Introduction: Flaxseed oil contains a variety of unsaturated fatty acids such as linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. The linolenic acid content can be up to 53%, which leads to increased nutritional value. However, the oxidative sensitivity of these polyunsaturated fatty acids is a major concern. Diets supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids have been shown to increase cellular oxidative damage. Therefore, the use of antioxidants in diets containing flaxseed oil seems to be crucial. Spirulina platensis is rich in bioactive compounds that provide various health benefits. Phycocyanin, a pigment-protein complex found in spirulina, has strong antioxidant properties that help neutralize free radicals, thereby protecting cells from oxidative damage. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Spirulina algae supplementation in diets containing different levels of flaxseed oil on performance, blood and liver antioxidant parameters, and serum and egg yolk lipid parameters in laying hens. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 288 laying hens (Hy-line-W36, 70 weeks of age) were used in a 2 × 3 factorial design with 6 replications and 8 birds per replication. The experimental treatments included diets containing 3 levels of flaxseed oil (0, 1.5, and 3% of the diet) and 2 levels of Spirulina platensis microalgae (0 and 5 g/kg of the diet). To evaluate performance indices, eggs were collected twice a day and the number and total weight of eggs were recorded at the end of each day. Egg mass, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were calculated weekly. To evaluate blood parameters, two serum samples from each replicate (12 samples per treatment) were prepared at the end of the experimental period. All data from this experiment were statistically analyzed in a 2×3 factorial test using SAS software and the Mixed procedure. Results and Discussion: The results showed that hens treated with 3% flaxseed oil with or without spirulina had the highest percentage of egg production, weight and mass, which were significantly higher than those treated without flaxseed oil. The use of 3% flaxseed oil with 5 g of spirulina reduced feed conversion ratio compared to other experimental treatments. Levels of 1.5 and 3% flaxseed oil with 5 g of spirulina significantly reduced triglyceride and VLDL concentrations. The main effects of flaxseed oil showed that 3% flaxseed oil reduced egg yolk cholesterol. The interaction effect of 5 grams of spirulina and 3% flaxseed oil reduced egg yolk triglyceride levels compared to the control treatment. Diets containing 1.5 and 3% flaxseed oil reduced total antioxidant capacity and liver superoxide dismutase and total serum antioxidant capacity, while the use of 5 g of spirulina increased the aforementioned parameters. Also, serum malondialdehyde levels increased in chickens fed diets containing 1.5 and 3% flaxseed oil without Spirulina, and the addition of Spirulina was able to compensate for this increase caused by flaxseed oil. Laying hens have a very strong body fat metabolism, especially during the peak egg production period. Oils, as one of the essential nutrients for animal growth and one of the main components of egg yolk, play an important role in regulating the production performance of laying hens and egg weight. Therefore, the production performance and egg weight of laying hens may be improved by supplementing the diet with various oils. The reduction in yolk lipid profile in the present study could be due to the reduction of triglycerides in the blood circulation of the birds due to the increased omega-3 intake in the flaxseed oil-containing diet, potentially limiting the availability of lipids for yolk formation. Spirulina contains γ-linoleic acid, which binds to cholesterol metabolites in bile and prevents their accumulation. The researchers also stated that the reduction in cholesterol levels may be related to the inhibitory effects of spirulina on the activity of HMG-CoA reductase, an allosteric enzyme required for cholesterol synthesis in the liver. The present results showed that the increase in hepatic malondialdehyde, which is an indicator of oxidative stress, was reduced again by the addition of Spirulina to the flaxseed oil-containing diets, while glutathione peroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity were increased by Spirulina treatment. The capacity of Spirulina to restore redox balance in flaxseed oil-containing diets can be attributed to its bioactive antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols and other free radical antagonists such as α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, β-carotene and selenium. Conclusion: In general, the present researchers recommend using 3% flaxseed oil in the diet of laying hens to benefit from the positive effects of flaxseed oil on performance and blood lipid parameters. However, based on the present results, if 1.5 or 3% flaxseed oil is added to the diet, the use of Spirulina platensis algae as a natural antioxidant is vital to prevent lipid peroxidation.
Introduction: Barley grain is the main feed for lamb fattening in Iran; However, its rapid starch degradation in the rumen can lead to digestive problems, such as ruminal acidosis and bloat, which adversely affect livestock performance. To address this, corn grain is often used as an alternative because it has a slower degradation rate and reduces digestive problems. However, there is limited research on the effects of processing methods on the performance and degradability of corn and barley when fed at high‑level diets to fattening animals. Additionally, studies comparing the performance and economic efficiency of these grains in ruminants under Iranian conditions are scarce. This study aims to assess the effects of corn processing and high-level barley grain feeding on the performance and economic outcomes for Baluchi lambs in vivo.Materials and Methods:This study was conducted to evaluate and compare ruminal parameters, blood metabolites, and economic efficiency in fattening lambs fed high-concentrate diets based on corn and barley. A total of 20 male Baluchi lambs were randomly assigned to four experimental diets in a completely randomized design. The dietary groups consisted of similar forage proportions and concentrate mixtures containing: (1) whole corn, (2) wet corn, (3) ground corn, and (4) whole barley. The lambs were fed these completely mixed diets for 70 days, with a concentrate-to-forage ratio of 75:25 maintained across all groups.Results and discussion:The average daily weight gain did not differ significantly among the groups; however, lambs receiving the whole corn diet demonstrated the highest numerical average daily weight gain. In contrast, lambs fed the wet corn diet exhibited significantly lower feed intake, along with improved feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency, compared to the other dietary groups, especially whole barley and ground corn. The feed efficiency for the wet corn group was notably higher than that of the other groups. Furthermore, experimental diets did not significantly influence ruminal pH or ammonia nitrogen concentrations. There was also no significant effect of the diets on total volatile fatty acid concentrations, the acetate-to-propionate ratio, or individual concentrations of acetate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate. However, the concentration of propionate was significantly elevated in the ground corn group. Blood parameters remained largely unaffected by dietary groups. The highest net income was recorded in the whole corn group, which showed no significant difference from the wet corn group. Additionally, the wet corn diet was associated with the highest economic efficiency and the lowest cost per unit of production when compared to the ground corn group.Conclusion:These findings suggest that incorporating wet corn into the diets of Baluchi lamb can be an effective strategy to improve animal performance and enhance economic returns under intensive fattening systems.
Introduction: Mineral supplements are an important component of the diet of laying hens to improve biochemical processes, embryonic development, and bone structure (Leeson, 2005). Micronutrients are involved in the structure of numerous proteins and hormones as intermediates in metabolism (Tom Dieck et al., 2003). In current commercial practice, micronutrients are added to the diet in inorganic form at levels much higher than those recommended by the National Research Council (NRC) (Leeson, 2005; Bao et al., 2007).Research shows that the addition of micronutrients of organic origin increases the bioavailability of the elements and improves performance due to their insoluble nature and organic complexation (Mézes et al., 2012). Consequently, formulating laying hen diets with trace elements from organic sources due to their higher bioavailability is considered a strategy to reduce the excretion of minerals in the animal’s feces. However, these sources are significantly more expensive, making them difficult to access for general use and increasing the cost of the feed. Trace minerals in hydroxychloride form possess several advantages resulting from their unique crystalline structure, such as increased stability and reduced reactivity in feed formulations (Hawthorne & Sokolova, 2002).Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted with 240 laying hens of the Hy-Line strain (W-36) from 40 to 50 weeks of age for 10 weeks in a completely randomized design with 8 groups in 5 replications and 6 birds per experimental unit. The experimental groups included: Group 1- negative control (without zinc supplementation), groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively, included the negative control diet with 80, 120 and 160 mg/kg zinc sulfate with a purity of 34%, and groups 5, 6 and 7, respectively, included the negative control diet with 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg zinc hydroxychloride with the chemical formula Cl2.H20 (Zn5 (OH8) with a purity of 55%, and group 8 included the negative control diet with 124 mg/kg zinc-methionine complex with a purity of 22%. The chickens were allocated to 40 metal cages (6 birds per cage) in a completely random manner within the weight range of 1590 ± 25 g. The composition of the basal diet was adjusted based on the guidelines for the (W-36) strain and the age of 40 to 50 weeks according to Table 1. The temperature range of the house was 24 ± 2 °C and the lighting schedule was set to 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness throughout the day according to the recommendations of the breeding guideline .Throughout the experimental period, egg mass production, laying rate, percentage of defective eggs, and survival rate were recorded and calculated for each replicate. Serum concentrations of zinc, copper, and manganese were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer according to the method described by Dozier et al. (2003). To determine the bioavailability (retention) of zinc, copper and manganese, one bird from each replicate was randomly selected and slaughtered at the end of the experiment. Tissue samples, including breast muscle, liver, and tibia, were collected for mineral analysis. The results were analyzed in a completely randomized design. For this purpose, the GLM procedure of SAS software version 9.4 (2015) was employed, and Duncan's test at a significant level of 0.05 was used to compare the means. Results and Discussion: The results presented in Table 2 indicate that zinc accumulation in the pectoral muscle increased linearly with increasing dietary zinc supplementation levels. These changes were influenced by both the bioavailability and the dietary levels of the zinc sources used. Similarly, the storage of zinc in the tibia is strongly affected by the levels and type of its source. Therefore, the zinc storage index in the tibia is a better criterion for measuring its bioavailability. An inverse relationship was observed between dietary zinc concentration and copper accumulation in the pectoral muscle. Specifically, supplementation with 160 mg/kg zinc sulfate and 100 mg/kg zinc hydroxychloride resulted in a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in copper deposition in muscle tissue. The results of this study agree with the findings that state the level of zinc in the pectoral and tibia muscles depends on the type of source and its levels in the diet, so with increasing it in the diet, its storage in the tissue increases. This increase in the organic form is due to the specific absorption mechanism of the element chelated with the organic peptide (Afshar Bakeshlo et al., 2024; Hu et al., 2022). The results of Table 3 show that the survival rate in the flock was not affected by the source and level of zinc in the diet (P> 0.05). Egg mass was not significantly affected by dietary treatments (Table 3). However, a numerically lower laying rate was observed in the negative control group, which may reflect a compensatory physiological response to zinc deficiency. Also, the increase in egg mass, due to the biological limitations of the bird, is more affected by the amount of energy and protein in the diet than by the zinc element. In confirmation of these findings, it has been reported that different sources and levels of zinc, copper and manganese do not affect the production rate and egg weight in laying hens (Chen et al., 2022; Domel et al., 2024).Conclusion: The use of mineral sources with higher bioavailability and longer tissue retention represents an effective strategy for enhancing the nutritional quality of animal products. Increasing the amount of zinc with conventional inorganic forms, such as zinc sulfate, can reduce copper absorption and lead to negative biological consequences. On the other hand, the use of an organic source, despite retention, is associated with increased production costs and difficulty in supply. Therefore, it is recommended to use a level of 75 mg/kg of zinc hydroxychloride to improve the zinc storage index in eggs, while also enhancing the biological response of the hens.
Introduction: Compared to corn, wheat offers less energy but provides more nutrients. Non-starch polysaccharides in wheat can be challenging for broiler chickens to digest. These complex carbohydrates can increase the viscosity of the intestinal contents, slowing down the digestive process and nutrient absorption. This can lead to reduced growth performance in broilers fed wheat-based diets compared to those fed corn-based diets. Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi), a member of the Apiaceae family, produces an essential oil that is rich in thymol (35-60%), known for its antibacterial properties. Other significant compounds include para-cymene, γ-terpinene, and carvacrol. These components inhibit both pathogenic and non-pathogenic intestinal species. This antibacterial action helps in maintaining gut health, reducing the load of harmful bacteria, and potentially improving nutrient absorption and growth performance in broilers. While essential oils present a promising alternative to antibiotics, their direct inclusion in animal diets faces limitations due to their hydrophobic, reactive, and volatile nature. Encapsulation techniques, especially those involving nanotechnology, can protect these oils from degradation, improve their stability, and enhance their bioavailability, thereby improving feed consumption and antimicrobial efficacy. Nanotechnology enhances essential oil availability in livestock by increasing surface area. Encapsulated plant essential oils in polymers protect them and improve their antimicrobial properties. Despite the potential benefits, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the effects of encapsulated ajwain essential oil on broiler performance. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate growth performance and selected blood biochemical parameters in broiler chickens fed wheat‑based diets supplemented with different forms and concentrations of ajwain essential oil.Materials and Methods: A total of 1500 one-day-old male broiler chickens were randomly allocated to 12 experimental groups, with five replicates per group and 25 broiler chickens per replicate, following a 2×3×2 factorial arrangement. The factors considered were diet types (corn and corn-wheat), levels of ajwain essential oil (0, 150, and 300 mg/kg of diet), and forms of ajwain essential oil (conventional and encapsulated). Various parameters were measured and recorded, including growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood biochemical indicators (such as triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferase) in broiler chickens. Data analysis was performed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS software. Mean separation among treatments was performed using Tukey’s multiple range test.Results and Discussion: This study investigated the effects of dietary formulation and supplementation with ajwain essential oil (AEO) both free and encapsulated on broiler performance, carcass traits, and metabolic health. The results demonstrate that dietary composition and the method and level of AEO supplementation significantly influenced growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass yield, and health markers in broiler chickens. Broilers fed a corn-wheat-based diet consistently exhibited higher feed intake than those on a corn-only diet throughout all production phases, suggesting improved palatability and enhanced nutrient utilization associated with the mixed-grain formulation. Supplementation of the corn-wheat diet with 300 ppm AEO further increased feed intake during the finisher period, implying a stimulatory effect of higher AEO concentrations on older birds. Body weight gain (BWG) was significantly enhanced by both AEO supplementation and mixed grain feeding, particularly during the starter phase. Notably, AEO at either 150 or 300 ppm improved early BWG, and encapsulated AEO appeared to outperform free oil, likely due to improved stability and targeted release in the gastrointestinal tract. However, during the finisher period, unsupplemented corn-wheat diets resulted in lower BWG compared to any AEO-supplemented or corn-based diet, indicating the necessity of AEO inclusion in late-stage growth for optimal performance. Over the entire trial, AEO supplementation significantly improved overall BWG in corn-wheat fed birds. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was affected by both diet and AEO level, with the poorest FCR observed in broilers fed the unsupplemented corn-wheat diet during the finisher phase. Optimal FCR was achieved in groups receiving corn plus 300 ppm AEO and corn-wheat plus 150 ppm AEO, highlighting the importance of synergy between base diet and AEO dose. Mortality was, however, higher in the corn–wheat diet supplemented with 300 ppm AEO, suggesting a potential adverse effect associated with this higher inclusion level. The European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) was highest in the corn-wheat + 150 ppm AEO group, indicating 150 ppm as the optimal dose in the corn-wheat matrix. Carcass analysis revealed that the corn-wheat diet improved relative carcass and breast weights, while corn diets increased relative weights of the liver, spleen, and gizzard, possibly reflecting metabolic strain. Thigh weight was higher in unsupplemented diets at day 42. Biochemical analysis indicated that encapsulated AEO was more effective than free oil in reducing serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and mitigating elevations in liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase), suggesting improved lipid metabolism and hepatoprotection. Serum triglycerides were lowest in broilers fed corn-wheat + 300 ppm encapsulated AEO. In summary, encapsulation of AEO provided metabolic and hepatic health benefits, and 150 ppm was identified as an optimal supplementation level for performance and health when included in a corn-wheat diet.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that supplementing corn-wheat-based diets with AEO, particularly in encapsulated form, significantly enhances broiler performance and metabolic health. The corn-wheat combination itself promoted higher feed intake and weight gain compared to corn-based diets. Crucially, AEO supplementation at 150 ppm emerged as the optimal level, synergistically improving weight gain, optimizing the FCR, elevating the European Production Efficiency Factor, and reducing serum LDL cholesterol and key liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase), indicative of better hepatic health. While encapsulated AEO further improved lipid profiles and reduced liver enzyme markers compared to free oil, higher supplementation (300 ppm) increased mortality and elevated liver enzymes. Significant interactions between diet type and AEO levels were evident, particularly for FCR and organ weights. Overall, the integration of corn-wheat diets with 150 ppm encapsulated AEO offers a promising strategy to enhance growth efficiency, carcass yield, and metabolic status in broilers, though higher doses warrant caution due to potential negative impacts on mortality and liver stress markers.
Introduction: Garlic (Allium sativum) is a well-known aromatic herb that has been used for centuries for its therapeutic properties, largely attributed to its bioactive compounds such as allicin. These compounds have been shown to support immune function, mitigate oxidative stress, and improve overall health status in poultry. Similarly, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), an aromatic perennial herb from the Apiaceae family, is valued for its seeds containing antioxidants and phytoestrogens that may positively influence ovarian morphology and reproductive efficiency. The poultry industry is increasingly turning to medicinal plants as natural alternatives to synthetic additives, aiming to boost productivity and promote bird health. Previous studies have demonstrated that supplementation with garlic and fennel extracts can significantly improve productive parameters, including egg production and reproductive performance. However, the specific mechanisms and effects on ovarian histomorphology require more study. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of garlic and fennel extracts administered separately on the performance traits and ovarian morphology of layer breeder hens, with the goal of understanding how these natural supplements can enhance reproductive health and egg production. The findings of this research may support the use of medicinal plants as natural alternatives for improving reproductive functions and productivity in poultry, contributing to more sustainable and welfare-oriented poultry production systems.Materials and Methods: In this study, sixty-layer breeders of the Hy-Line W80 strain in Sixty-five weeks of age were allocated into three groups, with five replicates and four hens per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: (1) control diet based on corn and soybean meals; (2) control diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg of dried fennel extract; and (3) control diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg of dried garlic extract. The experimental groups were managed for 10 weeks, and performance traits such as feed intake, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, egg weight were evaluated weekly. The experimental diets were formulated using UFFDA software. At the end of the experimental period at 75 weeks of age, one hen per replicate, totaling five hens per group were euthanized and the ovarian and magnum tissues were fixed in formalin for histological examination. In this study, large ovarian follicles defined as those with a diameter exceeding 10 mm were counted, the weight and diameter of each follicle were measured individually. The performance data and follicle characteristics were analyzed by SAS software version 8.9 using the GLM procedure and microscopic data were analyzed by GraphPad Prism software.Results and Discussion: The results indicated that dietary supplementation with garlic and fennel extracts had no significant effect on the performance of layer breeder hens (P > 0.05). These findings are not consistent with multiple prior studies, which have reported positive impacts of these phytogenic additives on poultry performance. This discrepancy may stem from differences in experimental design, supplementation levels, or the specific strains of poultry used in different studies, highlighting the complexity of integrating herbal supplements into poultry nutrition programs. Despite the lack of significant effect on overall performance, noteworthy observations were made regarding the reproductive parameters of the hens. The number of growing ovarian follicles in the fennel group increased compared to the control (P<0.05). This increase in follicular development may be attributed to the bioactive compounds present in fennel, which are known to modulate hormonal activities and ovarian function in poultry. Enhanced follicular growth is crucial for improving egg production potential, suggesting that fennel may play a beneficial role in reproductive health. Additionally, the thickness of the granulosa layer in the ovaries of hens that received garlic and fennel groups was significantly higher compared to the control group (P<0.05), indicating potential enhancements in reproductive health status. The granulosa cell layer is vital for the proper development and maturation of oocytes, as it provides necessary support and nutrients. An increase in granulosa layer thickness may contribute to better egg quality parameters.Conclusion: The overall findings of the present study suggest for slowing down the process of reducing antioxidant capacity and consequently reducing fertility by using fennel and garlic extracts in the diet of laying hens. Further studies are required to clarify the effects of these extracts on laying hens. Also, a more detailed study of the molecular mechanisms and evaluation of the effects of these compounds on other fertility indicators can provide new insights for increasing reproductive performance in laying hens.
Introduction: The widespread use of growth-promoting antibiotic compounds (antibiotics) in the past two decades has caused antibiotic resistance in different bacterial strains in poultry and humans, resulting in reduced response rates to group. Non‑antibiotic compounds such as organic acids, enzymes, and phytobiotics are considered effective alternatives to antibiotics. Phytobiotics are incorporated into livestock diets to enhance growth and reproductive performance by improving nutrient utilization and thereby increasing the quality of animal‑derived product. Capparis Spinosa L. is a drought-resistant plant from the Capparis genus of the Capparidaceae family. Flower buds, roots, fresh leaves, and mature fruits are used for medicinal purposes. Dietary inclusion of dried leaf powder of Capparis Spinosa L. at a level of 15 g/kg in the diet without any adverse effects on performance in laying hens. Predicting broiler performance using mathematical growth models and resulting curves is essential in breeding fast-growing broiler chickens. The purpose of this study was to compare two statistical models: nonlinear support vector regression and cubic linear regression model in evaluating growth performance, carcass traits, and blood biochemical indices of broiler chickens fed diets containing different levels of Capparis Spinosa L. fruit powder. Materials and Methods: In this study, 300 one-day-old Ross broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used with six experimental groups including different levels of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15% Capparis Spinosa L. fruit powder in five replications (each replication consisted of 10 chicks) in a completely randomized design. During the rearing period, the chicks had ad libitum access to feed and water. Body weight of the chicks and feed residues were recorded at the starter, grower, and finisher periods. Then the average daily weight gain, daily feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio were calculated. Two birds from each replicate were weighed and slaughtered on day 42 for carcass traits evaluation. The yield and ratio of carcass components to live weight were calculated. Blood biochemical parameters (glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides) were determined using a spectrophotometric autoanalyzer (Biosystem 15A autoanalyzer, Biosystem Company) and commercial biochemical kits (Zistchemi Co., Iran). The growth performance, carcass traits, and blood biochemical indices were fitted with a nonlinear support vector regression (SVR) model and linear cubic regression. The coefficient of determination (R²) and mean square error (MSE) were used to select the most appropriate model. Results and Discussion: The results showed that with increasing levels of Capparis Spinosa L. fruit powder, no significant changes were observed in growth performance, carcass traits and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Feed intake was highest during the grower, finisher, and total periods in broilers fed diets containing 6% Capparis spinosa L. fruit powder, whereas during the starter period, the highest feed intake was observed at the 9% inclusion level. The body weight of broilers decreased during the initial and growth periods. During the starter and overall growth periods, body weight increased up to inclusion levels of 6% and 3% Capparis spinosa L. fruit powder, respectively, and then declined at higher inclusion rates. The weight gain of broilers was observed in the early periods at a level of 6 and in the growth and final periods at 3% Capparis Spinosa L. fruit powder. Feed conversion ratio in the final period and total broilers fed diets containing Capparis Spinosa L. fruit powder at levels of 3 and 9% had the lowest feed conversion ratio. Among carcass components, the highest coefficient of determination was observed for breast yield using the nonlinear support vector regression (SVR) model (R² = 0.94). In biochemical indices of broiler chicken blood, the highest coefficient of determination between the two studied models related to cholesterol and LDL variables was obtained with (R2= 0.98). The results of comparing the goodness-of-fit indices of the models showed that the nonlinear support vector regression model, with a higher coefficient of determination, lower mean square error, and lower sum of squares of the nonlinear support vector regression model, had a better estimate of growth performance, carcass percentage, and blood biochemical indices of broiler chickens compared to the cubic linear model. In a study, linear and nonlinear models (Gompertz, three-parameter logistic, and Richards) were compared to describe the growth patterns of broiler chickens, and it was reported that the Richards model had higher efficiency in predicting and fitting the growth performance of broiler chickens. Stated that machine learning (SVR) models effectively predict carcass characteristics based on body weight measurements. Using a regression model to predict breast muscle relative weight and abdominal fat is non-destructive and inexpensive, so this method has the potential for generalization. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that nonlinear support vector regression models are effective approaches for predicting growth performance, carcass traits , and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens.
Introduction: The identification and utilization of regionally available feed resources are essential, particularly given the substantial influence of environmental and climatic factors on the quality and nutritional composition of forage crops. Under conditions of increasing water scarcity and the limited availability of conventional forages, the use of drought- and salinity-tolerant plant species such as camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum) has attracted growing interest. Camelthorn is considered a promising alternative forage owing to its relatively high concentration of digestible protein and a wide array of essential nutrients, contributing to its classification as a functional feed ingredient. Previous research has demonstrated that the partial substitution of traditional forages with camelthorn, particularly during their vegetative or flowering stages, does not adversely affect ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, or overall animal performance. Although camelthorn hay is widely available in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran and has the potential to meet the nutritional demands of grazing livestock, its comprehensive nutritional profile remains insufficiently studied. Moreover, information regarding the use and nutritive value of halophytic plants in ruminant nutrition is generally scarce. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing alfalfa hay with graded levels of camelthorn hay on apparent nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation characteristics, microbial protein synthesis, and ruminal papillae morphology in fattening lambs. Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted using 20 male Arabian lambs, aged 3-4 months, with an average initial body weight of 22.4 ± 1.5 kg. The study lasted 84 days, comprising a 14-day adaptation period followed by 70 days of experimental feeding. Lambs were individually housed and randomly assigned to one of four dietary groups in a completely randomized design, with five lambs per group. The experimental groups were as follows: 1) Control diet containing alfalfa hay without camelthorn hay; 2) diet with 33.3% replacement of alfalfa hay with camelthorn hay; 3) diet with 66.6% replacement of alfalfa hay with camelthorn hay; and 4) diet with 100% replacement of alfalfa hay with camelthorn hay. All diets were formulated using the Small Ruminant Nutrition System (SRNS) software and offered as total mixed rations (TMR) with a forage-to-concentrate ratio of 30:70, designed to meet the nutritional requirements of fattening lambs. Apparent nutrient digestibility was assessed using acid-insoluble ash as an internal marker. On day 84 of the study, rumen fluid samples were collected three hours after the morning feeding to analyze protozoal populations and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles. During the final week of the trial, urine was collected to estimate microbial protein synthesis using the purine derivatives excretion method. At the end of the trial, after slaughter, samples were taken from the rumen wall to evaluate the morphological characteristics of the rumen epithelium. Results and Discussion: Apparent dry matter digestibility was significantly higher in the group receiving 33.3% replacement of alfalfa hay with camelthorn hay compared to the 66.6% and 100% replacement groups (P < 0.05). Apparent digestibility of acid detergent fiber (ADF) also differed significantly among groups (P < 0.05), with the highest value recorded in the control group (100% alfalfa; 45.67%) and the lowest in the 100% camelthorn group (32.63%). The apparent digestibility of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) was significantly higher in the group receiving 33.3% replacement of alfalfa hay with camelthorn hay and control groups compared to the other experimental groups (P < 0.05). Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) and acetate proportionwere significantly elevated in all camelthorn-containing diets relative to the control (P < 0.05). Conversely, the molar proportion of ruminal propionate was significantly greater in the control and 33.3% replacement groups compared to the 66.6% and 100% camelthorn groups (P < 0.05). Protozoal populations in the rumen fluid were significantly higher in lambs fed the diets with 66.6% and 100% camelthorn substitution (P < 0.05). Furthermore, urinary excretion of allantoin, total purine derivatives, and estimated microbial protein synthesis were significantly increased in all camelthorn-supplemented groups compared to the control (P < 0.05). With respect to rumen morphology, papillae height was significantly greater in the 66.6% and 100% camelthorn groups than in the 33.3% and control groups (P < 0.05). Papillae density also significantly increased in all camelthorn groups relative to the control diet (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the graded substitution of alfalfa hay with camelthorn hay significantly influenced nutrient digestibility parameters, rumnial fermentation characteristics, and microbial protein synthesis in fattening lambs. Notably, the 33.3% replacement level preserved favorable digestibility while enhancing specific fermentation indices, suggesting it may be the optimal inclusion level. Given the increasing global demand for alfalfa, camelthorn offers a viable, cost-effective alternative forage in fattening lamb diets, warranting its consideration as a sustainable feed resource.
Introduction: In recent years, the emphasis on improving growth traits and increasing body weight in broiler lines has led to a significant decline in reproductive performance in broiler breeder flocks (Blesbas et al., 2004). Reduced fertility has become a major challenge in broiler breeder management. Although roosters account for only 10% of the flock population, their role in fertility is estimated to be as high as 50% (Cerolini et al., 2006; Akhlaghi et al., 2014). Among the main factors contributing to declining fertility, age and nutrition are of particular importance. Fertility reduction is often attributed to obesity, lower semen quality, decreased libido, and reduced mating efficiency (Romero et al., 2008). Peak reproductive performance in male chickens and turkeys is observed between 30 and 40 weeks of age and gradually declines, nearly ceasing by 75 weeks (Noiraud and Brillard, 1999). Sperm count and fertilizing capacity increase from 24 weeks to a peak at 39 weeks, then decline by 72 weeks of age (Kelso et al., 1997). Enhancing the reproductive potential of aging broiler breeder males is therefore essential (Fouad et al., 2020). Serine, a traditionally non-essential amino acid, plays critical roles in protein synthesis and cellular signaling (Metcalf et al., 2008; Hunter, 2012). Choline is an essential nutrient with key metabolic functions, including as a membrane phospholipid component, in hepatic lipid metabolism, and as a precursor of acetylcholine (Dudley, 1929). Choline is a methyl donor involved in methionine synthesis and indirectly functions in protein synthesis. In addition, it constitutes about 39% of the phospholipids in the plasma membrane and plays a role in cell maintenance and repair by synthesizing very low-density lipoproteins and providing phosphatidylcholine (Del Vesco et al, 2013). Despite numerous studies on the effects of unsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, and some amino acids on sperm quality, no comprehensive study has been conducted on the interaction effects of the amino acid L-serine and choline supplementation in the nutrition of older broiler breeder roosters. This study investigated the effects of the amino acid serine and choline supplementation on sperm quality of older broiler roosters.Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted using 36 Ross 308 broiler breeder roosters at 45 weeks of age. Birds were randomly assigned to six groups of six individuals each and housed under controlled environmental conditions in a standard poultry house. The study was designed as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with three levels of L-serine and two levels of choline. Birds were adapted to semen collection through abdominal massage for two weeks before the experiment. Semen volume was measured using a graduated collection tube (Zamiri et al., 2010). Sperm concentration was determined using modified Blaise-Tweel extender with a pH of 7.4 and osmolality of 310 mOsm/kg (Amini et al., 2015). Forward progressive motility was assessed by diluting semen samples in NaCl (1:20), placing a drop on a slide, covering it with a coverslip, and examining under a light microscope at 400× magnification (Akhlaghi et al., 2014). Plasma membrane functionality and integrity were assessed using the hypo-osmotic swelling test, while sperm viability and morphological abnormalities were determined by eosin-nigrosine staining (Tapeh et al., 2017).Results and Discussion: Results showed that sperm concentration was significantly affected by different levels of serine and choline (P ≤ 0.05). In the interaction of experimental groups, the highest sperm concentration was observed in the group receiving 0.3% serine and 470 mg choline, indicating a positive effect of these compounds on spermatogenesis and increased sperm production. The highest sperm concentration (4.08) occurred in the group containing 0.3% serine, while the control group had the lowest concentration (3.46). Consistent with this finding, Ansari et al. (2016) reported that oral supplementation of the non-essential amino acid aspartate in the diets of aging broiler breeder roosters significantly increased sperm concentration with rising intake levels. The combined effect of L-serine and choline supplementation also increased the percentage of progressive sperm motility during the trial weeks; this synergistic effect was significant in weeks 4, 5, 8, and 9 (P ≤ 0.05). The highest progressive motility (50.75%) was recorded in week 8, whereas the lowest value (35.00%) was observed in the control group. In agreement with these results, adding serine to rooster semen as a diluent has been shown to improve sperm quality and fertility (Chankitisakul et al., 2022). The interaction of serine and choline significantly enhanced total sperm motility from week 5 to week 9. The highest total motility (88.75%) was obtained in the group with 0.15% serine and 470 mg kg⁻¹ choline in weeks 8 and 9, whereas the control diet yielded the lowest motility (70.00%), showing a significant difference from the combined group (P ≤ 0.05). Analysis of sperm viability indicated that diets containing L-serine and choline had a significant effect on this trait (P ≤ 0.05). The best viability was observed in the group receiving 0.3% serine with 470 mg kg⁻¹ choline, reaching 88.75% in weeks 8 and 9, which was significantly higher than the group lacking serine and choline (P ≤ 0.05). The lowest sperm viability (68.25%) occurred in the control group. L-serine, through its antioxidant properties and the regulation of genes involved in glutathione synthesis, increases glutathione concentration and reduces oxidative reactions (Zhou et al., 2018; Sim et al., 2015).The combined use of serine and choline significantly improved sperm membrane integrity and health compared with the control, with this increase becoming significant from week 6 to week 9 (P ≤ 0.05). The highest membrane integrity (88.00%) was observed in week 9 with 0.3% serine, while the lowest value (68.75%) belonged to the group without serine and choline. Evaluation of sperm abnormalities revealed that dietary supplementation with serine significantly affected this parameter (P ≤ 0.05). Supplementation with L-serine at 0.15% and 0.3% reduced abnormal sperm percentages, with significant decreases observed in weeks 5 and 7. The lowest percentage of abnormal sperm (13.62%) occurred in the 0.3% serine group, which differed significantly from the diet lacking serine (P ≤ 0.05). The effect of choline supplementation and the combined effect of serine and choline on abnormal sperm percentage were not significant (P > 0.05). These results agree with the findings of Long and Conn (2012), who reported that adding choline phosphate to duck semen extenders reduced acrosome head abnormalities.Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with L‑serine and choline significantly increased sperm concentration, sperm membrane integrity, total sperm motility, sperm viability, and progressive sperm motility, while reducing the percentage of sperm abnormalities during most weeks of the experimental period, indicating a synergistic effect of these two compounds on sperm quality in older broiler breeder roosters. Consequently, the combined supplementation of L‑serine and choline may contribute to improved fertility potential and reproductive efficiency of older broiler breeder roosters under commercial poultry production conditions.
Introduction: Poultry meat is one of the most widely consumed sources of animal protein worldwide and plays a key role in meeting human dietary protein requirements. The consumption of poultry meat is essential in providing the body with the necessary amino acids and protein for its various functions, particularly in growth and tissue repair. In poultry farming, the growth and development of broiler chickens are significantly influenced by the quality of their diet, especially the availability of essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, and threonine. These amino acids play vital roles in protein synthesis, enzymatic activity, and overall metabolic functions in chickens. Supplementing poultry diets with amino acids can substantially enhance their growth rate and feed conversion efficiency. However, during passage through the upper gastrointestinal tract, the absorption of free amino acids can be affected by factors such as pH, thereby reducing their bioavailability. Encapsulation involves enclosing amino acids within a protective coating that minimizes their degradation in the acidic gastric environment and facilitates their controlled release and absorption in the intestine. This process significantly enhances the health and performance of broiler chickens by improving their nutrient uptake. In broiler nutrition, encapsulated amino acids have been shown to improve feed quality, optimize nutrient absorption, and increase overall animal health. Furthermore, encapsulated amino acids are particularly beneficial when high-quality protein sources are limited or expensive, as they improve the gastrointestinal absorption of amino acids, thereby enhancing the quality of the ingested protein. Their use in poultry diets can also improve liver function, enhance enzymatic activity, increase blood protein levels, and support healthy metabolic processes. Additionally, encapsulated amino acids have been associated with reduced metabolic stress and improved immune function in chickens, which are critical factors for overall health, disease resistance, and performance. Considering these benefits, encapsulating amino acids presents a promising strategy for enhancing the efficiency of poultry production systems. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of encapsulated amino acids on growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, liver function, and immune‑related indices of broiler chickens, and to compare these effects with those of free amino acids. Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 1440 Arian broiler chickens were randomly assigned to six dietary group groups: AR (free amino acids), AP (a combination of four encapsulated amino acids), TP (encapsulated threonine), LP (encapsulated lysine), MP (encapsulated methionine), and CP (encapsulated choline chloride). All birds were vaccinated according to a standard vaccination program, which included vaccines for Newcastle disease and avian influenza. After a 42-day feeding trial, blood samples were collected from all groups to measure biochemical parameters such as total protein, glucose, lipid profile, and liver enzyme activities. These parameters were analyzed using an autoanalyzer to assess the effects of the different groups on the health and metabolic functions of the broiler chickens.Results and Discussion: The results demonstrated that different dietary groups had varying effects on antibody titers, growth indices, biochemical blood parameters, and feed efficiency in broiler chickens. The influenza antibody titer was significantly higher in the TP group compared to other groups (P<0.05), suggesting enhanced immunity in this group. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in Newcastle disease antibody titers among the groups )P>0.05(.Weight gain did not differ significantly among the TP, CP, LP, and AR groups; however, the MP and AP groups exhibited the lowest weight gain (P<0.0001) in some periods, indicating the limited effectiveness of these diets in supporting growth. The reduced growth performance in the AP group was likely due to an imbalanced amino acid composition or reduced bioavailability of certain amino acids. Feed intake was generally similar across groups )P>0.05(; however, during certain periods, the MP, AP, and LP groups consumed significantly less feed, while the CP group had the highest intake. Regarding feed conversion ratio (FCR), the LP group demonstrated the most efficient feed utilization in most periods (P<0.05), whereas the AP group had the highest FCR and the lowest feed efficiency in certain periods. Blood biochemical analyses revealed that the AR group had the highest levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and LDL, while these parameters were significantly lower in the TP, CP, and LP groups(P<0.05). Additionally, total protein levels were higher in the LP group compared to AR group, and the TP and LP groups exhibited the highest globulin concentrations. Moreover, HDL levels were higher in all groups compared to AR, with the TP group showing the highest values. Overall, the TP and LP groups demonstrated superior performance in terms of blood parameters and immune response. The LP group exhibited better efficiency, whereas the TP group not only improved blood indices but also provided the highest immune response. Conversely, the MP and AP groups, due to reduced weight gain and lower feed efficiency, require reformulation to enhance their nutritional adequacy. These findings highlight the importance of precise dietary formulation to optimize broiler growth performance and health.Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, the use of encapsulated amino acids had positive effects on improving nutritional performance, blood parameters, and immune response in broiler chickens. The results indicated that encapsulating amino acids such as lysine and methionine enhanced nutrient utilization, increased absorption and stability of nutrients, and consequently improved feed conversion ratio in broilers. Notably, the LP and TP groups, which benefited from this technology, exhibited the best results in blood parameters, including total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, and immune response. These findings suggest that amino acid encapsulation can serve as an effective strategy to enhance feed efficiency, broiler health, and productivity under various economic and nutritional conditions. Given these results, further research is warranted to confirm the beneficial effects of these amino acids and to gain a deeper understanding of their mechanisms of action.
Introduction: The first three months of a calf’s life play a crucial role in determining its future health and productivity. During this critical period, the physiological state of the animal includes the ability to absorb large molecules, especially immunoglobulins, from the intestine, as well as a high susceptibility to gastrointestinal infections and diarrhea. Moreover, the economic success of industrial dairy farms depends to a significant extent on the proper rearing of replacement calves. In modern dairy farming systems, calves are usually separated from their mothers immediately after birth and artificially fed whole milk or milk replacers. This separation deprives the calves of the natural microflora of the mother’s saliva and other cows, slowing down the formation of beneficial microbial communities and even creating an imbalance in the microbial flora of their digestive tract. On the other hand, if appropriate nutritional and management strategies are not adopted at this critical stage of life, the growth, health and production performance of calves will be negatively affected. Calves are at higher risk of mortality compared to other livestock due to specific physiological characteristics such as a weak immune system and the gradual transition of the digestive tract from processing milk to solids. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to compare the effect of feeding chelated and inorganic forms of trace elements (cobalt, iodine, selenium, zinc, manganese, iron and copper) on performance, blood parameters and skeletal growth indices of suckling Holstein calves. A total of 36 calves, aged 7 ± 3 days with an initial body weight of 36.2 ± 3.8 kg, were randomly exposed to three treatments with 12 replicates per treatment in a completely randomized design. Treatments included: 1- Control (without mineral supplementation), 2- Feeding with two grams of chelated supplement per calf per day. 3- Feeding with two grams of mineral supplement per calf per day. Calves were fed colostrum (10% of body weight) in the first three days of life and then from the fourth day to 60 days of age with four liters of milk twice a day (7 am and 7 pm). Water and starter feed were provided ad libitum. In order to investigate performance factors, calves were weighed on days 0, 30, and 60 to assess changes in body weight. Daily feed intake and refusals were recorded throughout the experiment. On day 60, fasting blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of calves using heparinized venoject tubes prior to the morning feeding to analyze blood parameters. In addition, skeletal growth indices including interocular distance, wither height, and body length were measured on the final day of the trial. Results and Discussion: According to the results of the present study, supplementation with chelated minerals significantly improved 30-day and 60-day body weight, overall weight gain, and average daily gain (ADG) during both the first 30 days and the full pre-weaning period (P< 0.05). No significant differences were observed between calves receiving chelated and inorganic mineral supplements regarding 30-day body weight and ADG during the first 30 days. Supplementing calves' milk with chelate minerals increased total and daily dry matter intake, starter intake, and feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). Calves receiving chelate supplements had greater interocular distance compared to the other two groups (P<0.05). Also, the interocular distance, height at withers, and body length of calves receiving chelate supplements were greater than those in the control group (P<0.05); however, this difference was not significant with calves receiving inorganic supplements. No significant differences were observed in serum iron and copper concentrations among the treatment groups. However, supplementation with trace minerals increased serum concentrations of thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) (P< 0.05). There was no significant difference in T3 concentration between the control and mineral supplement groups, nor between the mineral and chelated supplement groups. Similarly, T4 concentrations were comparable between calves receiving inorganic and chelated supplements. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that supplementing the milk of suckling calves with chelated minerals significantly improved their growth performance. Moreover, chelated mineral supplementation had a significant positive effect on skeletal growth parameters and starter feed intake. It also led to increased serum concentrations of zinc and thyroid hormones, including triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Overall, the findings suggest that incorporating chelated mineral supplements into the milk diet enhances performance traits, skeletal growth, and measured parameters in suckling calves.
Introduction: Over the past 20 years, the poultry industry has expanded rapidly, with global chicken meat production projected to reach 455 million tons by 2050. Nevertheless, this industry faces numerous challenges, with the primary objective of optimizing production efficiency. One significant challenge is the selection of an appropriate broiler strain. Among the prominent strains available in the Iranian market is the Arian strain. Furthermore, due to increasing concerns regarding antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance, the use of commercial probiotics to enhance poultry health and safety has become increasingly common. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of commercially available probiotics on growth performance indicators, blood parameters, intestinal morphology, and the bacterial population of the digestive tract in Arian strain broilers from two breeder farms in Dizbad, Babolsar. Material and Methods: A total of 864 broiler chicks were used in a completely randomized design based on a 4×3 factorial arrangement, consisting of three types of chicks (Ross 308, Arian Dizbad, and Arian Babolsar) and four dietary treatments: a control diet with no additive, Lactofeed (200 g/ton of feed from days 1–21, then 100 g/ton until day 42), Primalac (900 g/ton in the starter phase, 450 g/ton in the grower phase, and 225 g/ton in the finisher phase), and Biosel (600 g/1000 L of drinking water for the first three days) probiotics. Performance indicators, including feed intake and weight gain, were measured at the end of each period, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from the birds to measure blood parameters. To evaluate the microbial population and intestinal morphology, one bird from each replicate was randomly slaughtered, and the required samples were collected and sent to the laboratory. Result and Discussion: The results indicated that during days 1–42, Arian Babolsar chicks exhibited the highest feed intake, which was significantly greater than Ross 308 but similar to Arian Dizbad. The probiotics Biosel and Lactofeed increased feed intake compared to Primalac and the non-supplemented group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in daily weight gain between the Arian and Ross 308 strains. All probiotic-supplemented groups showed similar weight gains. The non-supplemented Ross 308 group had the lowest feed conversion ratio (best performance) and demonstrated significant superiority over some Arian groups (with/without probiotics). The use of Biosel probiotic increased blood albumin compared to the control group. The lowest concentrations of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were observed in the Primalac probiotic group compared to the control and Lactofeed-treated groups. Lactofeed supplementation reduced plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels compared to the control and Primalac groups (P < 0.05). Ross 308 birds fed an unsupplemented diet exhibited higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels than Arian Dizbad × Biosel and Arian Babolsar × Primalac treatments (P < 0.05). The greatest villus height and jejunal absorptive surface area were observed in Ross 308 birds fed a Primalac-supplemented diet (P < 0.05). The villus height-to-crypt depth ratio was higher in Arian Dizbad birds receiving Primalac compared to those receiving Lactofeed and the non-supplemented Ross 308 group (P < 0.05). The highest population of Lactobacillus was observed in Arian Dizbad birds fed Lactofeed, compared to unsupplemented Arian Dizbad and Babolsar groups, as well as Arian Babolsar receiving Biosel (P < 0.05). No significant interaction was found between strain and probiotic on coliform microbial counts (P > 0.05). Overall, this study demonstrated that Biosel and Lactofeed supplementation increased feed intake, but no significant differences in weight gain were observed among groups. Therefore, the Ross strain showed higher growth performance, followed by the Babolsar strain with higher growth performance. The probiotic supplement Primalac also improved blood indices and intestinal morphology. Conclusion: Overall, this study demonstrated that Biosel and Lactofeed supplementation increased feed intake, but no significant differences in weight gain were observed among groups. Therefore, the Ross strain showed higher growth performance, followed by the Babolsar strain with higher growth performance. The probiotic supplement Primalac also improved blood indices and intestinal morphology.
Introduction: Many agricultural by-products are relatively high in fiber and are particularly suitable for feeding ruminants. Fibrous by-products have a smaller particle size than most forages, but can have a higher energy value than most forages, due to their high fermentable fiber content. The use of non-forage fiber sources can have a significant effect on the protein components of the diet. Tomato pulp is a by-product of the paste industry, which, depending on the processing method and characteristics of raw tomatoes, contains varying proportions of skin, seeds, and small amounts of tomato flesh. In Iran, about 81,000 tons of wet tomato pulp are produced annually, which can cause environmental pollution. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of tomato pomace powder (TPP) on ruminal fermentation parameters and growth performance of Holstein calves.Materials and Methods: This experiment was carried out using 30 Holstein calves (average weight: 39.7±0.2 kg) based on a completely-randomized design with 3 treatment groups including 10 individual pens per each dietary treatment. Dietary treatments consisted of 1) pelleted starter (control group), 2) pelleted starter + 7.5% TPP, 3) pelleted starter +15% TPP. Calves were fed 4 liters of colostrum in the first three days of life, 5 liters of milk twice daily from 4 to 50 days of age, and 2.5 liters of milk once daily from 50 to 55 days of age. Milk replacer consumption was stopped at 56 days of age in all calves. Calves had free access to water and starter feed from 3 days of age. Calves were kept in individual stalls on straw bedding, and bedding was changed and cleaned daily. The health of the calves in the present study was continuously assessed daily for the occurrence of diarrhea, pneumonia, and bloat. The possible effect of treatments on the health of calves was assessed daily for all calves in terms of fecal scores. Rumen fluid was sampled using an esophageal tube and a vacuum pump about 3 hours after morning feeding. Blood sampling was done with the help of vacuum tubes, at the ages of 35 and 70 days, from 6 calves in each treatment, 3 hours after morning feed. The obtained data were analyzed by SAS software and Mixed procedure. A significant level of P<0.05 was considered.Results and Discussion: The highest rumen pH after weaning was in the treatment containing 15% TPP, and this treatment showed a significant difference compared to the control treatment (P = 0.009). The treatment containing 15% tomato pomace had the highest and the control treatment the lowest rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration (P=0.04). According to the results, the concentration of ammonia nitrogen at 70 days of age was affected by the treatments (P=0.05). It seems that the simultaneous consumption of tomato pulp and pellet diet increases the flow of saliva to the rumen through more initial chewing and then earlier rumination, resulting in more urea released through saliva, which caused an increase in rumen ammonia nitrogen.The treatment containing 15% tomato pomace had the highest and the control treatment had the lowest number of lymphocytes among the treatments (P < 0.05). In this study, the stool score of calves fed tomato pulp in the starter diet (higher fiber content) was lower than that of the control group (low fiber content). It is likely that diets containing tomato pulp, due to their high fiber content, influenced chewing activity, rumination, and salivation, thereby contributing to an increase in rumen pH. In contrast, the reduction in pH observed with the pellet treatment may be attributed to the heat generated during the pelleting process, which accelerates starch degradation in the rumen. This, in turn, leads to faster and greater production of volatile fatty acids, accompanied by a reduced absorption rate of these acids.Conclusion: The presence of tomato pulp in the pellet diet reduced non-nutritive behaviors and increased the time spent on feeding actions such as rumination and eating. Regarding health indicators, tomato pulp consumption led to an improvement in fecal score compared to the control treatment. Blood analyses performed in this study showed that the 15% tomato pulp treatment had the lowest serum cholesterol and LDL levels. Given the high lymphocyte count in the blood of calves consuming tomato pulp, lycopene and vitamin C in tomato pulp can have a positive effect on the immune system of Holstein calves.
Introduction: The feed restriction program is one of the main techniques in growth curve manipulation for increasing production efficiency in broiler chicken .Quantities and qualitative feed restriction are procedures that can be used to manipulate the feeding strategies of poultry in order to decrease growth and metabolic rate to some extent and so alleviate the incidence of some metabolic diseases such as ascites, lameness, mortality, and sudden death syndrome and so improving feed conversion and reducing feed cost. Also to produce a leaner bird and reduce the unfavorable effects of fat on human health, and to reduce fat deposition in broiler carcasses using of feed restriction programs can be profitable in broiler chickens production. This article surveys new findings in feed restriction of broilers and evaluates the application of feed restriction methods to broiler chicken production. Arian broiler is one of the meat strains that originated in Iran and considering that several decades have passed since the arrival of Arian line in the Iran country, It is necessary to carry out Time nutritional experiments to more accurately meet the requirement of them with regard to optimizing growth, FCR, carcass efficiency and increasing tissue by increasing the density of nutrients such as AA. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of commercial strain type and feeding methods on performance, intestinal morphological parameters, and immune system of broiler chickens. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted for 45 days using 600 broiler chicks in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement under a completely randomized design. The factors included two commercial strains (Arian and Ross 308) and three feeding methods (free access, intermittent feed restriction, and time feed restriction), with 6 treatments, 5 replicates and 20 birds per replicate. The diets of experimental included T1: Arian strain broilers with free access to feed, T2: Arian strain broilers with intermittent access to feed, T3: Arian strain broilers with time feed restriction method, T4: Ross 308 strain broilers with free access to feed, T5: Ross 308 strain broilers with intermittent access to feed, T6: Ross 308 strain broilers with time feed restriction method. At 45 days of age, 6 bird from each replicate were randomly selected, weighed, and killed). Feed intake of experimental units was calculated from the fraction of feed consumed at the end of the period from the feed allocated at the beginning of the period, based on chick days. At the end of 45 weeks, maturation parameters including body weight and length, neck length, wing length, shank length and diameter were measured. To determine blood parameters, 12 birds were selected from each dietary treatment (2 birds /pen), and blood samples of approximately 5 ml were obtained from the wing vein after a 2-hour feeding withdrawal. At the end of the experiment (45 days of age), the weighed broilers were cut using the cervical dislocation method and then plucked and eviscerated. The internal organs (heart, digestive tract, and fat tissue) were also weighed and expressed as percentages of the slaughter weight of broiler. Immediately after bird euthanasia, a 3-cm sample of the liver and middle portion of the jejunum (midpoint between the bile duct entry and Meckel's diverticulum) was collected, opened longitudinally, washed with PBS, and fixed in 10% formaldehyde and phosphate buffer 0.1 M with pH 7.3. The data obtained from the experiment were analyzed in the form of a completely randomized design using SAS software version 9.4 (2024) with the general linear model (GLM) procedure. The respective means were compared with Tukey's test at the probability level (P < 0.05). Results and Discussion: The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of Arian strain broilers improved throughout the entire period when using the free feeding method, compared to Ross 308 strain broilers under the intermittent feed restriction method (P<0.05). Time feed restriction in Arian broilers led to an increased shank thickness, compared to intermittent feed restriction in Arian broilers and free feeding in Ross 308 broilers (P<0.05). The villus height to crypt depth ratio increased using the time-restricted feed method compared to the free access to feed method in Ross 308 strain broiler chickens (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on these findings, Arian strain with time feed restriction and Ross 308 strain with free feeding showed the best weight performance. Overall, the time feed restriction method in Arian broiler chickens improved body physical parameters, intestinal morphometry, and enhanced immune system (decreased heterophil to lymphocyte ratio) and productive performance throughout the experimental period.
Introduction: In ruminants, protein sources that provide amino acids and nitrogen requirements of ruminants, are among the most expensive parts of the diet (Hashem & Tayeb, 2023). Plant protein sources (such as soybean meal, rapeseed meal, etc.), animal protein sources (such as meat meal and seafood), and non-protein nitrogen are used to provide the protein requirements of ruminants. However, the shortage of protein sources has become a global challenge, and the price of soybean meal—one of the primary standard protein sources—remains high, driving up production costs. Therefore, identifying alternative protein sources to replace soybean meal in diets is essential. NPN sources are a group of compounds that are not proteins but contain nitrogen in their structure and include urea, ammonium salts, nitrates, alkaloids, asparagine, purine, choline, uric acid, amines, amides, amino acids and nucleic acids. Urea is considered a practical NPN source due to its lower cost and contains 46% nitrogen, which is equivalent to 287.5% crude protein. However, rapid breakdown of urea in the rumen and high release of ammonia will increase the amount of nitrogen excreted in the urine and reduce livestock performance. One of the less studied sources of slow-release urea is biuret. Biuret (carbamyl urea or alphanamides) with the chemical formula NH2CONHCONH2 is produced by the condensation of two urea molecules at high temperatures in the Bosh-Meiser process, and can be used as a slow-release NPN source in ruminant nutrition. Biuret contains about 41% nitrogen (256% crude protein) and is degraded by ruminal microorganisms at a slower rate than urea. Most studies conducted on the use of NPN sources in ruminant nutrition has focused on animal health and performance, and very few studies have been conducted on the effects of these sources on the carcass quality of fattening lambs. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of replacing different levels of biuret at the expense of urea on growth performance, rumen microbial protein synthesis and meat quality characteristics in Afshari fattening male lambs. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 experimental treatments and 7 lambs in each experimental group (total 28 Afshari male lambs). The average age of the animals was 135±15 days and their average live weight was 34±1.13 kg. The lambs were kept and raised in individual pens from the first day of experiment. The animals were fed with experimental diets for 84 days, the first 14 days considered as adaptation period to the experimental diets and individual pens, and the remaining 70 days as the main period of the experiment. The experimental diets contained biuret at levels 0 (control treatment), 0.54, 1.08 and 1.61% on dry matter (DM) basis. Biuret production from urea was carried out by converting one urea molecule into equimolar amounts of ammonia and cyanic acid at a temperature above the melting point of urea (145°C). The cyanic acid produced from urea then reacts with other urea to form biuret. In general, two urea molecules are converted into one biuret molecule and one ammonia molecule. In this study, the process of producing biuret from urea was carried out at a temperature of 145°C for 3 hours without using catalyst. Results and Discussion: The results showed that with increasing biuret level in the diet total weight gain, average daily weight gain and micro protein production linearly increased (P<0.05), although the average final weight and DM intake were not affected by the experimental diets (P>0.05). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) increased linearly as the level of biuret elevated in the diet (P<0.05). With increasing biuret level in the diet, meat crude protein percentage tended to increase linearly (P=0.07), although the moisture, crude fat, and crude ash contents of meat were not affected (P>0.05). With increasing dietary biuret level, meat pH tended to increase (P=0.08). Water holding capacity, tendency to redness (a*) and brightness (L*) of meat increased linearly with increasing dietary biuret levels (P<0.05), but meat shear force decreased linearly (P<0.05). Cooking weight loss was not affected by the experimental diets (P>0.05). With increasing level of biuret color score and overall acceptance of raw and cooked meat increased linearly (P<0.05). Concentrations of major essential amino acids in meat increased linearly with increasing the level of biuret in the diet (P<0.05), while glutamine concentration decreased linearly (P<0.05). Conclusion: The current study indicated that using biuret instead of urea up to 1.61% of the dietary DM improved growth performance, microbial protein production and meat quality and sensory properties in fattening lambs
Introduction: When forage amount and height decrease in the pastures, forage grazing becomes difficult for sheep. Moreover, sheep do not like to graze dead forages and avoid grazing them unless they be forced for supplying their required nutrients. In this conditions, the amount of dietary metabolizable energy decreases and it will be a limiting factor for sheep growth and production. Conventional sheep grazing programs does not provide enough and sustainable nutrients to achieve optimal growth and most of grazing animals experience malnutrition periods and lack of supplying the required nutrients and thereafter they will start to reduce production and growth rate. A pasture-based lamb rearing system can provide better growth rates when the animals were supplemented with concentrate feeds to compensate the pasture deficiencies. Supplementation of concentrate feeds in addition to free grazing in pastures has significantly improved sheep production and increased growth performance in lambs. Identifying the genetic potential of Iranian sheep ecotypes and creating appropriate mixtures in integrated rearing systems (combining pasture grazing and concentrate feeds) can lead to higher efficiency. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different levels of concentrate on the growth performance of weaned Moghani and Romanov-Moghani crossbreed lambs under grazing conditions. Material and Methods: This study was conducted using 32 weaned Moghani and Romanov-Moghani cross-bred lambs with an average weight of 24±7 kg in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments based on a 2×2 factorial experiment. The experiment was conducted in two stages over 8 months. The first stage was carried out for 3 months (feeding period) and the experimental treatments included 1) Moghani lambs without concentrate supplement feeding, 2) Moghani lambs fed with 250 grams per day of concentrate supplement per lamb, 3) Romanov-Moghani cross-breed lambs without concentrate supplement feeding and 4) Romanov-Moghani cross-breed lambs fed with 250 grams per day of concentrate supplement per lamb. The second stage was carried out for 5 months and all experimental groups were deprived of receiving concentrate supplement (non-feeding period). Lambs were weighed every two weeks and monthly for up to 3 months after the end of the feeding period to determine weight gain and biometric parameters. A 25×25 cm wooden plots were used to measure pasture phytomass production. Plants in the plots were cut from about one centimeter above the ground and collected in a bag. After air drying in the shadow, they were used to analyze and identify the type of plant species. To determine diet digestibility, a fecal collection bag was used that was tied to the animal's rump for 2 consecutive days and done for two occasions (days 45 and 90 of rearing). Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein after the lambs returned from the pasture and 3 hours after hand-feeding the concentrate supplement, and analyzed for blood metabolites including glucose, urea, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, and triglycerides by using commercial kits. Results and discussion: The results of the present study showed that feeding concentrate supplement improved the growth status of lambs compared to the group without concentrate supplement, which had a significant effect in the first month, the third month and the entire of feeding period, but genotype had no effect on growth performance. The effect of adding concentrate supplement to the diet of lambs grazing on pasture was also effective during the period without feeding, so that the effect of feeding had a significant effect on the growth of lambs in all months without feeding. In addition, the effect of genotype had a significant effect in the fourth, fifth, seventh months and for the entire of the without feeding period. Concentrate supplement feeding increased significantly the concentration of blood urea and glucose. However, it had no significant effect on the concentrations of blood total protein, triglyceride and cholesterol. The genotype factor had a significant effect on urea concentration. Among the different biometric traits, the animal height showed a significant increase by the effect of feeding concentrate supplement and the interaction effect of genotype by feeding. Chest circumference was affected by the interaction effect of genotype on feeding. Supplemental feeding of concentrate had a significant effect on body length, chest circumference, height and pin width during the period without feeding. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, daily feeding of 250 grams of concentrate supplement is recommended when raising lambs in pasture grazing conditions. In addition, based on the results obtained, lambs of Moghani breed performed better than Moghani-Romanov cross-bred lambs under pasture rearing systems.
Introduction: Due to reduced rainfall and degradation of rangelands, some portion of ruminant feed is provided by agricultural by-products such as cereal straws and sugarcane bagasse (SB). A key strategy for achieving environmentally sustainable added value and providing animal feed is to convert agricultural by-products into animal feed. Sugarcane is one of the most important economic crops worldwide and is mostly used as a raw material in the sugar industry and it is produced in more than 100 countries around the world. Its biomass can be used as animal feed in many countries more than any other forage. The SB is one of the fiberous residues that remain after water extraction from the sugarcane stalk and can be used as a source of fodder for ruminants. However, it has been reported that these by-products have low protein (less than 3% on DM basis), high cellulose (more than 40% on DM basis), high hemicellulose (more than 35% on DM basis), high lignin (15% on DM basis), and low DM digestibility (20-30%). Some livestock producers use unprocessed SB in ruminant nutrition, which is not accompanied by desirable results on animal performance. Various methods including physical, chemical, and biological processing are used to change the physical and chemical nature of SB to improve its digestibility and nutritive value. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of diets containing sugarcane bagasse (SB) treated with ammonia (NH3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for different times on chemical composition, ruminal fermentation parameters and dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility by gas production method. Materials and Methods: The SB samples were obtained from a sugarcane factory located in Khuzestan province and treated with NH3 and NaOH for 30 or 45 days under anaerobic condition. Experimental diets were 1- diet containing untreated SB stored for 30 days (Control-30), 2- diet containing treated SB with 5% NH3 and stored for 30 days (NH3 5%-30), 3- diet containing treated SB with 4% NH3 and 1% NaOH and stored for 30 days (NH3 4% + NaOH 1%-30), 4- diet containing treated SB with 3% NH3 and 2% NaOH and stored for 30 days (NH3 3% + NaOH 2%-30), 5- diet containing untreated SB stored for 45 days (Control-45), 6- diet containing treated SB with 5% NH3 and stored for 45 days (NH3 5%-45), 7- diet containing treated SB with 4% NH3 and 1% NaOH solution stored for 45 days (NH3 4% + NaOH 1%-45) and 8- diet containing treated SB with 3% NH3 and 2% NaOH solution stored for 45 days (NH3 3% + NaOH 2%-45). Experiment conducted by gas production (GP) technique based on completely randomized design based on 2×4 factorial. The chemical composition of soybean (DM, OM, crude protein [CP], and neutral detergent fiber) treated with different methods was analyzed after processing. Subsequently, in vitro ruminal fermentation parameters—including 24- and 96-hour gas production (GP), partitioning factor, efficiency of microbial mass production, methane production, and DM and OM digestibility were evaluated. Results and Discussion: The results showed that treatment of SB with 5% NH3 or 4% NH3 and 1% NaOH and stored for 45 days had higher OM content than others (P<0.05). The greatest crude protein (CP) content was observed in SB treated with 5% NH3 and stored for 30 or 45 days (P<0.05). The lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content was observed in SB treated with 4% NH3 and 1% NaOH or 3% NH3 and 2% NaOH for 30 days (P<0.05). The lowest 24 h gas production (GP) was observed for Control-30 and Control-45 (P<0.05). The 24 h GP production of diets was increased with increasing NaOH for treating SB (P<0.05). Methane production, partitioning factor and efficiency of microbial mass production did not influence by processing method, storage time and their interaction (P>0.05). The greatest OM digestibility was observed for NH3 3%+ NaOH 2%-30 diet (P<0.05). The greatest GP potential was observed for NH3 3% + NaOH 2%-30 and NH3 3% + NaOH 2%-45 diets (P<0.05). The lowest lag time was observed for NH3 3% + NaOH 2%-30and NH3 3% + NaOH 2%-45 diets (P<0.05). Conclusion: In general, according to these results, it seems that processing of SB with 3% NH3 and 2% NaOH solution and storage for 30 days had better effect on its nutritive value.
Introduction: Whole milk is a highly digestible food for calves. Calves receive 10 to 12 percent of their body weight in milk daily. Therefore, the lactation period is the foundation for the health and proper growth of calves. Adequate growth in proportion to the genetic potential of the animal can reduce the age of puberty of calves and the slaughter age of male calves. The high price of milk, long-term feeding of calves with milk or milk replacer is not economically viable for the farmer, and the cost of a growing replacement heifer is still high. Advanced management allows for earlier weaning, as it reduces the cost of raising replacement animals. Strong heifers with proper growth after weaning can be introduced into the herd earlier (Naserian, 2005). Therefore, the rumen should be activated as soon as possible and with appropriate feeding programs to allow for early weaning of calves. The development of the digestive tract of suckling calves affects feed intake, digestion efficiency and resistance to digestive disorders and consequently their growth and health, any method that enhances these processes is highly desirable. In newborn calves in the first weeks of life, it is expected that most of the supplemented butyrate in a protected form will pass through the rumen and abomasum and be delivered to the small intestine, where it has a local effect on the intestinal epithelium. In general, the recommended level of butyrate supplementation in calf feed is low or very low. The use of protected butyrate in starter at a level of 0.3% of dry matter is recommended because it is sufficient to have a stimulating effect on the growth of the digestive tract and improve growth performance. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of preserved sodium butyrate on feed intake, growth performance, blood parameters, oxidative stress parameters, and skeletal traits in suckling Holstein calves.Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted using 42 male calves with an average weight of 44 kg in a completely randomized design with three treatments (including levels of 0, 0.25, and 0.5% preserved sodium butyrate) and 14 replications in each treatment. Health and breeding management were applied according to common standards. The duration of the experimental period was 70 days and was considered until weaning. The performance of the calves was measured by weighing their body weight at the beginning of the period and weekly. Feed and water were provided to the animals ad libitum, and the amount of feed and the remaining feed were collected and weighed the next day. Finally, the dry matter intake was measured based on the amount of feed consumed and the body weight gain obtained in different treatments. The measured traits included dry matter intake, average body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, blood parameters, oxidative stress parameters, and skeletal traits.Result and Discussion: The effects of experimental treatments on dry matter intake, average body weight gain, and average feed conversion ratio on body weight of suckling calves as performance indicators were not significant. At 25 days of rearing, different levels of protected sodium butyrate supplementation had no significant effect on total protein and cholesterol. However, significant effects were observed on albumin, glucose, triglycerides, urea, and beta-hydroxybutyrate. The effect of different levels of protected sodium butyrate supplementation on serum alanine aminotransferase enzyme was not significant on day 25 of the rearing period. The effect of different levels of protected sodium butyrate supplementation on liver enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase, antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde was significant on day 25 of the rearing period. The effect of different levels of protected sodium butyrate supplementation on aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and serum antioxidant capacity was not significant on day 50 of the rearing period. The effect of different levels of protected sodium butyrate supplementation on malondialdehyde, total protein, triglyceride and urea was significant on day 50 of the rearing period. The effect of different levels of protected sodium butyrate supplementation on body length and hip height in suckling calves was significant at the end of the weaning period. Also, the effect of different levels of protected sodium butyrate supplementation on chest circumference, withers height, pin width, and hip width in suckling calves at the end of the weaning period was not significant. Conclusion: In general, these findings indicate that protected sodium butyrate not only affects energy metabolism (through increased beta-hydroxybutyrate), but also plays a protective role in liver health by improving blood parameters such as total protein and reducing oxidative stress (decreased MDA and increased TAC). The use of protected sodium butyrate supplementation, particularly at the 0.5% level, can be recommended as an effective strategy to enhance metabolic health and reduce oxidative damage in suckling calves.
Introduction: Ducks are more resilient to unfavorable environmental conditions than other poultry, making them less susceptible to disease. They are easy to raise and exhibit rapid growth. To meet the needs of industrial duck production, it is essential to develop meat, egg, and dual-purpose strains. This will help determine breeding costs and ensure the productivity required by the industry. High weight gain, a lower food conversion ratio, more eggs, and high egg fertility are the four main ways that the breeding population and herds should be taken into consideration, in accordance with the significance of the economic coefficients of breeding and the relative selection of the product. Designing breeding programs for ducks requires first identifying the genomic region linked to economic traits in duck populations. The management and breeding sciences should pay attention to the negative correlation coefficient with the egg production trait because a rise in one trait will result in a fall in the values of another trait. Molecular biology and biotechnology have made significant strides in recent years, giving researchers a potent tool for studying animal genetics. Decoding the genome information of this species has been made possible by powerful tools like next-generation sequencing technology. Following one another is known as a run of homozygosity (ROH). In light of this research, the current study sought to use whole genome sequencing data to identify the loci linked to the duck's egg production trait by performing an inbreeding coefficient, identifying the ROH Islands, and performing a functional analysis based on gene-set enrichment analysis.Materials and Methods: There were 581 purebred Peking ducks used in this study. The animals hatched from the same batch and are of the same strain. Pronase was used to extract genomic DNA. A wavelength of 260 nm was used to measure the amount and concentration of DNA, and a wavelength ratio of 260/280 was used to assess the purity and quality of the extracted DNA. All of this information was obtained using a spectrophotometer. On the DNBSEQ-T7 platform, this DNA sample was subjected to whole-genome resequencing using a 150 bp paired-end read strategy and an average sequencing depth of 2.06×. To conduct additional analysis, the acquired reads were compared to the reference genome of the mallard duck. Using VCFtools (--min-alleles 2, --max-alleles 2) and PLINK (--geno 0.05 --maf 0.01 --mind 0.05), we implemented quality control to guarantee data quality. 581 individuals and 1,111,649 SNPs were retained for additional analysis following quality control. Run of homozygosity (FROH) was used to compute the inbreeding coefficient using the PLINK 1.9 program. A ROH Island was defined as one percent of the SNPs with the highest frequency in ROH. Assigning SNPs to genes, assigning genes to functional categories, and then analyzing the relationships between each functional category and the desired phenotype comprise the three main steps of gene set analysis analysis. To assign the genes to functions, a gene enrichment analysis was finally carried out using the KOBAS software.Results and Discussion: Based on FROH, the average pekin duck inbreeding coefficient was 0.204. There were 82,253 ROH segments found in all, with an average of 141 point 50 segments per person. ROH that consisted primarily of shorter segments (1–2 Mb) made up roughly 77–85% of all ROH. The larger ROH (>2 Mb) class, on the other hand, only made up 22–15% of all ROH segments. Chromosome 1 exhibited the highest ROH (Runs of Homozygosity) value, while chromosome 31 showed the lowest. The 91 identified ROH islands covered less than 1% of the sheep genome, with lengths ranging from 1.60 to 13 Mb. These ROH islands were located across nine genomic regions on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 29, and 35. In this study, we discovered several sets of candidate genes associated with the duck egg production trait: COL1A2, FCHSD2, DAZAP1, and NSG1. Pathway analysis revealed that the egg production trait was linked to ten biological and gene ontology pathways. Certain genes were discovered to be involved in biological pathways linked to skeletal muscle growth and development, positive regulation of skeletal muscle fiber development, negative regulation of negative chemotaxis, release of sequestered calcium ions into the cytosol, and cellular response to hormone stimulus. These findings are in line with some earlier research. taking into account that the economic coefficient of duck egg production is very significant and more significant than the weight increase of breeding ducks and economic activity.Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the Pekin duck breed's selection processes for economic traits over a number of years have resulted in the formation of numerous ROH islands in the duck genome. As a result, scanning these regions at the genome level may be an alternate method of identifying genes and related loci with economic traits. Additionally, our findings aid in the design and implementation of breeding and conservation strategies for study ducks, as well as the understanding of genetic diversity and population demography.
Introduction: Today, the tendency to find healthy and safe additives in livestock and poultry has increased. Plants and their products include plant extracts, essential oils or their ingredients, including alternative growth stimuli, which are due to their antimicrobial properties in the animal feed industry and in the field of testing. Cinnamon is a plant from the Lauraceae family and has different species, the most famous of which are two species: species, Cinnamomumorum, known as the Cinnamon, Cinnamon Market, is one of the most desirable types of cinnamon, and the species, Cinnamomum Cassia, which is mainly in China, Vietnam and Indonesia, is called Cinnamon China and Saigon. These two types of cinnamon are not the same in quality, but due to their many similarities in terms of properties and perfumes, in most parts of the world they do not differentiate for these two types of cinnamon. Cinnamon is commonly used in the animal feed and poultry because of its specific fragrance cinnamon essential oil is the only important part of cinnamon that contains 1 % in the plant. The main ingredients of cinnamon cinnamaloids, hydroxy cinnamaldehy, eugenol, safrol, cinnamil acetate, cinnamyl alcohol, carvacrol, cumarin, terminoids, phenylprophanoids, and karyophylline can be used to treat insulin-like activity. Cinnamon essential oils are responsible for the taste, the expansion of anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. The researchers consider the antioxidant effect of cinnamon to be more related to the two compounds of eugenol and methyl hydroxy chalkon. Eughansol improves the activity of glutathione peroxidase and enhances resuscitated glutathione. It has shown that cinnamon extract prevents the growth of some bacteria, such as Helicobacter Pillari, E. Coli, Entreococcus, Sinodomonas, Staphylococcus and Salmonella, thereby increasing the relative population of the lactobacillus. It is guessing that terminoids and phenyropopanoids in cinnamon oil are penetrated into the membrane membrane of the bacteria and thus destroy them. In another study, cinnamon antimicrobial properties attributed to the contents of cinnamady, eugenol and carvacrol. In spite of the enormous impact of cinnamon compounds, limited absorption, rapid metabolism, high solubility and the rapid elimination of the biological systemic system is extremely limited and thus strictly limited its medicinal role. One of the suggested ways is to use cinnamon in the form of nanoparticles that can enhance the absorption, solubility and protection of its compounds against hydrolysis. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate nanocinomon (nanoparticles of dry cinnamon extract) on the function of the meat chickens. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted to investigate the effects of cinnamon nanoparticles on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, thyroid hormone levels, and ileum bacterial population in broiler chickens. A total 500 of broiler chickens ROSS 308 in a completely random design to five treatments, each treatment was assigned in five repetitions with 20 one -day -old chickens. Five experimental treatments included: 1- control (fed with basal diet) and 2, 3, 4 and 5 treatments were the basal diet plus 150, 300, 450 and 600 mg of cinnamon nanoparticles per kg of feed, respectively. Ultrasonic method was used to synthesize synthesis. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the supplementation of cinnamon nanoparticles significantly increased feed consumption, increased weight gain, and reduced feed conversion ratio and mortality (P <0.05). The best growth performance was found in 450 mg of cinnamon nanoparticles group. The results of the effect of cinnamon nanoparticles of the digestive enzymes also showed that cinnamon nanoparticles had a significant effect on increased secretion of gastrointestinal enzymes, and the highest levels of digestive enzymes in the serum was found in 450 mg nanoparticles cinemaon group (P <0.05). The results for thyroid hormones indicated that cinnamon nanoparticles did not significantly affect serum TSH levels. However, they significantly reduced serum T3 levels and increased T4 levels (P < 0.05). Additionally, analysis of the intestinal microbiota in broiler chickens showed that cinnamon supplementation reduced the population of E. coli and significantly increased the population of Lactobacillus bacteria (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Generally, the results of this study showed that the use of cinnamon nanoparticles at 450 mg can improve performance by increasing feed consumption, increased digestive enzyme secretion and improved the intestinal microbial population and improved performance.
Introduction: Dietary supplementation with oilseeds is a widely recognized strategy for enhancing body condition in sheep around the mating period to improve reproductive performance. Rapeseed is the second most prevalent source of oilseeds globally and is known for its favorable profile of unsaturated fatty acids, including high levels of oleic acid, linoleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid. These fatty acids contribute to improved production and reproductive outcomes in animals. The high energy and protein content of rapeseed and its desirable amino acids profile make rapeseed an excellent feed source for ruminants, and there is renewed interest in using it in the rations of high producing animal as a feed supplement. Micronization as a heat process has the potential of protecting fatty acid from ruminal biohydrogenation and reducing ruminal degradability of protein. We hypothesized that rapeseed supplementation around mating can improve productive and reproductive performance of ewes by supplying the energy and protein. In addition, an increase in unsaturated fatty acid and protein bypass can induce estrus and increase reproduction performance. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the reproductive performance of mature Kurdish ewes to the flushing diets containing whole flaked raw and micronized rapeseed. Materials and Methods: In this experiment, full-fat rapeseed was micronized at 2.8 micron. The micronized and non-micronized rapeseeds separately flaked by passing between two rotating rollers with a 0.50 mm distance gap. To this end, 55 mature Kurdish ewes were randomly allocated into three treatments: 1) control (the receivers of basal flushing diet with no rapeseed), 2) basal diet plus supplementation with 0.18 kg/day/ewe raw flaked rapeseed, and 3) basal diet plus supplementation with 0.18 kg/day/ewe micronized flaked rapeseed in completely randomized design. Ewes live weight and body condition score measured at the beginning of the experiment and at lambing. The lamb birth weight was also measured. The number and diameter of follicles were determined on days of mating and 9 days after mating. Pregnancy was diagnosed at 30 days after mating. Blood samples were taken on days of mating, 9 and 30 days after mating. The data obtained from weight and BCS of ewes, lambs birth weight and blood hormones and metabolites were analyzed using GLM procedures of SAS software (9.4 version, SAS Institute Inc.). The data obtained from reproductive performance of ewes were analyzed using chi-square model and Proc Genmod procedures of SAS software. For all results, Least-square means for each treatment are reported in the tables and were compared using adjusted Tukey tests. Statistical significance was accepted at P≤ 0.05. Results and discussion: The results of this study showed that the weight and body condition score of ewes as well as the lambs birth weight were significantly increased by dietary supplementation with raw and micronized whole flaked rapeseed.Plasma glucose and triglycerides were significantly increased by supplemental flaked rapeseed. Lower BUN concentration was observed for ewes fed diets contained raw and micronized rapeseeds. Plasma estradiol levels at day of mating and progesterone levels at 9 and 30 days after mating were significantly higher in ewes on micronized and raw flaked rapeseed diets, respectively. Plasma insulin also were significantly increased in ewes fed micronized and raw flaked rapeseed, respectively. Dietary treatments had no significant effect on number of small and total follicles as well as the average size of small and medium follicles at the day of mating. The number of medium follicles on the day of mating as well as the carpus luteum size at 9 days after mating, were significantly higher for the ewes fed diets contained raw and micronized flaked rapeseeds. The average number and size of large follicles at the day of mating were significantly higher in ewes on micronized and raw flaked rapeseed diets, respectively. The fertility rate and female lamb rate were significantly increased by dietary supplementation with raw and micronized flaked rapeseed. Lambing intervals significantly decreased by dietary supplementation with micronized flaked rapeseed. The lambing rate was significant for both ewes on micronized and raw rapeseed diets. Supplementation diet with micronized rapeseed significantly increased twining rate. Conclusion: Overall, dietary inclusion of rapeseed especially micronized rapeseed around the mating can be an effective nutritional strategy to improve productive and reproductive performance of ewes in traditional sheep production systems.
