Animal Production Research
Year:2020 | Volume:9 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of eucalyptus leaf extract and tobacco smoke on Varroa mite using 36 hives for 34 days. In one experimental group, no action was taken to control Varroa mite (control), and the other one (positive control) Apistan Strip was placed in a hive for 34 days. In the other experimental groups, Varroa mite was controlled using Barley, Basma, Virginia leaf tobacco smoke, and Eucalyptus leaf extract in the first five days (first time) and the last four days (second time) during the control period. In the eucalyptus extract treatment, 15 mL of the extract solution (0. 1 mL/mg) was sprayed between frames daily. In tobacco leaf smoke treatments (Barley, Basma, and Virginia), the amount of 3 g of tobacco leaf was smoked. Tick shedding (daily), the number of larvae in each frame (on days 5 and 34), and the amount of honey (after 150 days) were measured. The main effect showed that mite shedding was higher in eucalyptus leaf extract (10. 3± 2. 01), Apistan (9. 41± 2. 01), and Virginia tobacco smoke (7. 41± 2. 01) than the control (0± 2. 01, P<0. 05). In the first time of treatment, mites shedding was higher in eucalyptus extract treatment (20. 7± 2. 84) and Apistan (18. 8± 2. 84) and Virginia tobacco smoke (14. 8± 2. 84) than the control (0± 2. 84, P<0. 05). The amount of honey production in the control (2. 3± 0. 45 kg) was lower than other treatments (P<0. 05). Therefore, eucalyptus leaf exThe present study was performed to investigate the effect of eucalyptus leaf extract and tobacco smoke on Varroa mite using 36 hives for 34 days. In one experimental group, no action was taken to control Varroa mite (control), and the other one (positive control) Apistan Strip was placed in a hive for 34 days. In the other experimental groups, Varroa mite was controlled using Barley, Basma, Virginia leaf tobacco smoke, and Eucalyptus leaf extract in the first five days (first time) and the last four days (second time) during the control period. In the eucalyptus extract treatment, 15 mL of the extract solution (0. 1 mL/mg) was sprayed between frames daily. In tobacco leaf smoke treatments (Barley, Basma, and Virginia), the amount of 3 g of tobacco leaf was smoked. Tick shedding (daily), the number of larvae in each frame (on days 5 and 34), and the amount of honey (after 150 days) were measured. The main effect showed that mite shedding was higher in eucalyptus leaf extract (10. 3± 2. 01), Apistan (9. 41± 2. 01), and Virginia tobacco smoke (7. 41± 2. 01) than the control (0± 2. 01, P<0. 05). In the first time of treatment, mites shedding was higher in eucalyptus extract treatment (20. 7± 2. 84) and Apistan (18. 8± 2. 84) and Virginia tobacco smoke (14. 8± 2. 84) than the control (0± 2. 84, P<0. 05). The amount of honey production in the control (2. 3± 0. 45 kg) was lower than other treatments (P<0. 05). Therefore, eucalyptus leaf extract and tobacco leaf smoke are effective in controlling bee Varroa mite infestation. tract and tobacco leaf smoke are effective in controlling bee Varroa mite infestation.

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of eucalyptus and marshmallow leaf powder on growth performance and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens with four treatments, five replicates, and 10 chickens in each (n=200), based on a completely randomized design. The chickens were fed one of the four experimental diets including 1. Control (basal diet), 2. Basal diet+0. 5% eucalyptus leaf powder, 3. Basal diet+0. 5% marshmallow leaf powder, and 4. Basal diet+0. 5% eucalyptus leaf powder and 0. 5% marshmallow leaf powder. During three experimental periods (starter: 1 to 21 d, grower: 22 to 42 d, and whole periods: 1 to 42 d), growth performance parameters were measured. At the 42 d, blood samples were taken from one bird per cage to measure blood parameters. There was no significant effect of dietary treatments on growth performance parameters, and blood levels of albumin, triglycerides, uric acid, and glucose. Eucalyptus and marshmallow leaf powder (separately or in combination) decreased LDL level compared to the control group (26. 60, 23. 60, and 25. 40 mg/dL, respectively). Simultaneous usage of eucalyptus leaf powder and marshmallow leaf powder in the diet increased blood HDL (24. 60 mg/dL) and reduced blood cholesterol (47. 14 mg/dL) values compared to the control group. In conclusion, usage of eucalyptus leaf powder (0. 5%) and/or marshmallow leaf powder (0. 5%) had no effects on feed intake, daily gain, and feed conversion ratio; however, they decreased blood LDL. Besides, 0. 5% eucalyptus leaf powder and 0. 5% marshmallow leaf powder could increase and decrease blood HDL and cholesterol, respectively.

A better understanding of the relationship between innate and adaptive immunity, as well as inflammation and immune response, can help to improve immunization methods. This study aimed to evaluate the correlations between specific immunity and inflammation. A total of 60 Ross 308 broiler chicks were divided into two groups of an equal number of birds, 30 per treatment and 10 per replicate. One group, as vaccinated, was subjected to intramuscular injection of inactivated oil emulsion of Newcastle disease vaccine on days 8 and 20. The control group administered PBS by the same route on the same days. Blood samples were collected on days 7, 10, 19, and 22. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was used as a stress index, serum amyloid A (SAA), and alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) for acute phase response and the level of a specific antibody for quantification of adaptive immunity. Stress index, as well as acute phase proteins, increased after vaccination (P<0. 05). In comparison between the control and vaccinated group, the stress index elevated in the vaccinated group to 1. 5 fold (0. 68% to 0. 97%). Significant increase was observed for SAA (0. 086 mg/L to 0. 096 mg/L) at day 22 (P< 0. 001) and AGP (300. 63 mg/L to 600. 12 mg/L) at day 10 (P<0. 05). SAA adversely correlated with the amounts of AGP (r =-0. 229, P=0. 081). Stress index correlated with SAA (r= 0. 411, P<0. 001) and antibody levels (r= 0. 313, P<0. 001). Stress had a significant correlation with adaptive immunity and could be used for the evaluation and monitoring of vaccine efficacy.

This experiment was conducted to consider different levels of canola meal (CM) and protease enzyme on performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, intestinal aminopeptidase activity, and relative weight of digestive organs of laying hens from 28 to 36 weeks of age. In total, 180 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens were allocated to six treatments, five replicates, and six laying hens in each replication in a factorial arrangement of 3×2 by a completely randomized design with three levels of CM (0, 7. 29, and 14. 59%) and two levels of protease enzyme (0 and 200 g/ton). For the entire experimental period, the productive performance of laying hens and egg quality were not affected by CM levels or protease enzyme (P>0. 05). As well as, there were no significant effect of CM levels and protease enzyme on AMEn, protein, and organic matter digestibility of the diet (P>0. 05). The aminopeptidase activity of the duodenum (P<0. 01) and jejunum (P=0. 0511) was significantly increased by 14. 59% CM supplemented with protease enzyme (10. 61 and 11. 94 Unit/ mg of tissue, respectively). Duodenal aminopeptidase activity increased by protease enzyme supplementation (7. 74 vs. 6. 69 Unit/ mg of tissue) (P=0. 0103). The results showed that CM can be included in laying hen diets up to 14. 59% with protease enzyme without any adverse effect on productive performance, egg quality traits, and nutrient digestibility.

Heat stress hurts the oxidative status of the body. To investigate the effect of yeast compared with monensin on oxidative stress of lambs in heat stress conditions, 15 male lambs were used in a completely randomized design in three groups with five replications. Experimental groups included group one: basal diet, group two: basal diet + five grams of yeast, and group three: basal diet + 30 mg monensin. Blood samples were collected from lambs' veins on day 56 and antioxidant enzymes and blood parameters were measured. The results revealed that supplementation of the basal diet with yeast significantly increased the level of glutathione reduction (4. 16 µ Mol/mg plasma) and antioxidant enzymes activity superoxide dismutase (10. 8 IU/mg plasma), catalase (2. 15 nMol (per minute)/mg plasma), glutathione peroxidase (75. 36 IU/mg plasma) and paraoxonase (42. 71 IU/mg plasma). Also, the results showed that the amount of nitric oxide as an inflammation index (14. 85 IU/mg plasma) and malondialdehyde as a lipid peroxidation index (33. 74 IU/mg plasma) in the blood plasma of lambs were significantly decreased. Finally, the results of the current project demonstrated the diets contained yeast and the diet contained monensin compared to the control diet, were able to significantly increase thyroxin hormone (75. 22 nMol/l) and liver enzyme concentration. Based on the findings of this study, adding yeast to 5 g/kg DM in the diet of lambs not only reduced the damage caused by oxidative stress but also improved the antioxidant status of lambs in heat stress conditions.

The present experiment was conducted to improve the feeding value of the date kernel and investigate its effect on the digestibility and performance of finishing lambs. The Thirty-two 6 ± 1-month-old Arabi male lambs with an average weight of 29± 2 kg were assigned to four treatments with eight repeats. The experimental treatments were 1. Control (without date kernel powder), 2. A diet containing untreated date kernel powder, 3 and 4. Diets containing date kernel powder treated with alkaline hydrogen peroxide 1%, and 2%, respectively. Feed consumption, finishing performance, nutrients digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood parameters, and chewing activity of lambs were measured. The results of the present experiment showed that feed consumption was the same among treatments. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral and acid detergent fiber were the lowest amount in treatment containing untreated date kernel powder (P<0. 05). There was no significant difference among treatments for daily weight gain, final weight, and feed conversion ratio. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration was decreased in treatments two and three and pH was decreased in treatments two, three, and four compared to control treatment (P<0. 05). The concentrations of blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride were not affected by experimental treatments. The total protozoa population of the rumen and Entodiniums spp. were the least in treatment two (P<0. 05). Although the digestibility of raw date kernel powder treated with both levels of alkaline hydrogen peroxide improved, it was not as expected. Therefore, because the use of date kernel had no significant adverse effects on nutrients digestibility, finishing performance traits, also abundant and low price of date kernel in comparison to corn silage and other feed ingredients, it is possible to recommend it up to 15% in diets of finishing lambs.

The present study aimed to characterize the effect of dietary Ca-salts of palm oil (PO) and fish oil (FO) on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of growing lambs. The lambs (n=20; IBW=32. 7± 2. 8 kg, 4-5 month-old) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments (10 lambs/treatment) based on IBW and kept individual pens. Lambs were offered one of two diets, 1) control (2. 5% PO) and 2) 2. 5% FO for 90 days. At the end of the experiment, lambs were slaughtered and carcass characteristics and meat quality were measured. All data were analyzed based on a completely randomized design using the general linear model procedure of SAS. Results showed that Ca-salts of PO and FO did not affect animal performance, carcass traits, and chemical composition of Longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM). Also, shear force, cooking loose, and drip loose percentage of LDM did not affect by treatments. Feeding FO increased odor score (6. 13 vs. 5. 06) and decreased overall acceptability of meat (4. 21 vs. 5. 41) compared to PO (P<0. 05), while the other sensory characteristics of meat (tenderness, flavor, and juiciness) were not affected by treatments. In conclusion, the feeding of 2. 5% Ca-salts of FO increased the fishy odor in the lamb meat according to the sensory panel without changing the performance and carcass characteristics.

Concerning the importance of the transition period and the useful effect of plant medicinal on blood antioxidant capacity, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of using Foeniculum vulgare and Nigella sativa on blood metabolites and antioxidant status of Sanjabi ewes and their lambs during the transition period. The number of 36 Sanjabi ewes with an average weight of 62 ± 8 kg and an average parity of 2. 5 ± 0. 5 were allocated to three experimental groups from six weeks before parturition to six weeks after that. Treatments were included: 1) control group (basal diet without supplement) and 2) fennel group (basal diet plus 20 grams per kilogram of fennel) and 3) black seed group (base diet plus 20 grams per kilogram of black-seed). To determine the effect of treatments on the activity of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferase enzymes and concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, urea, total protein, triglyceride, HDL, LDL, and albumin, blood samples were taken from Jugular veins of ewes and lambs. The total antioxidant status and serum malondialdehyde concentration were also measured. According to the results, fennel in comparison with the control group prevented blood glucose reduction in ewes at lambing. Black seed supplementation increased blood total protein and albumin concentration in the lambs of this group (P<0. 05). A significant increase in total antioxidants was observed in ewes in both fennel and black seed groups and lambs in the fennel group (P<0. 05). The addition of black seed to the diet decreased malondialdehyde in the blood of lambs and ewes (P<0. 05). The lambs in the fennel group showed higher levels of glutathione peroxidase activity (P<0. 05). There was no significant difference between treatments in other studied enzymes in this study. The results of this study showed that adding fennel and black seed in the ewe diet before and after lambing may cause positive and constant changes in important blood metabolites, and improve antioxidant status in ewes and their lambs.