This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of bioherbal feed supplement on the growth performances, voluntary feed intake (VFI), protein efficiency ratio (PER), lipid efficiency ratio (LER), protein productive value (PPV), lipid productive value (LPV) and body composition of Mugil cephalus for 62 days. This study was conducted in a completely randomized design with 450 of grey mullet larvae (with average weight of 0.72±0.01g) in 5 treatments and 3 replicates (n=30 in each replicate) and included: control group without using bioherbal, other groups including: treatment 2, 3, 4 and 5. The amounts of this herbal supplement were 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg food. The results showed that at the end of experiment, the highest FW, DGR, VFI, PER, PPV, LER and crude protein were observed in the diet containing 15 g /kg bioherbal supplement in all of these parameters. Furthermore treatment 4 (15 g/kg) showed a significant difference compared with control treatment (P<0.05). Finally, the present results suggest that diet containing 15 g/kg bioherbal supplement (ginger and fennel powder) could improve growth, feed performances and carcase quality of Mugil cephalus larvae.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Marjoram leaves (Oregano vulgar) as a feed supplement on sexual efficiency and semen quality in Awasian pollination rams. The study was conducted on ten rams in one of the private fields in the Babylon governorate. The rams were divided randomly into two groups. First group rams are regarded as a control group (group A) that feeds on exceptional concentric food for pollination rams. The second group consists of 5 rams (group B) provided with the same concentric food plus a supplement of 3 mg/kg of body weight of Oregano vulgar leaves (fresh) 3 times daily for 49 days before the pollination season (April and May). Semen samples were collected at the end of 49 days by artificial vagina to evaluate the volume of ejaculate, sperm number, concentration, motility, viability, and deformities, and to measure the sperm pleomorphic parameters of the head, nucleus, and acrosome. The antioxidant status of seminal plasma was evaluated by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). ELISA tests were used on blood serum samples to measure the hormone levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and estrogen. The study demonstrated a significant increase in motility, the viability of sperm, and decreasing deformities. There was no significant variation in perimorphic parameters of the head, nucleus, and acrosome sperm after using the fresh leaves of Oregano vulgar as supplementation to Awasion sheep. However, there was an increase in the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPX, and TAC) in seminal plasma and an increase in LH, testosterone, and estrogen in the blood serum of experimental group B. These findings show that using fresh leaves of Oregano vulgar improved the sexual efficiency of pollinated rams and maintained the physiology and perimorphic parameters of semen and sperm.

Introduction: The antibacterial and antifungal effects of pomegranates peel and seeds are associated with the presence of phenolic compounds (flavonoids and tannin). These compounds accumulate in the skin and pomegranate juice and account for 92% of the antioxidant activity of pomegranates (Abid et al. 2017). Total tannins for pomegranate peel and pulp were reported to be 9. 73 and 0. 66%, respectively (Delavare et al. 2014). The different species of pomegranate have antibacterial and antifungal properties that can influence on a wide range of microorganisms (Carlton et al. 2000). Phenolic compounds in plants and foods by changing the gut microbial population can increase the amount of useful bacteria and reduce harmful bacteria (Katiyar 2002). It has been found that intestinal microflora plays a critical role in the health of the digestive tract and is dependent on the ration as the final source for metabolism of organic compounds. (Choct et al. 1996). To our knowledge, the effects of pomegranate by-products have been investigated on livestock and rumen function, however their effects on the intestinal microflora in ruminants have not been addressed. Therefore, due to the high concentration of tannins and phenolic compounds in the pomegranate by-products and their effect on intestinal microflora, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pomegranate pomace silage and pomegranate air-dried pomace on intestinal microflora in Mehraban fattening lambs. Materials and methods: Nine male lamb of Mehraban breed (mean weight of 27. 03± 3. 5 kg and mean age of 187. 8± 1. 4 d), were fed on three iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric diets. Diets were balanced according to NRC (2007) recommendation including control diet, diet contain 27% pomegranate pulp silage (mixture of seed and pulp at equal ratio) and diet contain 31% air-dried pomegranate seed pulp. All three diets were fed for 60 d after 3 weeks for adaptation in individual pens with free access to salts lick and water. At the end of experiment all lambs were slaughtered and after than for enumeration of intestinal fluoromicrobes, one gram freshly digested specimens of ileum and cecum were collected. Samples were spread on the surface of agar medium. Colonies were counted by ophthalmic count and bacterial count was calculated as CFU/g (number of colonies per gram). The MRS agar and MacConkey (MC) medium were used for identification and enumeration of Lactobacillus spp and Escherichia coli respectively. All samples were incubated at 37º C for 24 hours. All colonies were enumerated and recorded as CFU/g of culture suspension. For confirmation of Escherichia coli detection on MacConkey agar medium, polymerase change reaction (PCR) was conducted as DNA extraction using commercial kit (Bioneer, Sout Korea), polymerase change reactions, and electrophoresis of PCR products. Detection of molecular bacteria was done using the primers of 23S rRNA gene PCR. The PCR process was initial denaturation at 94 º C for 2 minutes and totally 35 cycles, denaturation at 94 º C for 45 seconds, and extension at 72 º C for 2 minutes. All data was analyzed as a complete randomized design using SPSS software. Significant difference for means was considered at 0. 05 level of differences. Results and discussion: The results of this study showed that in MRS medium either in ilium or cecum, the number of lactobacillus bacteria in all groups were not statistically significant. The mean number of Escherichia coli decreased due to feeding of pomegranate by-products (P<0. 05), while the type of pomegranate by-product has not significant effect on number of Escherichia coli. The importance role of gut microflora is well recognized in GIT health, although population of gut microbes has been influenced by diet (Choct et al 1996). In contrast of useful effects of lactobacillus on GIT, Escherichia coli damages the intestine of animals and produces lipopolysaccharide (Munyaka et al. 2012). Tannins are considered as a toxin to microorganisms; these compounds in the soluble environment produce some stable complexes, mainly with protein and to a lesser extent with carbohydrates or some physiological ions elements such as iron and copper (Chung and Chou 1998). The pomegranate peel extract at different levels has antimicrobial effect against microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans (Ahmed et al. 2013). The phenolic materials in pomegranate fruit, are responsible for the antimicrobial properties of pomegranates (Seeram et al. 2006). In the present study, reduction of Escherichia coli population in lambs fed pomegranate by-products can be attributed to the adverse effect of phenolic substances in the pomegranate byproducts on Escherichia coli population. Several mechanisms have been introduced for antimicrobial properties of phenolic compounds in the pomegranate. Phenolic substances, with high molecular weight proteins, form complexes and by these complexes can react to the some cytoplasmic and membrane enzymes after absorption (Seeram et al. 2006). These complexes can also prevent cell surface receptors from attachment of harmful microorganisms (Cowan 1999). Phenolic compounds can react with the cellular proteins of microorganisms, alter cell wall structure and function (Hugo and Bloomfield 1971), reducing cell wall permeability and reducing substrate transport to cells (Goel et al. 2005). In addition, phenolic compounds can alter or denature some microbial enzymes, and also form complexes with certain nutrients and remove them from microorganisms (Hugo and Bloomfield 1971). The decline of Escherichia coli can also be attributed to the increase in the number of Lactobacillus; because by increasing the Lactobacillus and consequently increasing the production of lactic acid and creating an acidic environment, the population of Escherichia coli is reduced due to sensitivity of Escherichia coli to acidic environment (Hammer et al. 1999). Conclusion: Feeding of the pomegranate pomace silage and air-dried pomegranate pomace in fattening lambs, decreased the population of Escherichia coli in ileum and cecum, although lactobacillus bacteria was not affected by pomegranate by-products. It seems that the tannins and phenolic compounds present in the pomegranate can effect on Escherichia coli population in ileum and cecum.

β-Glucans (beta-glucans) form a natural component of the cell walls of bacteria, fungi, yeast, and cereals such as oat and barley. Glucanases are enzymes that break down a glucan. β-glucans are chains of D-glucose polysaccharides linked by β-type glycosidic bonds. The purpose of this study is to express the lechinase gene in bacteria to produce recombinant enzyme as a feed supplement in poultry diets. In this study, LicBM2 gene, isolated from Clostridium thermocellum, encodes thermostable lichenase enzyme was cloned in expression vector pET22b (+) and E. Coli bacteria strain BL21. Bacterial β 1, 3– 1, 4-glucanases (EC 3. 2. 1. 73; lichenase) specifically cleave β-1, 4-glycosidic linkage adjacent to 3-O-substituted glucopyranose residues. Gene expression was confirmed using SDS-PAGE techniques. The enzyme activity of recombinant protein and reducing glucan in barly were measured by DNS method. The optimum temperature for recombinant protein production was 55 ° C and the maximum enzyme activity was obtain within 4 hours after inducing in pH = 8. Using barlay in poultry diet is more economical. But the significant amounts of beta-glucans in barlay cause more problems. The recombinant enzyme produced in this study can be used as a feed supplement for hydrolyzation of barley β-glucan to replace of corn by barley in poultry diets.

Supplementary feed exogenous enzymes have improved the growth rates of various food animals. In this research, the effect of Endofeed W, a multienzyme feed supplement, was investigated on the growth of carp. Accordingly, 134 fish (33.1±0.8 g) were randomly allocated to 4 experimental groups. During the first stage of the experiment (10 days), groups 1-3 received 1, 2 and 3 g Endofeed W per kg diet, respectively. The fourth group (control) received a placebo. All fish were weighed and redistributed for the second stage of the experiment, during which the test groups received 0.25, 0.5 and 1 g Endofeed W per kg diet, respectively. During the first stage of the experiment, the multienzyme supplement reduced the fish weights, dose dependently, being statistically significant with the highest dose (P<0.05). During the second stage of the experiment, a rather similar weight loss, especially with higher doses of the supplement, was observed. However, the differences were not significant (P>0.05). The feed conversion rates were evidently higher in groups receiving Endofeed W. The present study suggests the enzyme supplement, Endofeed W, is not only ineffective in improving the growth and feed conversion rates of carp, it may even exert negative effects with higher doses.

Background: The performance and parasitology of semi-intensively managed West African dwarf (WAD) lambs were evaluated following exposure to gastrointestinal helminth infected paddock and varied protein-energy feeds. Methods: Twenty four lambs obtained from the Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics and brought to Directorate of University farm (DUFARM) of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria, where the research was carried out in 2014, were grouped into four each containing six animals based on different energy-protein feed combination thus; group 1(G1) low energy low protein, group 2 (G2) low energy high protein, group 3 (G3) high energy low protein and group 4 (G4) high energy high protein. Experimental animals were supplemented with concentrate feed after grazing on daily in a nematode infected paddock. Clinical signs of infection were monitored. Live weight, faecal egg count (FEC), worm counts, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and red blood cell count (RBC) were determined using standard methods. Results: Anorexia and intermittent diarrhea were the observed signs. Worm counts did not differ significantly (P=0. 309) among the groups. The weight and FEC differed significantly (P˂ 0. 05) across the days and among the groups, while haematological parameters increased significantly (P˂ 0. 05) across the days and among the groups. Conclusion: Lambs in G2 followed by G4 showed improved parameters and superior performance when compared to the other groups. It is therefore recommended that feed high in protein content is capable of mitigating deleterious effect of gastrointestinal helminth parasitism.

Developing aqua/ animal feeds from underutilized fish and agricultural by-products using hydrolyzed technology is an excellent way to provide proteins for aquaculture/ animal farming. This study reports development of a new protein feed supplement, based on fish protein hydrolysate and agricultural residues, on a pilot scale and investigates physicochemical properties, microbial quality, and shelf-stability of the product. The production conditions were based on lab-scale experiences. Accordingly, fish protein hydrolyzed solution containing 16. 58% crude protein, 63. 35% moisture, and 15. 52% fat was mixed with agricultural by-products, i. e. sesame meal, rice bran, and soybean meal as fillers (60: 40 w/w) and dried at 40°C for 6 h. The dried mixture was grounded after cooling, then packed in sealed plastic bags, and stored for 180 days at ambient temperature. The protein feed supplement contained 58. 23% crude protein, 16. 18% fat, 8. 85% moisture, 9. 10% ash, 2. 6% fiber, 1. 489% calcium, 0. 89% phosphorous, and 5. 34% carbohydrates of dry weight. Total essential and non-essential amino acids were 19. 41g/ 100g and 20. 36 g/ 100g of dry weight respectively. The protein feed supplement contained significant essential fatty acids. Levels of pH and TVB-N of the protein feed supplement increased to 5. 30 and 65. 20 mg/100g at the end of the study. After 180 days, there were no yeast and mold in the samples and it was still pathogen-free.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different levels of dietary acidifier on feed efficiency and some hematological and immune parameters of tiger Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus). A total of 96 Oscar fingerlings weighing 7.08±1.33g were fed with four treatments including 0, 2, 4 and 8 g Biotronic acidifier (BiominÒ- Austria) /kg diet for a period of 8 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, biometry and blood sampling were done to measure hematological and immune parameters. The results showed that the highest final weight, percentage of body weight increase, average daily growth, specific growth rate, condition factor and the lowest FCR were observed in treatment 8 g/kg acidifier which had no significant difference with other treatments (P>0.05). Fish were fed 4 g/kg acidifier showed an increase in RBC, hematocrit and hemoglobin compared to other groups. There was no significant difference in MCH, MCV and MCHC between treatments (P>0.05). The highest WBC was recorded in treatment 8 g/kg acidifier. The treatment 4 g/kg acidifier had the highest lymphocyte count compared to the other treatments. In immune factors, treatments 2 and 8 g/kg acidifier showed the highest amount of lysozyme and IgM, respectively compared to other treatments. Based on mentioned results, it can be stated that acidifier supplement at level of 8 g/kg has been a slight impact on strengthening feeding efficiency and also improvement of some hematological and immune parameters of Oscar fingerlings.

Lactobacillus sp. are safe organisms for using as probiotic due to their different properties such as useful enzyme products. For example, phytase is an enzyme that has an important role in fish feed digestion. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Lactobacillus species with phytase activity from dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese and to evaluate the effects of different carbon sources on bacterial growth and phytase activity. For this purpose, Lactobacillus species were screened from dairy products using biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA gene analysis was used to confirm the lactobacilli class. Three of the isolates that showed the best bacterial growth and phytase activity were selected and their 16S rRNA gene sequences were deposited in GeneBank. Then, to determine the optimum growth conditions, three carbon sources including glucose and sucrose at concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40 g L-1 and wheat bran at concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 g L-1 were used in three replicates. Phytase activity of isolated bacteria including Lactobacillus sp. strains AM11, AM13, and AM14 were measured using zymoplate as well as extracellular enzyme assay. Lactobacillus sp. strain AM11 showed higher phytase activity and growth compared to the other isolates (P< 0. 05). According to the results, Lactobacillus sp. strain AM11 isolates can be used as a feed supplement to improve minerals availability in fish nutrition.

With the rapid expansion of the aquaculture industry, in order to meet the protein needs of humans, stress and susceptibility of fish to disease in the intensive system has increased. Therefore, the use of many dietary supplements such as feathers probotics, safety stimulants, and plant products have been developed to combat the side effects associated with growing conditions. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of of bioherbal feed supplement on the liver (aspartat amimotrasferase (ASP), alaninaminotransferase (ALT) and alkanin phosphatase (ALP)) and digestive enzymes (amylase, protease and lipase) and chemical parametese (glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride (TRI), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLO) of Mugil cephalus for 60 days. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 450 of grey mullet larvae (with average weight of 0.72±0.01g) in 5 treatments and 3 replicates (n=30 in each replicate) and included: control group without using bioherbal, an another groups (treatment 2, 3,4 and 5) the amounts of this herbal supplement were 5,10,15 and 20 g/kg food. At the end of experiment , the results showed that the highest the activity of protease (341±12.08U/mg protein), amylase (404.67±11.23 U/mg/protein) and lipase (5.76±0.18 U/mg protein), the lowest ASP (92.66±13.05U/mL), ALT (15.33±1.15 U/mL) and ALP (66.33±2.51 U/mL) enzymes were observed in the diet containing 20 g /kg bioherbal supplement in all of these parameters, treatment 5 (20 g/kg) (4) showed a significant difference compared with control treatment (P<0.05). Also, the lowest serum CHO (120.66± 3.78 mg/dL), GLU (80.33± 1.57 mg/dL) and TRI (120.06±9.01 mg/dL), the highest GLO (1.52±0.15 g/dL) were recorded in treatment 4. Finally, the present results suggest that diet containing 20 g/kg bioherbal supplement (ginger and fennel powder) could improve digestion and liver function index enzymes and biochemical parameters of Mugil cephalus larvae.