Effect of different levels of synbiotic on productivity and egg quality, blood parameters and hatchability in broiler breeder hens

The present study deals with the effect of different levels of synbiotic on egg production and quality, blood parameters, hatchability and yolk cholesterol in broiler breeder hens. The aim of this study was to determine the best level of symbiotic in the diet of broiler breeder hens. The study was conducted based on a completely randomized design with 4 treatment groups, 2 replicates and 10 controls in each experimental unit. The experimental rations were containing 0 [control S0], 0.05 [S0.05], 0.1 [S0.1] and 0.2% [S0.2] synbiotic. Egg quality and weight were measured daily. Blood parameters, laying rate and hatchability were measured weekly. Yolk cholesterol, ovarian weight and number of ovarian large follicles were evaluated at the end of the experiment. The data were analyzed using GLM procedure. The results showed that yolk index in group S0.1 was significantly lower [p<0.05] than groups S0.05 and S0.2, but was not statistically different from the control [p>0.05]. Also, synbiotic had no significant effect on other egg quality traits, egg weight and hatchability [p>0.05]. Addingy synbiotic supplement to diet reduced significantly the laying rate, ovarian weight and number of ovarian large follicles in the group S0.2 compared with the other groups [p<0.05]. Synbiotic significantly increased plasma glucose concentration [p<0.05], but plasma triglyceride, HDL and yolk cholesterol concentrations were not influenced by dietary symbiotic [p>0.05]. Furthermore, plasma cholesterol concentration [last week] in groups S0.1 and S0.2 were significantly lower than control group [p<0.05]. The results showed that it would be proper to use 0.1% symbiotic in the diet of broiler breeder hens

[Effect of temperature-humidity index on productive and reproductive performances of Iranian Holstein cows]

Calving records from April 1996 to December 2005 comprising 31863 calving events of 1173 dairy cows in a large commercial dairy herd were used to evaluate the effects of heat stress, using temperature-humidity index [THI] on milk yield and composition and reproductive performance of Holstein dairy cows under humid climatic conditions of Rasht in Iran. THI values were grouped into six groups: 30-40 [THI1], 41-50 [THI2], 51-60 [THI3], 61-70 [THI4], 71-80 [THI5] and 81-90 [THI6]. Dairy cows in THI6 had lower milk and fat yields than other groups of THI, but cows in THI1 and THI2 had the greatest amounts of milk and fat yields, respectively [P<0.05]. However, dairy cows in the second group of THI had lower percentages of fat than the sixth group of THI [P<0.05]. Spring-calved cows had longer days open than cows calved in other seasons [P<0.05]. Also, summer-calved cows had greater number of services per conception and lower conception rates than cows calved in other seasons [P<0.05]. Dairy cows within the THI5 which calved in spring and/or calving years 2004-2005 had the longest days open [P<0.05]. Cows in the second group of THI had the greatest and the lowest number of inseminations and conception rates compared with other groups of THI, respectively. The results of the present study indicated that summer heat stress negatively affected milk yield and composition and reproductive performance of dairy cows. Therefore, application of management interventions to ameliorate the effects of heat load on the performance of dairy cows could be needed in certain periods of the year under the climatic conditions

[Effect of different levels of dietary metabolizable energy on performance and immune response in Iranian native hens]

Determination of energy requirement and its effect on the immune system is one of the most important research topics in poultry and avian research area. To determine the effect of different levels of metabolizable energy [ME] on the production performance and immune responses of Iranian native hens. The experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with 6 treatments [2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800 and 2900 kcal/kg ME] and 5 replicates of 10 samples each. Egg production and feed intake were measured both daily and weekly. Humoral immune function was measured by hemagglutination inhibition [HI] test on the 6[th] and 12[th] days after intramuscular injection of sheep red blood cells [SRBC]. Cellular immunity was determined using responses of cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity [CBH] to phytohemagglutinin injection. Data were analyzed using GLM procedure. The results showed that dietary energy had a significant effect on the feed intake in such a way that increasing dietary energy linearly decreased the feed intake [p<0.05]. There was no significant difference among the treatment groups in egg production, egg mass and egg weight [p>0.05]. There were not significant difference among groups in terms of total antibodies against SRBC, IgG and IgM. However, IgM showed increase in response to different levels of energy on day 12 of injection [p<0.05] with the highest response for the diet contained 2800 kcal/kg ME. The CBH response showed a gradual increase based on increasing the dietary ME levels over 24 and28 h after injection. Meanwhile diet contained 2900 kcal/kg ME showed the maximum CBH response at 24 and28 h [0.28 +/- 0.017 and0.34 +/- 0.026mm, respectively]. The results of this experiment showed that the dietary ME in the range of 2800 to2900 kcal/kg made the highest effect on immune responses of Iranian native hens

[ blood serotonin levels in ascitic and non ascitic broilers]

Modern strains of broiler are highly susceptible to heart failure. Heart related mortalities are observed predominantly in fast growing broiler chickens. The aim of this study was to investigate serotonin levels in ascitic and non ascitic broilers of three strains [Ross, Arbor Acres plus and Cobb]. In this respect, a factorial test in CRD method applied for the statistical analyses. In each of these three strains, 12 ascitic and 12 non-ascitic broilers were selected. After tagging and blood sampling, blood were collected and divided in two parts. One part was applied for some blood hematological assessment and other part was used for determining serum serotonin levels. The results showed significant differences among the strains [p<0.05]. The blood serotonin levels of ascitic chickens were significantly lower than the non ascitic ones [p<0.05]. There was a significant interaction between strain and disease in blood serotonin levels [p<0.05]

Mental health and psychiatry in the Middle East: historical development

A brief account is given of attitudes towards mental health and the development of psychiatry in the Middle East from an historical perspective. The Middle East is considered as a cultural entity and the influence of the beliefs and practices of ancient times on the collective mind of the people of the Region is discussed

Health and behaviour

This paper describes the changing concepts of health and disease including the burden of disease and the effect of biological, psychological and social factors on health. In particular, the impact of behaviour on health is discussed and means of affecting behaviour for health, such as religion, are described

Mental health in the Islamic Republic of Iran: achievements and areas of need

The development of mental health in the Islamic Republic of Iran is described with particular reference to the integration mental health into the primary health care system. The achievements made so far are outlined and the areas of need discussed