Effect of Diazinon on pituitary-gonadal axis and histological alteration of seminiferous tubules in adult rat testis

Background and Objective: Diazinon is an organophosphate insecticide., which inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. This study was done to evaluate the effect of Diazinon on pituitary-gonadal axis and histological alteration of seminferous tubules in adult rat testis

Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups including control, sham and experimental 1, 2 and 3. Animals in experimental group 1, 2 and 3 were received 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg/bw of diazinon for 28 days, orally, respectively. Animals in control group did not receive any substance. Animals in sham group were received an equivalent amount of normal saline. The animals were euthanized after 28 days and a blood sample was collected via heart puncture and testes were removed for histological studies

Results: Diazinon significantly reduced serum testosterone concentration, sertoli cell, leydig cell count, primary spermatocyte and spermatid [P<0.05]. Diazinon had no significant effect on the body and testis weight in the experimental groups compared to controls

Conclusion: Diazinon reduces the concentration of testosterone and cells in seminferous tubule in adult rat

[Effect of Pb-induced oxidative stress on performance, antioxidant status and behavioral responses in broiler chicken]

Background: lead [Pb] induced oxidative stress is known to suppress growth performance in broiler chickens. The current study was carried out in an attempt to describe the specific underlying mechanisms of such phenomenon

Objectives: the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Pb-induced oxidative stress on performance, antioxidant status and behavioral responses of broiler chicken

Methods: eighty day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatment groups of 4 pen replicates, namely i] basal diet containing no lead supplement [control] and ii] basal diet containing 200 mg Pb/kg of diet

Results: the results showed that addition of lead decreased body weight gain [p<0.01] and feed conversion ratio [p<0.01]. Also, consumption of contaminated diet significantly increased MDA and H/L Ratio and significantly decreased SOD and GPx activity [p<0.01]. Moreover, addition of 200 mg/kg diet significantly increased sitting pasture and aggression behavior and decreased feeding behavior [p<0.01]

Conclusions: our data conclude that Pb-induced oxidative stress adversely suppressed feed conversion ratio and growth performance. The proposed underlying mechanism for such phenomenon is Pb-induced oxidative stress by impaired antioxidant status and feeding behavior decreased the growth performance

Effect of thymol and carvacrol on nutrient digestibility in rams fed high or low concentrate diets

Published data on the effects of essential oils [EO] on in vivo nutrient digestibility in sheep are contradictory. In 2 experiments, the effect of thymol and carvacrol on nutrient digestibility was studied in sheep fed with high [70%] or low [52%] concentrate diets, using incomplete Latin Square designs. The essential oils were mixed with the concentrate portion of the diet at the rate of 0.0, 0.3, or 0.6 g per kg dry matter [DM] diet. Supplementation of thymol had no significant effect on digestibility of dry matter [DM], organic matter [OM], crude protein [CP] and acid detergent fiber [ADF]. The main effect of thymol on neutral detergent fiber [NDF] and ether extract [EE] digestibility and on nitrogen balance [NB] was significant [P<0.05], but within each level of dietary concentrate no significant differences were observed for these measurements. Overall, ruminal ammonia concentration was higher [P<0.05] in both HCD and LCD lambs receiving 0.3 mg thymol per kg diet. Supplementation of carvacrol had no significant effect on nutrient digestibility. The main effect of carvacrol on ruminal ammonia levels and NB was significant, but within each level of dietary concentrate no significant differences were observed in ammonia levels and NB. Inclusion of 0.3 g/kg diet DM of carvacrol or thyme was more effective than 0.6 g/kg diet DM in terms of NB but neither dose affected nutrient digestibility. Future research should determine the long-term effects of essential oils on digestibility and performance in sheep, before recommendation can be made for their use under practical husbandry conditions

Chemical composition and protein enrichment of orange peels and sugar beet pulp after fermentation by two Trichoderma species

The present experiment aimed at increasing orange peel and sugar beet pulp protein content through solid-state fermentation by Trichoderma reesei and Trichoderma viride. In vitro digestibility and changes in the chemical composition of the fermented products were determined after seven days of fungal cultivation using gas production tests. The cultivation of T. reesei and T. viride on orange peels decreased neutral detergent soluble content [P<0.01] and increased cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents [P<0.01]. Changes in fiber fractions were found to be more pronounced with T. viride. The cultivation of T. reesei and T. viride on sugar beet pulp increased neutral detergent soluble content [P<0.01] and decreased cellulose and hemicellulose contents [P<0.01]. These changes were more pronounced with T. reesei. The cultivation of T. reesei or T. viride on orange peels or sugar beet pulp increased crude protein content [P<0.01] compared with the unfermented materials; however, the increase was more pronounced for orange peels fermented with T. viride when corrected for weight loss [P<0.05]. After 24 and 48 h of incubation, significant decreases in cumulative gas production [P<0.01] were observed in fermented sugar beet pulp and orange peels compared with the unfermented materials. Fungal treatment of orange peels and sugar beet pulp reduced the digestibility of in vitro organic matter, metabolizable energy and average fermentation and gas production rates [P<0.01]. The data showed that seven days of solid-state fermentation of orange peels and sugar beet pulp by T. reesei or T. viride can increase their crude protein content

[ effect of oregano and thyme based essential oils and [beta]-glucanase on performance and nutrients digestibility in broiler chicks fed barley-based diets]

Essential oils [EO] are antimicrobial compounds, but may be beneficial under unfavorable nutritional and environmental conditions. Essential oils produced in Iran are of comparable quality to imported ones. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Orego-Stim [Essential oil based on Oregano; 0.5 g/kg; imported] and Anti-Biophin [Essential oil based on Thyme; 1 g/kg; local] essential oils on performance and precaecal digestibility of nutrients in broiler chicks fed barley-corn based diets with and without b-glucanase [0.05 g/kg]. At the beginning of the second week of rearing period, 192 chicks of mixed sex were allotted into six groups of four replicates with eight chicks per replicate according to a 2x3 factorial experiment arranged as a completely randomized design. Inclusion of Orego-Stim or Anti-Biophin in barley based diets caused a significant [p<0.05] improvement in total feed conversion, final body weight and nutrients digestibility, without a significant effect of [beta]-glucanase addition to the diets. The type of essential oils [imported vs. local] did not affect the measured characteristics. Feeding broiler chicks with barley based diets, supplemented with essential oils, decreased the anti-nutritional effects of barley grains in these diets and improved broiler performance, without the need to supplement the barley-based diets with b-glucanase. Because of the lack of any significant difference between the imported and locally-produced essential oils, and the higher cost and scarcity of the imported EO, domestic products such as Anti-Biophin at recommended levels can replace the imported ones

[Association between the lactation curve shape and calving interval in Holstein dairy cows of Iran]

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between early lactation curve parameters and calving interval in Holstein cows of Iran. In order to describe the lactation curve, the incomplete gamma function was fitted to 5,754,428 test-day milk records corresponding to 766,108 lactations on 315,634 cows in 2,448 herds. Cows with higher milk yield during early lactation had shorter calving intervals; however, longer calving intervals increased the 305-d milk production [P<0.01]. Cows with higher yield at the beginning of lactation, steeper ascending, and steeper descending slope had shorter calving intervals [P<0.01]. Calving interval was increased by 2.73 [+/- 0.12] d for every extra kg of milk at peak lactation [P<0.01]. The calving interval was directly impacted by the persistency of milk yield, but milk yield persistency was reduced in cows with shorter calving intervals [P<0.01]

[Polymorphisms of prolactin gene in a native chicken population and its association with egg production]

The induction and regulation of broodiness is of the most important role of prolactin in avian species. The promoter region of the prolactin gene is an appropriate model for studying tissue-specific and hormonally-regulated activation of gene transcription. In this study, the association between prolactin promoter region alleles and egg production in Fars native chickens was investigated. In total, 100 laying hens, randomly selected from the flock of the Breeding Center for Fars Native Chicken, were genotyped for two single nucleotide polymorphisms [C-2161G and C-2402T], one 24-bp insertion-deletion at the site -358. The observed genotypic frequencies in the C-2161G site were CC [0.437], CG [0.435] and GG [0.101]. Two alleles were found for the SNP of C-2402T with frequency of 0.34 for T and 0.66 for C. The 24-bp insertion-deletion at the site -358 was shown to be polymorph in the studied sample, with the observed genotyping frequency of 0.417 in II, 0.457 in ID and 0.126 in DD. Significant relationship was found between the SNP[s] and insertion-deletion genotypes with egg production [P<0.01]

Genetic correlation of average somatic cell score at different stages of lactation with milk yield and composition in Holstein cows

Genetic and non-genetic correlations of the average somatic cell score [SCS] at different stages of lactation [100, 150, 200, 305 and 365 days in milk] with lactation performance were estimated based on the first lactation records of Iranian Holstein calving during 2000 to 2009. [Co] variance components were estimated using derivative-free REML based on multiple traits animal models. The estimated genetic correlations between average of first 100 days in milk SCS [SCS[100]] and milk100, fat100, milk305, fat305 and protein305 were 0.14, 0.19, 0.11, 0.15 and 0.17, respectively. The corresponding environmental correlations were -0.13, -0.03, -0.18, -0.10 and -0.13, respectively. The estimated genetic correlations of the average SCS during the first 150 days in milk [SCS[150]] with milk[100], fat[100], milk[305], fat[305] and protein[305] were 0.14, 0.19, 0.11, 0.15 and 0.17, respectively. The corresponding environmental correlations were -0.13, -0.03, -0.18, -0.10 and -0.13, respectively. The estimated genetic correlations of the average SCS during 305 days in milk with milk, fat and protein yield, and fat and protein percentages were 0.12, 0.11, 0.18, -0.05 and -0.08, respectively. The estimated genetic correlation between SCS[100] or SCS[150] with average SCS over longer stages of lactations [SCS[305] and SCS[365]] was 0.99 +/- 0.01. These results indicate that recording SCS data over shorter period of lactation is an alternative approach to reduce the costs of SCS data collection and therefore to expand the SCS recording in the country by increasing both the number of herds and cows involved

Effect of egg yolk of four avian species on the cryopreserved ram spermatozoa

Egg yolk is the most commonly used cryoprotective agent for sperm cryopreservation of several species. The objective of this experiment was to compare the effectiveness of egg yolk from four avian species [domestic chicken, duck, turkey and pigeon] on sperm quality following cryopreservation of the ram semen. Ejaculates were collected, using an electroejaculator, from six fertile rams. Samples were diluted in a tris-citric acid-fructose extender containing egg yolk [15%] and glycerol [5%]. Diluted samples were cooled slowly to 5°C over 2 h and equilibrated at that temperature for 2 h. Aliquots of samples were loaded into 0.5 ml straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor for 15 min and stored in liquid nitrogen. Post-thaw progressive motility, live/dead ratio and acrosomal integrity of 200 sperm per slide stained with eosin-nigrosin and giemsa, were evaluated at 0, 2 and 4 h after thawing. Pigeon egg yolk had the most cryoprotective effect in terms of progressive motility, livability and acrosomal integrity [P<0.05]. There was a significant decrease [P<0.05] in progressive motility, livability and acrosomal integrity up to 4 h after thawing. The results indicated that pigeon egg yolk might be superior to chicken egg yolk for cryopreservation of ram spermatozoa in tris-citric acid-fructose yolk extender, however, further experiments are needed to evaluate its effects on fertility

Effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on ovarian function and prostaglandin secretion in lactating dairy cows

As lactating cows in severe negative energy balance have poor reproductive performance, the effect of dietary fat supplementation [fish oil, soybean oil] on PGFM secretion, ovarian function and blood metabolites is investigated. In this experiment, the effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on plasma metabolites, ovarian function and prostaglandin secretion of 20 primiparous Holstein cows was studied. The cows were randomly allocated to one of four groups that were fed either: 1] a control diet; 2] a diet with 3% [Feed dry matter basis] fish oil; 3] a diet with 3% soybean oil; or 4] a diet with 1.5% fish oil and 1.5% soybean oil. Groups were synchronized using the heat-synch method and were fed their respective diets for 35 days, allowing 14 days for dietary adaptation and 21 days for data collection. Concentration of plasma glucose, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol were not affected by the treatments, but plasma total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in cows that consumed the oil-containing diets [p < 0.05].The number of follicles, corpus luteum size and plasma estradiol, progesterone and prostaglandin F[2a] metabolite [PGFM] concentrations were similar across all treatments. However, the size of the largest follicle was significantly greater in cows that consumed a diet containing fish oil or soybean oil [p < 0.05]. These results suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids can influence both ovarian and uterine function in cows, but further studies are required to test their effects on dairy cow reproduction

Effects of different levels of monensin in diets containing whole cottonseed on milk production and composition of lactating dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding different levels of monensin on feed intake, milk production and composition, and milk fatty acid profile in lactating Holstein cows. Four multiparous cows averaging 517 +/- 47 [SD] kg in body weight and 101 +/- 19.8 [SD] days in milk were housed individually in tie-stalls. The study was conducted as a 4 x 4 Latin square design for four periods [14-d for adaptation and 7-d for sampling]. Cows were offered four dietary treatments [0, 10, 20, or 30 mg of monensin/kg of DM] as total mixed ration, twice daily. Dry matter [DM] intake was similar among treatments. Monensin supplementation significantly increased [P<0.05] milk yield and 4% fat corrected milk [FCM]. Milk fat and protein percentages were not affected by monensin supplementation, but fat yield was increased. Monensin reducted the percentage of the short-chain and saturated fatty acids in milk fat, but had no effect on the percentages of medium- and long-chain fatty acids. Monensin supplementation increased [P<0.05] unsaturated fatty acids concentrations in milk fat. Based on the results of this study, feeding monensin was effective in inhibiting the biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids in the rumen, and consequently increased the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids in milk fat, which improves the health characteristics of milk for human consumption

Effects of water desalination on milk production and several blood constituents of holstein cows in a hot arid climate

Fourteen primiparous Holstein cows [180.0 +/- 4.3 days in milk] with a mean [ +/- SD] daily milk yield of 35.0 +/- 1.3 kg and a body condition score of 3.2 +/- 0.2 were allotted into two groups [n=7], and were fed a ration consisting of [dry matter basis] 35% corn silage, 25% alfalfa hay and 40% concentrates. Salt was provided free choice. The experiment was performed during the period of heat stress, i.e., when the temperature-humidity index was greater than 72. One group was offered desalinated water containing 570 mg total dissolved solids [TDS] and another group was offered water containing 1400 mg TDS per L. Milk yield was measured weekly, and milk samples were taken on days 21 and 42 for determination of milk composition. Blood samples were taken on days 21 and 42 from the median caudal vein of the tail and the serum concentrations of Na[+], K[+], Ca[2+], Mg[2+], tri-iodothyronine [T[3]] and thyroxine [T[4] were measured. Ruminal fluid was taken by rumenocentesis on day 42 for determination of volatile fatty acids [VFA] and VFA concentration and pH were not significantly affected by water TDS [P>0.05]; however, cows receiving desalinated water 2 kg more milk per cow per day. Serum K[+] concentration was significantly higher in cows consuming saline water [P,0.05]. The present data indicated that water with TDS of 1400 mg per L had no adverse effect on lactating cows; therefore, it is not necessary to desalinate water in the region under study. However, in light of the possible effects of saline water on thyroid hormones, further studies concerning the influence of saline water on the metabolism of high producing cows in hot climates are warranted

Effects of vitamin C on testicular and seminal characteristics of markhoz goats

The effect of subcutaneous injections of vitamin C on the seminal characteristics of Markhoz bucks [2-4-year-old] was studied. The bucks, trained to serve an artificial vagina, were randomly allotted into three equal groups [n=4] and received daily either zero [1 mL normal saline; control group], or 20 [VitC20 group] or 40 [VitC40 group] mg per kg body weight vitamin C from July 06, 2006 to Oct. 06, 2006. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein at monthly inter, als, and semen samples were collected at 15-day intervals. Testicular dimensions in the scrotum [circumference, width, and length] were also determined on the day before semen collection. The ejaculates were evaluated for volume, sperm concentration, pH, motility, and abnormal and live sperm. Testing measurements were not affected by administration of vitamin C. The abnormal and live sperm. Testicular measurement were not affected by administration of vitamin C. The vitamin C in the blood plasma and seminal fluid, sperm motility, sperm viability, sperm abnormality, and the number of live-normal sperm in the ejaculate. Vitamin C increased the levels of vitamin C in blood and seminal plasma. Both doses of vitamin C increased the percentage of progressively motile sperm showing forward motility. VitC40 injection for 90 days increased sperm motility and the effect was still evident up to 30 days after the cessation of injections. The percentage of live sperm and mass motility showed similar trends. Both doses were equally effective in decreasing the percentage of abnormal sperm. The total number of live and normal sperm in the ejaculate increased by vitamin C injections and the effect was still evident of live and normal sperm in the ejaculate increased by vitamin C injections and the effect was still evident after the injections had been discontinued. The present data indicates the importance of vitamin C in the reproduction of male goats, as also shown for several mammalian species. They further show that under certain conditions, the in vivo synthesis of this vitamin in ruminants might not be sufficient for optimum reproduction

effects of a microbial inoculant and formic acid as silage additives on chemical composition, ruminal degradability and nutrient digestibility of corn silage in sheep

The effects of a microbial inoculant [containing propionic and lactic acid bacteria] and formic acid on chemical composition, ruminal degradability of dry matter [DM] and nutrient digestibility of corn silage were examined. Whole-plant corn was ensiled for 60 days in plastic polyethylene bags, and three treatments were compared, 1: control [no additive], 2: Propionibacterium acidipropionici plus Lactobacillus plantarum at 3 10[10] cfu/g of fresh forage, and 3: formic acid [98%] at 2.41/t fresh forage. The silages were subjected to chemical analysis, DM degradability and nutrients digestibility in sheep. At the end of ensiling period, treatment 3 had significantly higher [P<0.05] content of crude protein [CP], lactic acid, total acids, DM recovery and pH values than other treatments. Treatment 2 had the lowest pH value, the highest level of propionic acid, and the lowest level of butyric and total acids [P<0.05]. No traces of ethanol were detected for neither of silages. CP digestibility was higher [P<0.05] for treatment 1 compared with others, while ether extract [EE] digestibility was higher [P<0.05] for treatments 1 and 3 compared with treatment 2. Effective DM degradability was higher for treatment 3. All silages went under rapid fermentation and were well-preserved and treatment 2 was more stable after opening. The degree of improvement in fermentation using microbial inoculant was lower than formic acid but expected to improve the aerobic stability by inhibition of yeast activity, especially in warm climates

chemical composition, rumen degradability, in vitro gas production, energy content and digestibility of olive cake ensiled with additives

The chemical composition, in situ rumen degradability coefficients of dry matter [DM] and crude protein [CP], in vitro gas production and in vivo digestibility were evaluated for olive cake [OC] silage treated [DM basis] with different additives as follows: [1] untreated OC; [2] OC, 8% molasses and 0.4% formic acid and [3] OC, 8% molasses, 0.4% formic acid and 0.5% urea. After addition of the additives, materials were ensiled for 60 days in plastic bags. The addition of molasses, formic acid and urea resulted in higher DM, CP, pH and NH[3]-N content. There were some reductions in neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin and acid detergent fiber contents of silages especially with treatment 3. The additives increased the nutritive value and preserved well the ensued OC. Ruminal maximum potential degradability [a+b], and effective degradability [ED] of DM and CP were higher for treatment 3. Total gas production was higher [P<0.05] for treatments 2 and 3 and was associated with increased [P<0.05] in vitro organic matter digestibility and a non-significant increase in metabolizable energy content. Only CP digestibility was affected by treatments and was highest for treatment 3. In vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibilities improved with treatments 2 and 3. The results indicated that, treating OC [DM basis] before ensiling with molasses [8%], formic acid [0.4%] and urea [0.5%] resulted in a satisfactory and economical source of a non-conventional feed for ruminants

effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici on corn silage fermentation, ruminal degradability and nutrient digestibility in sheep

The chemical composition, in situ ruminal degradability coefficients of dry matter [DM], and nutrient digestibility in sheep were evaluated for corn silage [CS] treated [fresh weight basis] with different levels of a commercial bacterial inoculant [I] as follows: [1] untreated CS [control]; [2] CS + I at half of the recommended level; [3] CS + I at the recommended level [3 x 10[10] colony forming units per g of fresh forage] and [4] CS + I at two-fold recommended level. The inoculants [Lallemand, France] consisted of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici. Whole- plant corn was ensiled for 60 days in plastic polyethylene bags, Also, three laboratory silos [70 g capacity] for each treatment were sampled on days 2, 3, 4 and 60 to study the pH changes. The silages underwent rapid fermentation and were well-preserved. The pH value decreased to 4.0 on day 2 and was the lowest for treatment 2 on day 60 after ensiling compared with other treatments. Treatment 2 had higher [P<0.05] contents of crude protein [CP], residual water soluble carbohydrates [WSC], lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and total acids, but lower [P<0.05] butyric acid than treatment 3, and also higher acetic and lower butyric acid levels than other treatments. No traces of ethanol were detected in any of the silages. The acid detergent fiber [ADF] content of treatments 1 and 4 was lower [P<0.05] than others. Only ether extract [EE] digestibility was affected by these treatments which was higher for treatments 1 and 4 [P<0.05]. The DM recovery for treatment 1 was lower than others. Effective DM degradability was slightly higher for treatment 4 and fraction "a" was significantly [P<0.05] lower for treatments 1 and 3 compared with treatment 4. The results indicated that application of this inoculant at half of the recommended level was more effective to enhance the aerobic stability of silages due to higher acetic and propionic acid production which have antimycotyic properties. The decreased cost associated with this level of inoculant might be economical for farmers in warm climates as to encourage its use as an additive for silage making

Effects of supplementary feeding on growth and carcass characteristics of fat-tailed lambs grazing cereal stubble

Despite a shortage of animal feed in Iran, cereal stubble is often underutilized due to agroeconomic reasons. On the other hand, lambs fed with a conventional fattening ration deposit a considerable amount of fat; therefore, this experiment was conducted aimed at better utilization of cereal stubble and reducing the fat content of lamb carcasses. Fat-tailed Mehraban and Ghezel ram lambs were put on four feeding systems [FS] for 100 days. Animals in one group [FS1] were lot-fed with a conventional fattening ration [4% of the mean body weight] consisting of 50% ground barley and 50% chopped alfalfa hay. FS2, FS3 and FS4 animals grazed stubbles, and in the evening, received 2% of their body weights either ground barley [FS2], a mixture [50:50 DM basis] of ground barley and alfalfa hay [FS3], or ground alfalfa hay [FS4]. Daily gain, slaughter weight, and tail weight were greatest [P<0.05] for FS1, lowest for FS4, and intermediate for FS2 and FS3. Stubble-fed lambs had lower subcutaneous fat depth and cavity fat. The sum weight of lean in primal cuts was lower in FS4 as compared with other groups, but the lean weight as a percentage of carcass weight was lowest in SF1. Similar pattern was found for the dissected fat from the primal cuts. The weight of soft tissues was highest in SF1 and lowest in SF4, but its percentage in carcass showed a reverse pattern. Stubble feeding with some supplementary feed resulted in less fat deposition in fat-tailed lambs as compared with the conventional fattening ration, and was more economical in terms of unit live weight gain. Due to the feed shortage in Iran, stubble grazing should be encouraged in lieu of the current practice of burning the residues on the farm

Effect of transient prepubertal hypothyroidism on serum testosterone level and seminal characteristics of chickens

Effect of propylthiouracil [PTU]-induced hypothyroidism during the prepubertal period, at a dose of one g per kg of the diet, on serum testosterone level and seminal characteristics of Pars indigenous chickens was studied. PTU was fed between 7th to 13th weeks of age and semen was collected at weekly intervals, starting at 21st week of age and continued for seven weeks. The effect of PTU treatment on serum testosterone level and body weight was significant [P<0.05], The effect of age on all parameters, including body weight, semen volume, sperm motility, percentage of live sperm, sperm concentration, total number of live sperm, and serum testosterone and thyroxine T[4] levels was also significant [P<0.01]. The interaction effect of PTU treatment and age on semen volume, sperm motility, and percentage of live sperm was not significant [P>0.05]; but it was significant for body weight, sperm concentration, total number of live sperm, and serum testosterone and T[4] levels [P<0.01]. At weeks 11 and 13 of age, serum T[4] concentration in PTU birds was significantly lower but serum testosterone level was higher than in the control group. Sperm concentration in PTU birds was generally higher than in the control group, although the differences between the two groups were significant at weeks 20, 23 and 24. The total number of live sperm produced by PTU birds at week 21 of age was about 60% of the control group [P<0.01]. A positive correlation [P<0.01] was found between testosterone level and body weight [r = 0.54 and 0.36 for the control and PTU groups, respectively]. A small but significant positive correlation was found between T[4] levels and body weight in the PTU group [r = 0.23; P<0.01], but not in the control group [P>0.05]. The correlation between testosterone and T[4] levels was not significant. Transient prepubertal PTU-induced hypothyroidism resulted in an increase in sperm concentration and production at certain stages after treatment, but the effect did not seem to last for a long period. The potential for increased efficiency associated with raising smaller birds which pass a neonatal hypothyroidism and eat less feed and produce normal semen, may be economical

Effects of additives on chemical composition, degradability coefficients and ruminal-intestinal disappearance of dry matter and crude protein of laboratory ensiled olive cake

The chemical composition, degradability coefficients [in situ] and ruminal-intestinal disappearance [mobile bag procedure] of dry matter [DM] and crude protein [CP] were evaluated for olive cake [OC] silages treated [DM basis] with additives as follows: [1] untreated OC, [2] OC + 0.5% urea, [3] OC + 0.4% formic acid, [4] OC + 8% molasses, [5] OC + 0.5% urea + 8% molasses, [6] OC + 0.5% urea + 0.4% formic acid, [7] OC + 8% molasses + 0.4% formic acid and [8] OC + 8% molasses + 0.4% formic acid + 0.5% urea. The highest reduction in cellulose and ADF content was found for treatment 8 [120 and 117 g kg[-1] DM, respectively], as compared with the raw material [not ensiled]. Taking into consideration the chemical composition, pH values, and the general appearance of silages, ensiling of OC with additives preserved well and enhanced the nutritive value of olive cake. Ruminal maximum potential degradability of DM [a+b], effective and rapid degradability and rate of degradation of treatment 8 were higher than others. The same trend was found for CP except fraction [a] which was highest for treatment 6. Mean ruminal DM [P<0.05] and CP disappearances in treatment 8 after 12 hrs incubation were higher than the other treatments. Intestinal digestibility of undegraded DM for treatment 5 was higher [P<0.05] than treatment 6 with no differences among other treatments. Intestinal digestibility of undegraded CP for treatments 3, 5, 6 and 7 was higher [P<0.05] than the other treatments. Total tract DM disappearance of treatments 4, 5 and 8 was higher [P<0.05] than others. Total tract CP disappearance of treatment 8 was higher [P<0.05] than treatment 4. Results indicated that treating OC before ensiling with 8% molasses, 0.4% formic acid and 0.5% urea [DM basis] could provide a good and economical source of a non-conventional feed in areas where OC is available; thus, it helps to improve the diet formulation for ruminants

[Lactation performance and lamb growth in ghezel breed]

To determine Lactation performance and lamb growth of Ghezel breed. Factorial 2x2. Twenty uniparous Ghezel ewes [4-5 year-old]. During the suckling period [15 weeks] milk was collected daily by a combined lamb-suckling and hand milking from weaning to the end of lactation. Average lactation length and total milk yield were 163.5+/- 23.2 days and 145.1 +/- 23.2 kg, respectively. Daily milk yield during the suckling and post weaning periods averaged 1210 +/- 140 g and 320 +/- 70 g, respectively. Peak of production was achieved at the second week of lactation and declined gradually thereafter, with an immediate sudden drop following weaning. The mothers of suckling ram lambs produced more milk compared to those suckling ewe lambs. Milk production and lactation length were higher in five years old ewes than the 4 years old ewes [P<0.05]. It seems that Ghezel ewes have a good potential for milk production. Moreover, because of the favorable Lactation of the mothers their lamb growth is satisfactory