The effects of transportation stress on Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica) fed corn‐based diet in comparison with wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase

Harvesting, handling and transporting quails to the slaughterhouses, other farms and laboratories might covertly reduce their welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two major sources of energy in poultry nutrition on reducing transportation stress in Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica). Male quails (n = 60) were divided into two groups. The first group was fed corn‐based diet, and the second was fed wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase. At the end of the experiment (day 35), quails were subjected to 80 km of transportation. Immediately on arrival and after 24 h, heterophil counts, lymphocyte counts and H:L ratios were measured. On arrival, H counts were lower, L counts were higher, and H:L ratios were lower for corn‐fed group. After 24 h, wheat‐fed group showed lower increment of H counts, greater increment of L counts and also decrement of H:L ratios rather than corn‐fed group which showed increment of H:L ratios. However, these ratios were still lower in corn‐fed group. Results indicate that corn‐based diets can help Japanese quail to better resist transportation stress, although it seems that feeding wheat‐based diets supplemented with xylanase and phytase could have positive effects for coping better with stress after journeys.     

The effect of some watershed,soil characteristics and morphometric factors on the relationship between the gully volume and length in Fars Province,Iran

A survey consisting of 146 first order gullies selected from five sites with different land use, soil and watershed properties was carried out to estimate the parameters of the empirical power function in order to describe the relationship between the gully volume and length in Fars province, Iran. Subsequently, the gullies were clustered into seven groups (“A” to “G”) based on nine morphometric factors. The linearized functions were fitted to the natural logarithms of the volume and length in each group and the parameters “a” and “b” were determined. The obtained “a” and “b” parameters are in the ranges of 1.0–10.8 and 0.8–1.4, respectively. Comparison of “a” and “b” parameters in each group with the mean of nine factors and the mean soil, watershed and land use characteristics in each group showed that the gully volume and average cross section are correlated with the gully depths in different sections and the gully head slopes. Also it was shown that the parameters of fitted functions to the plots of gully volumes versus gully lengths are proportional to width at the gully heads. The gully widths at the top and bottom of the five meter sections are correlated with the average upstream watershed area of the gullies.     

Temporal variation of total and DTPA-extractable heavy metal contents as influenced by sewage sludge and perlite in a calcareous soil

Continuous application of sewage sludge (SS) as a source of organic matter, may increase available heavy metals (HMs) up to their critical levels. As a consequence their uptake by plants, risks of accumulation in food chain and groundwater pollution increases. To evaluate the effects of perlite and SS on total content and available fraction of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) over 45 and 90 days a completely randomized pot experiment was conducted. Treatments consisted of SS (0, 2 and 4%) and combined SS and perlite levels (1:1, 1.5:0.5 and 0.5:1.5% SS:perlite). Mean available Fe, Ni, Cd, Mn and Zn fractions decreased over time by 7–27%, whereas, total contents did not change. Available HMs in SS-treated soils increased by 0.5–25%; whereas, only total Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations increased with SS application (although concentrations fall in the range of critical levels). The lowest (1.6 fold) and highest (22.1 fold) increases obtained for available Cu and Zn, respectively. Perlite could mitigate the adverse effect of high rate application of SS on amplification of HMs extractability. Therefore, their concomitant applications can be suggested considering the perlite durability and its positive effects on soil physical properties.     

Hyperlipidemia in Caspian miniature horses: Effects of undernutrition

The susceptibility of Caspian miniature horses to hyperlipidemia was followed in a study of healthy Caspian miniature horses in which food but not water was withheld for 48 hours. Two months before the study, the horses were fed a high-energy diet. The mean of weight gain was 26.46 kg per horse during this period. All horses had a normal rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and pulse throughout the experiment. During the period of food deprivation, levels of serum triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase significantly (P < .05) increased and glucose concentration decreased. As a conclusion, Caspian miniature horses were susceptible to hyperlipidemia, but they did not show classic hyperlipemia syndrome.     

Comparative study of dietary soy phytoestrogens genistein and equol effects on growth parameters and ovarian development in farmed female beluga sturgeon,Huso huso

Oocyte maturation in fish is a hormonally regulated process. In the light of long-term oocyte maturation in beluga, the aim of this research was to study the estrogenic effects of different concentrations of soy dietary genistein (GE) and equol (EQ) on the growth performance and ovary development in farmed female Huso huso. Fish were fed with concentrations 0 (control), 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 g of EQ and GE per kg of isoproteic (CP 45 %) and isoenergetic (19.5 MJ/kg) diets during a year. Blood samples and ovary biopsies were collected from each fish seasonally. The main results of the present experimentation are that growth performance was not affected significantly both in GE and EQ (P > 0.05). EQ at concentration 0.4 g/kg had more estrogenic effects than other concentrations of EQ and GE in beluga so that 64 % of fish were matured sexually. Some reproductive indices such as oocyte diameter, testosterone (T) and 17β-estradiol (E₂) increased significantly at EQ 0.4 g/kg at the end of experiment (P < 0.05), while 17α-hydroxy progesterone level (17α-OHP) showed no significant changes at all concentrations. Biochemical indices such as calcium, phosphorous and cholesterol increased at GE concentrations, but decreased at EQ concentrations similarly at the end of experiment. There was a negative relationship between plasma phosphorous and alkaline phosphatase enzyme levels. Based on results, EQ at concentration 0.4 g/kg improved oocyte development more than the other concentrations of GE and EQ, and therefore, it can be used as an additive to diets for inducing ovary development in this species.     

Mineralogical and Textural Characteristics of Soils of Hancheng and Shannxi Province,China

Studies were conducted to investigate mineralogical and textural characteristics of Hancheng soils in relation to fertility status, mineralogical, and particle size distribution properties, which were determined from soil samples of the profile pits in 2014. Prepared representative clay fraction samples were subjected to x-ray diffraction analysis for mineralogical characterization. The results show dominant of quartz, attributed to high granitic parent materials with a range of 65.7–84.6% mean 54.1%, moganite 59.8%, albite 12.0–26.3% mean 21.03%, flusston 18.1%, calcium magnesium silicate 10.6%, muscovite 7.8%, olivine 1.8%, and illite 1.6% were detected. The particle size distribution analysis revealed sand fraction of 28.12–30.12% mean 29.1%, 22.12–28.12% mean 25.1%; silt 34.0–36.0% mean 35%, 32.0–38.0% mean 35%; and clay 35.9–35.9% mean 35.9%, 35.9–43.9% mean 32.6% surface and subsurface soils respectively. Texture classes of the soils were clay loam to clay apredominantly clay loam. The mineralogical and textural characteristics are important in relation to soil fertility, which allow farmers to adapt crop management practices with real soil situation.     

Molecular breeding and the impacts of some important genes families on agronomic traits,a review

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Gene identification and evolution and also their impacts on agronomical traits are important variations between related species which are often because of...