Effect of adding different levels of rumen protected choline to the diet on productive and reproductive performance of female goats and growth of their kids from birthing to weaning

Forty female goats in the third parity were randomly divided into four similar groups. The experiment was started 20 days before mating and lasted until the end of the suckling period for 60 days and weaning their kids. The first group were fed diet without supplementation and kept as control while in the second, third and fourth groups, each doe was fed diets with rumen protected choline (RPC) at the rate of 10, 20 and 40 g/day, respectively. Results showed that number of doe kidding twins and triplets and litter weight of kids born per group increased with increasing the level of RPC in the diet of goats and viability rate of born kids during the suckling period improved due to RPC supplementation in the diets of their mothers. Duration of estrous, days from weaning to estrous, days from kidding to estrous and kidding interval decreased significantly, while conception rate increased due to adding RPC. Milk choline concentrations and total choline secretion though milk were progressively increased significantly with increasing the level of RPC supplementation. Live body weight and daily body gain of their suckling male and female kids at weaning increased significantly with increasing RPC levels in the diets of their mothers.     

Effects of periodical application of bioactive peptides derived from cottonseed on performance,immunity, total antioxidant activity of serum and intestinal development of broilers

This experiment aimed to examine the effect of periodical application of bioactive peptides derived from cottonseed (BPC) in comparison with using sub-therapeutic doses of lincomycin and the excessive inclusion of vitamin E on performance, immunity, total antioxidant capacity of serum and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-d-old male broiler chicks with similar initial weight (Ross strain) were randomly assigned to 6 groups (8 chicks/pen): non-treated group (basal diet), basal diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg lincomycin, basal diet supplemented with 50 IU vitamin E, basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg in starter period, basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg in starter and grower periods and basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg throughout the whole experiment. The highest final body weight was obtained in the group supplemented with BPC in starter and grower periods. In the finisher phase, broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the starter period and in the whole trial had significantly (P < 0.05) better feed conversion ratios (FCR). Jejunal villus height was significantly elevated in broilers supplemented with antibiotic (P < 0.001), furthermore it tended to be greater in broilers fed BPC in the starter period. The jejunal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in broilers fed the diet containing antibiotic in comparison to other groups. Humoral immune response against Newcastle disease vaccine tended to be elevated in broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the whole trial (P > 0.05). Broilers supplemented with BPC in starter and grower, and in the whole trial had significantly (P < 0.05) higher antibody titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The highest total antioxidant capacity was obtained in broilers supplemented with the excessive level of vitamin E, furthermore it tended to improve in broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the whole trial. In summary, the results of the study indicated that addition of BPC in broiler diets in the whole trial could improve FCR, immune responses and total antioxidant activity of serum, and BPC could be used in broiler diets as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics.     

Effects of emulsified versus saline administration of GnRHa on induction of ovulation in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

The effects of saline-dissolved or Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA)-emulsified GnRHa treatment on the induction of ovulation in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were examined. The FIA-emulsified GnRHa was first diluted in 0.25 ml physiological saline and then mixed with an equal volume of FIA. Fish were selected in the beginning of the spawning season and were allocated into four groups and were treated intraperitoneally with (a) 0.5 ml of emulsified GnRHa (GnRHa–FIA), (b) 0.5 ml saline-dissolved GnRHa in a single injection (GnRHa-1), (c) 0.5 ml saline-dissolved GnRHa in two injections spaced 1 d apart (GnRHa-2) and (d) 0.5 ml of saline (Control). The GnRHa dose in all hormone treatments was 25 µg kg^− 1. All fish in the FIA–GnRHa and GnRHa-2 groups ovulated within 10 and 11 d after treatment, respectively. In contrast, only 75% in the Control fish and 60% of the fish in the GnRHa-1 group ovulated within 36 d after treatment. None of the treatments caused any pre- or post-spawning mortality in the broodstock. Fertilization, eyeing and hatching percentages of the produced progeny were normal in all the treatment groups and did not differ significantly among them. In conclusion, FIA-emulsified GnRHa can be effective in advancing the onset of and synchronizing the ovulation of rainbow trout within a two-week period, thus shortening the egg collection period, without affecting broodstock survival and egg quality.     

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF HYDROPIC DEGENERATION OF THE LIVER IN DAIRY CATTLE THROUGH BIOCHEMISTRY, ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL ANALYSIS

Ultrasonography of the liver of 181 Holstein-Friesian cows was performed and blood samples were collected for analysis. The hepatic ultrasonograms were evaluated and the echoes were analyzed digitally. After slaughter, liver specimens were taken and examined histopathologically. Of the 181 animals, 120 had a normal liver and 61 had hydropic degeneration of the liver, diagnosed through histopathologic examination. Diagnostic accuracy rates for hydropic degeneration were determined based on the following test positive conditions: a) for biochemical analysis—high levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin and non-esterified fatty acids; b) for ultrasonography—presence of dark pattern and blurring of edges; and c) for digital analysis—low echo means at 1 cm and 3 cm from the hepatic surface. Digital analysis had the highest overall specificity, accuracy and positive predictive values for hydropic degeneration, followed by ultrasonography. The results suggest that ultrasonography and digital analysis of hepatic ultrasonograms can be used for diagnosis of hydropic degeneration of the liver in place of biochemical analysis.     

Some enzyme interrelationships in serum and organs of Egyptian camel

In 7 normal healthy Egyptian one-humped camels aged 3-4 years, the relationships were studied between enzyme activities of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), and cholonesterase (CHE) of serum and organs as well as between ACP and ALP and between LDH and CPK. Liver, heart, kidney, and spleen tissue samples as well as serum were analysed for total enzyme activity. The following results were obtained: --The heart was the organ with the highest activities of ALP, LDH, and CPK, and it contained high values of CHE, whereas the lowest activities of all enzymes were recorded from serum. The spleen exhibited of the highest activity of ACP. --Each of the serum enzymes ALP, LDH, and CHE were in strong inverse relationship with the corresponding enzymes in the liver. Strong inverse relationships existed also between serum LDH and kidney LDH as well as between CPK in serum and heart. --Direct relationships were remarkable serum LDH and that of spleen and heart as well as between serum ACP and that of liver and heart. --Interrelationships were inverse between ACP and ALP in liver, kidney, and heart, but weak direct interrelationships were characteristic between the 2 enzymes in serum and spleen. --LDH was inversely interrelated with CPK in serum and heart.     

EVALUATION OF FATTY INFILTRATION OF THE LIVER IN DAIRY CATTLE THROUGH DIGITAL ANALYSIS OF HEPATIC ULTRASONOGRAMS

Ultrasonography of the liver of 49 Holstein-Friesian cows was performed, liver specimens were taken, examined microscopically and the fatty occupying rate (FOR) was calculated. Echoes from the hepatic B-mode ultrasonograms were quantified as histogram mean (Emean) and histogram mode (Emode) of echo amplitudes within various areas at a depth of 1–9 cm from the hepatic surface. Of the 49 animals, 26 had a normal liver and 23 had fatty infiltration of the liver, diagnosed through histopathological examination. Fatty occupying rate ranged from 1.7 to 64.5%, with 11 animals having 1–15% FOR (mild fatty infiltration), 6 having 15.1–30% FOR (moderate fatty infiltration) and 6 having > 30% FOR (severe fatty infiltration). At 1 cm, severe fatty infiltration had higher Emean and Emode than normal liver (p < 0.05). At 7 cm and 9 cm, moderate and severe fatty infiltration had lower Emeans and Emodes than normal liver (p < 0.001). The results suggest that digital analysis of hepatic ultrasonogram can be useful in the evaluation of the degree of fatty infiltration of the liver in dairy cattle.     

Genetic variation for resistance to septoria tritici blotch in Iranian tetraploid wheat landraces

Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola has recently become one of the devastating diseases in Iran causing significant yield losses on most commercial bread and durum wheat cultivars. Iran is located in the Fertile Crescent, a region where wheat was historically domesticated; and, thus, landraces derived from this region are of considerable global interest for identification of new sources of resistance to various stresses. Here, we report on the resistance responses of 45 tetraploid wheat landraces collected from different provinces of Iran to eight M. graminicola isolates. In total 138 isolate-specific resistances were found among all interactions (n = 360). The highest number of specific resistances (30 out of 32 interactions) was found in wheat landraces collected from West Azarbaijan. In contrast, all landraces from Kordestan were highly susceptible to M. graminicola isolates and only one isolate-specific resistance was identified among 106 isolate-wheat interactions. Kermanshah landraces showed the highest resistance variation against different isolates. About 57 isolate-specific resistances were identified among 104 interactions. Ilam landraces were highly resistant to STB as 28 specific resistances were observed among 32 interactions. Markazi (n = 2) and Sistan-Baluchestan (n = 1) were susceptible to all isolates tested. Landraces from Lorestan were generally susceptible to isolates tested as 26 susceptible responses were observed out of 32 interactions. Our results indicate that landraces collected from the Fertile Crescent region may possess diverse effective resistance genes or valuable broad spectrum resistance genes, and that their identification is of interest and can be exploited in breeding programs.     

Effects of different temperatures and duration on germination of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) seeds

The aim of this study was to seek optimum seed germination temperature of Lentil seeds. Germination tests were conducted for twenty-four genotypes with 3 replicates in a completely randomized design, were conducted to investigate germination behavior of lentil seeds subjected to six different heat temperatures (39, 46, 54, 61, 68 and 75°F) and duration on germination. The experiment results revealed that different temperature treatments were effective on mean germination percentage and suggested that there is relationship between the temperature treatment and germination rate. The mean germination was obtained for 39, 46, 54, 61, 68 and 75°F, 0.945, 1.590, 1.864, 2.305, 2.840 and 2.573 respectively. The experiment revealed that the different temperature treatments were effective on mean germination percentage and seeds germinated faster at higher constant temperatures and optimum germination occurred at 68°F.