with the highest frequency in all tree breeds. Analysis of variance for the effects of theses marker loci was carried out using SAS program. Mean comparison by Duncan test showed that the effect of each FSHb and FSHR marker sites on litter size has significant effect only in Baluchi sheep population. It seems mutant alleles can improve considerably mean of litter size than the wild type ones. Analysis of data for body weight and polymorphisms in different ages showed that there are no significant differences between genotypes of FSHb locus and body weight trait in various ages in none of Baluchi, Iran-black and Arman breeds. Survey on polymorphisms of FSHR locus and body weight trait revealed significant difference in some ages only in Arman breed and wild type allele caused better performance. This information can be used to plan breeding programs for sheep breeds aimed at improving production and reproduction performance.

This study was performed with growing chicken (14 to 56 d of age) to evaluate the effects of feeding them a barley or triticale-based diet. The treatments were corn diet (1) as a control, hulless barley diet with (5) or without (2) enzyme, triticale diet with (6) or without (3) enzyme and hulled barley diet with (7) or without (4) a commercial b-glucanase enzyme. In a digestibility trial, 21 male broiler chicks were used at 45 days old. Each of the seven treatments was replicated three times. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed between (2) to (7) treatments with corn diet for weight gain and feed intake during growing period, but hulled barley with no treatment (4) had less weight gain and higher feed conversion (lower efficiency) than other cereals. Ether extract digestibility increased significantly in all the enzyme treated diets compared to corn diet (P<0.05). Metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) was less in hulled barley with no treatment, compared to corn and triticale treated with enzyme (P<0.05). Reduction of serum cholesterol was observed in birds on hulless barley diet (P<0.05), but serum creatinin did no show any significant difference between treatments (P>0.05). Higher serum immunoglobulin (IgG) was detected in broiler fed the hulled barley diet with no treatment, than the enzyme-treated barley and corn diets (P<0.05). Mean percentage of liver showed the highest percentage in hulled barley diet with no treatment (P<0.05) and fresh carcass was the lowest in chickens on triticale with no treatment (P<0.05). It was concluded that the enzyme supplementation is beneficial in terms of weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion during 14-42 days old in chickens, but these positive effects of enzyme will be fade in aged chicken due to the higher capacity of alimentary tract for digestion of feed materials.

Six hundred day old unsexed broiler chicks were used in a 42-d trial at Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Science University Poultry Farm to compare the effects of different levels of fish oil supplementation on performance of broilers in terms of feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion and carcass characteristics. The chicks were randomly distributed following a completely randomized design in four groups having three replications per group. Each group was composed of 150 chicks and 50 birds per replicate. Four diets were formulated using locally available ingredients as diet without oil, diets containing 2.5%, 3.0% and 3.5% fish oil. Results indicated that, supplementation of diets with different levels of fish oil significantly differed (P<0.05) feed intake at 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th weeks of age. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) effect of fish oil supplementation on feed conversion up to 5th week of age. At the end of 6th week, feed conversion of the broilers of different dietary groups differed significantly (P<0.05). Similarly, no significant differences (P>0.05) were found among all dietary treatment groups in weight gain up to 3rd week of age except at later stages. Out of eighteen parameters, shank weight, heart weight, thigh bone weight and abdominal fat weight differed (P<0.05) due to supplementation of fish oil. It can be concluded that, supplementation of fish oil at 2.5% level results in the best cumulative feed intake and feed conversion of broilers.

The present study was aimed to assess the influence of brown marine algae and vitamin E (VE) (160 ppm a-tocopheryl acetate) on stability of chicken meat enriched with fish oil. In this study, 360 d-old broilers (Arbor Acres Plus) were randomly assigned to 6 treatment groups with 4 replicates of 15 birds in each. Experimental groups consisted of corn-soybean basal diet (C), corn-soybean basal diet with fish oil (F), corn-soybean basal diet supplemented vitamin E (E), corn-soybean basal diet supplemented fish oil with vitamin E (FE), fish oil with 5% dried marine alga (F 5% A) and fish oil with 10% dried marine alga (F 10% A). Fish oil and vitamin E were supplemented at 2 last weeks of trial. Chickens were slaughtered in d 42 and meat samples were stored at 4 oC. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured at 0, 3 and 6 days after slaughter. Results showed that fish oil enhanced meat lipids per oxidation and with passage of time after slaughter this increment was greater. Treatments using vitamin E showed lower levels of MDA during the storage and increased meat stability in fish oil enriched meat. Marine algae in F 10% A increased meat stability in thigh and breast muscles in 3 and 6 days after slaughter (P<0.05). Fatty acid profile showed an enhancement in omega-3 fatty acids accumulation in thigh and breast samples, significantly (P<0.05) with fish oil, but vitamin E had no significant effect on this profile. Inclusion 5% and 10% marine algae and fish oil together led to increasing omega-3 fatty acids in thigh muscle. Five percent and 10% marine alga decreased serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels significantly (P<0.05). In conclusion, administration of diet supplemented with vitamin E and marine alga improved stability of broiler’s meat enriched with omega-3 fatty acids.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) supplementation has been documented as a useful tool to improve the performance of laying birds reared under harsh environmental conditions. However, there is limited information on the use of ascorbic acid as a means of ameliorating the stressful conditions imposed by feed restriction. To this effect a 3 × 2 factorial experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of ascorbic acid inclusion in the diet of broiler chickens under quantitative feed restriction. A total of 96 unsexed 22 days-old Marshall broiler chickens of a commercial strain were distributed to six treatments, birds on treatments 1 and 2 were fed ad libitum, and those in treatments 3 and 4 were placed on 85% ad libitum while those on treatments 5 and 6 were offered 70% ad libitum. Diets fed to birds on treatments 1, 3 and 5 were formulated without ascorbic acid while those on treatments 2, 4 and 6 had their diets supplemented with 200 mgkg-1 ascorbic acid. Blood samples were collected from one bird per replicate for haematological and serum biochemistry on the 35th and 49th days of the study. Performance indices (feed intake, weight gain and intake: gain ratio) were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by quantitative feed restriction. Feed intake (3256.93, 2799.74 and 2360.05 g/bird) and weight gain (1134.70, 1023.88 and 968.86 g/bird) had highest values recorded for the birds fed ad libitum while those on 70% ad libitum feeding recorded the best intake: gain ratio (2.87, 2.74 and 2.44). Ascorbic acid supplementation significantly (P<0.05) affected the growth performance of broilers. Birds fed diets containing ascorbic acid had relatively high values in the growth performance indices considered. Quantitative feed restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation did not affect the haematological and serum biochemical parameters studied. It can be concluded that quantitative feed restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation influenced the growth performance of broilers.

A semi-field study was carried out to evaluate the effect of two medicinal herbs, individually and in combination, on growth performance, carcass traits, nutrient digestibility and immune response of broiler chickens. A total of 384 one-day-old straight-run Arbor Acres broiler chickens were allocated into 24 floor pens prepared in a commercial broiler house. Pen-groups were fed one of the following five diets for 42 days: a basal corn-soybean meal diet as control (5 pens), the same basal diet plus 200 ppm virginiamycin (V; 4 pens), the same basal diet supplemented with 0.4% peppermint (Mentha piperita) leaves (P; 5 pens), 0.4% tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) leaves (T; 5 pens) or with 0.2% tarragon leaves + 0.2% peppermint leaves (P+T; 5 pens). The results showed that performance traits, including average body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected by dietary treatments (P>0.05). No significant differences were detected between the control and experimental groups in apparent digestibility of nutrients and antibody titer against newcastle disease virus (NDV). Slaughter traits of herb or antibiotic supplemented groups did not differ significantly from those of the non supplemented control group. In conclusion, the additives tested had no impact on broiler growth and health status.

An experiment was conducted on broiler chickens to study the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), fish oil, both at 7% of the diet, or their mixtures at 3.5% of the diet, on the performance, carcass traits and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. The chicks fed with 7% fish oil or 7% CLA diets, were found to have an inferior weight gain in grower and finisher phases, respectively. A significant reduction in feed intake was observed with the diets containing 7% fish oil. However, adding CLA to the diets, did not affect birds feed intake. The dietary fish oil and CLA supplementation adversely affected the feed conversion ratio as well as carcass yield. CLA at the 7% level increased liver weight. There were no differences in the carcass, thigh or abdominal fat pad percentages between the experimental treatments; however the birds fed the diet containing 7% fish oil had the lowest breast and the highest liver percentages. Histological examination of small intestine revealed that, the diet containing 3.5% fish oil + 3.5% CLA resulted in higher villus height than the diets with 7% fish oil or CLA. Such an increase was observed in the crypt depth of the duodenum and jejunum, but no difference was detected in the crypt depth of the ileum. The small intestinal wall thickness and goblet cell numbers in the chickens fed the diet containing the mixture of fish oil and CLA were lower than those of the other treatments. The results of this study showed that a high dose of fish oil or CLA can reduce broiler chickens performance, but their combination can moderate this adverse effect.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of artichoke powder on performance and immune function of Japanese quails poisoned with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). One hundred meat type (1-d-old) quails were assigned randomly to 4 treatment groups (n=25). Treatment groups included with the study were: 1) control group (without artichoke supplementation or CCl4 administration, 2) group with artichoke supplementation and without CCl4 administration, 3) group without artichoke supplementation and with CCl4 administration (1 ml/kg of BW) and 4) group with artichoke supplementation and with CCl4 administration (1 mL/kg of BW). CCl4 was administered intraperitoneally on each 3 day for days 29 to 42. During the rearing period (0-42 days of age), quails had free access to feed and water. Performance parameters of daily gain, feed intake and feed conversion were determined on weekly basis. At the end of experimental period (day 42), blood samples were collected and then heterophils and lymphocytes were counted and their ratio (H/L ratio) was calculated.Results did not show any significant effect for artichoke powder and CCl4 on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Adding Artichoke to the diets at 2% level significantly increased the count of lymphocytes and decreased H/L ratio. Artichoke and CCl4, each alone or both together, did not affect the relative weight of spleen, bursa of fabricius and liver.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ascites-related physiological and metabolic parameters in broiler chickens fed with different components of bentonite. Two hundred and seven days old Arian male chicks were allocated into five dietary treatment groups including 1) basal diet (control); 2) basal diet + 1% sulphated sodium bentonite (SSB); 3) basal diet + 1% non-processed sodium bentonite (SB); 4) basal diet + 1% sulphated calcium bentonite (SCB) and 5) basal diet 1% non-processed calcium bentonite (CB). Forty birds in each group were assigned to four replicates (10 birds in each). The ratio of right ventricle to total ventricles weight (RV/TV) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than in the control group (0.29). T3 and T4 were increased by use of SSB in comparison to other groups (P<0.05). However, the mortality rate had a tendency to decrease in SSB (P<0.01). Dietary supplementation of SSB could be of value in lowing ascites index and improving their associated parameters. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of bentonite had some beneficial effect on ascites-related physiologic and metabolic factors in broilers which might be related to better intestinal absorption of nutrients.

The present study evaluated effects of 0.0%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1.0% L-threonine in diet on performance and gastrointestinal tract development in broiler chickens during summer. From 0 to 42 days old, body weight gain was greater in 0.75% L-threonine fed birds than in 0.0% and 0.5% L-threonine fed birds (P<0.05). Moreover, in jejunum and ileum both the 0.75% and 1.0% L-threonine intake caused longer villus height as compared to 0.0% and 0.5% L-threonine (P<0.05), but no other morphological parameters were affected by L-threonine supplementation (P>0.05). No significant differences were observed between the treatments for feed intake and feed conversion ratio during the starter, grower or whole experimental period (P>0.05). During the growth period, 0.75% L-threonine fed birds had the highest body weight gain (P<0.05). Carcass traits were not affected by treatments (P>0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of 0.75% L-threonine improved the intestinal morphology and body weight gain of broilers under hot conditions. As well as, the higher levels of L-threonine (1.0) percent in diet can will increased the villus height in the jejunum and ileum.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and satureja (Satureja khuzestanica) ethanolic extracts on the performance, blood metabolites and immune response of broiler chickens. 300 day-old Ross chicks were assigned to six dietary treatments in a randomized 2 × 3 factorial block design. Each treatment was given to five replicates of ten birds. Variables were T. vulgaris extract (0% or 1%) and S. khuzestanica extract (0%, 1% or 2%) in drinking water. Body weight (BW), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded at the end of the experiment. Serum glucose, total protein (TP), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-ch) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-ch) were measured after blood sampling at 42 days of age. Specific IgG and IgM against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were quantified six days after the injection of SRBC into breast muscle on day 23 and day 30. The plant extracts did not affect BW, FI or FCR, or the relative weights of the cloacal bursa, spleen or thymus gland (P>0.05). S. khuzestanica extract increased TG, total cholesterol and HDL-ch (P<0.05). The plant extracts did not affect the humoral immune response against SRBC (P>0.05). However, 2% S. khuzestanica extract alone, or 1% T. vulgaris extract alone or in combination with 1% S. khuzestanica extract increased the heterophil percentage (H) and heterophil: lymphocyte ratio (H/L) (P>0.05), while it diminished the lymphocyte percentage (L) (P>0.05). Breast meat pH, redness (a*), yellowness (b*) and lightness (L*) were not affected by dietary treatments. However 2% and 1% S. khuzestanica extract respectively decreased thigh meat’s pH 24 h postmortem and its a* and b* values (P<0.05). 1% T. vulgaris extract, and 1% and 2% S. khuzestanica extract, increased pH in breast meat (P<0.05). It was concluded that under these research conditions, low levels of these extracts decreased H and H/L and may be beneficial to broiler chickens’ immunity.

The Iranian poultry sector has experienced many significant structural changes in recent years. Such changes may have influenced price dynamics and transmission of shocks through marketing channels especially on retail markets. This paper investigate price transmission, threshold behavior and asymmetric adjustment in poultry sector of Ardebil (AR), east Azerbaijan (EA) and west Azerbaijan (WA) provinces using weekly price data for the period covering 1998 through 2012. Our analysis uses a threshold cointegration model that permits asymmetric adjustment to positive and negative price shocks. R software is used for data analyzing. Main findings reveal existence of asymmetry in price transmission for all markets. Based on minimizing of the sum of squared error (SSR) criterion the estimated threshold for EA-AR, WA-AR and EA-WA markets are (0.38, 1.217), (1.61, 0.211), (0.38, 1.95), respectively. As another try the thresholds are estimated using TVECM methodology and the same results are found.

Random regression models (RRM) have become common for the analysis of longitudinal data or repeated records on individual over time. The goal of this paper was to explore the use of random regression models with orthogonal / Legendre polynomials (RRL) to analyze new repeated measures called clutch size (CS) as a meristic trait for Iranian native fowl. Legendre polynomial functions of increasing order 0 (no covariate) to 4 were fitted to the age at sexual maturity (ASM) and 1 to 10 to the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. Days in production (clutch) were used as time variables. Homogeneity of residual variance through the time was assumed. Analyses were carried out within restricted maximum likelihood algorithm (REML) using WOMBAT software. Adequacy of models was checked by Bayesian information criterion (BIC). The resulted BICs suggested a model composed of the second order polynomial for ASM and 8th order polynomial for additive genetic and permanent environmental effect was the most suitable for adjusting the present records. The highest phenotypic and permanent environmental variance of CS was at the beginning of the production period. Additive genetic variance was fairly consistent during 210 and 265 days of age (d 210-d265). Estimates of heritability for CS ranged from 0.033 to 0.199 for d 161 and d 242 in the first cycle of egg production, respectively. The ratio of animal permanent environmental variance to phenotypic variance was in the range of 0.01 and 0.264. The estimated ranges for additive genetic and permanent environmental correlations were -0.18 to 0.99 and -0.5 to 0.99, respectively and were high between the adjacent ages and they tended to decrease at nonadjacent ages.

Eleven goat breeds of different origin (10 Spanish and 1 African) were considered for this study: Zambian Dwarf, Azpi-Gorri, Blanca-Andaluza, Blanca-Celtiberica, Blanca de Rasquera, Catalana, Malaguena, Moncaina, Murciano-Granadina, Negra Serrana and Pyrenean. Nine linear body measurements for females, as well as the body weight ratio between gender and body weight, were obtained from literature and compared. Our results showed that the two principal components (PC) accounted for near 94% of total variation. The PC1 included the ratio between sexes, body weight and thoracic perimeter while the PC2 included body weight and ratio of body weight between sexes. Interestingly, all these high discriminating traits - body weight, body weight ratio between gender and thoracic perimeter- are related with body weight. The clustering of breeds according to those three traits offered a good picture of breeds according to their origin, with a cophenetic correlation, a measure of how faithfully a dendrogram preserved pairwise distances between the original unmodeled data points, high.