Journal of Animal Production, Print ISSN: 2008-6776., Online ISSN: 2382-994X

Abstract Introduction: Water shortage, low quality soils, and insufficient supply of feed are the main limitations for livestock production in arid and semiarid regions of the word. Therefore, there is a demand to cultivate new crops for these areas as an alternative to crops, which are hypersensitive to low fertile situation. Cultivation of acceptable-quality unusual plants, which are resistant to harsh environmental conditions is a proper way to overcome these challenges. Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a highly productive crop and produce a large amount of forage per unit of area. Artichoke forage has good nutritional value for ruminant animals. In other hand, artichoke as a medicinal plant contains many secondary compounds including polyphenols, cynarin, chlorogenic acid, carotenoids and natural antioxidants. Lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride and carcass fat have been reported by these compounds in animals fed artichoke products. Therefore, we hypothesized that addition of artichoke forage to diet of fattening lambs may has beneficial effects on their carcass quality traits. Material and methods: In order to evaluate the effects of dietary artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) level instead of alfalfa on meat fatty acids profile and carcass quality traits of fattening lambs, this experiment was conducted using 24 Kurdish male lambs (initial body weight of 30.2 ± 2.35 kg) in a completely randomized design with three treatments and eight replications. Experimental treatments included: 1) control (diet without artichoke hay), 2) diet containing 10% artichoke hay, and 3) diet containing 20% artichoke hay. The experiment was lasted for 100 days including 20 d of adaptation period and 80 d of data recording and samples collection. At the end of experiment, all lambs were weighed after an overnight fast (16 h). All lambs were slaughtered, and hot carcass were weighed. The carcass was split into two equal halves (left and right). The right half of carcass was cut into six primal cuts including neck, shoulder, breast-flank, loin, leg and tail. Meat chemical composition, color parameters and fatty acids profile were measured. Results and Discussion: The results showed that incorporation of artichoke to the diet improved the daily weight gain of lambs (P<0.05). Also, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage increased linearly with increasing artichoke level in the diet (P<0.05). Dietary artichoke level had no effect on carcass cuts percentage (neck, shoulder, breast flank, loin, leg, and tail), meat chemical composition (moisture, protein, fat and ash) and color parameters (lightness, redness, yellowness). Meat fatty acids profile (including saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids) were not affected by artichoke level in the diets. Conclusion: According to the results, feeding fattening lambs a diet contained artichoke (up to 20% of total mixed ration) has no detrimental effects on meat quality and improve their dressing percentage.  

Abstract The effect of different feeding methods in the first three days of the rearing period on production traits and immune system of one-day-old chicken broilers (Ross 308) for 49 days was studied. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with eight treatments / four replications and 15 chickens per replication The experimental treatments included: 1- water and starter diet, 2- water and corn powder for 48 hours, 3- water containing 5% sugar and corn powder for 48 hours, 4-water containing 5% sugar and corn powder for 72 hours, 5-water containing 5% sugar and starter diet for 48 hours, 6-water containing 5% sugar and starter diet for the 72 hours, 7- water containing glucoplus and corn powder for 48 hours and 8- water containing glucoplus and starter diet for 72 hours. Treatments of 1 and 8 had the highest live weight and body weight gain at d 42 in compare to the other treatments except treatment 6 (p < 0.05). The greatest daily feed intake was observed in treatment 1 which had significant difference with others groups except treatments 6 and 8 (p < 0.05). The mortality rate was not significant between treatments at 42 and 49 days. The greatest production efficiency factor was observed in treatment 8 at d 42, (p < 0.05), which had significant difference with others groups ( except treatments 1 and 5). Experimental treatments had no effect on relative weight of internal organs, carcass components and white blood cells counts. According to the results and economic considerations, initial feeding with the starter diet and common water in broiler farms is recommended.

Abstract In this experiment, the effects of Hyssopus officinalis powder, Virginiamycine antibiotic and Aspirine on performance, immunity and ascites indexes of broiler chickens which subjected to cold stress were studied. In a completely randomized design, 500 male Ross-308 broiler chickens were allocated to 5 treatments with 5 replicates and 20 birds in each. The dietary treatments consisted of: 1) basal diet with no additive (control), 2 and 3) basal diet plus 300 g/tone Virginiamycine or Aspirine respectively and 4 and 5) basal diet containing 0.5 or 1 percent Hyssopus officinalis powder, respectively. As compared to control group, inclusion of 0.5 or 1 percent Hyssopus officinalis powder significantly increased feed intake, body weight gain and EPEF and improved FCR of broiler chickens. Feeding broiler chickens with diet containing Hyssopus officinalis powder or Aspirine decreased ascitic mortality, heamatocrite percentage and ascites indexe (relative weight of right ventricle to total weight of ventricles) at 42d of age. Dietary treatmens had no effect on antibody titer against New-Castle and influenza virus and relative weight of tymous, spleen and Burce of Fabrecoius of broiler chickens at 42d of age. Regards to the results of present experiment, addition of Hyssopus officinalis powder or Aspirine decreased ascytic incidence and its related mortality in broiler chickens under cold condition.

Abstract The effects of high stocking density and threonine (Thr) supplementation on performance and immunity in broiler chickens was evaluated. In this experiment 495 male Ross-308 broiler chickens were allocated to 4 treatments with 5 replicates in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatment consisted of: 1) basal diet as control with low density (10 birds/m2), 2) high density group (15 birds/m2 which fed basal diet) and 3 and 4) high density group which fed diet containing 10 and 20 percent Thr higher than requirment, respectively. The results showed that high stocking density decreased feed intake, body weight and feed conversion ratio at different period of production and increased European production efficiency factor (EPEF). Thr supplementation also reduced growth performance parameters (P < 0.05).
Dietary treatments deseased antibody titer against NewCastle, but avian influenza virus, cell mediated immunity against phytoheamaglutinin, blood metabolites, blood cell count, and serum spartat aminotransferase and malondialdehyde concentration did noy change significantly. Serum alanine aminotransferase concentration in broiler chickens fed diet containing 20 percent Thr higher than requirment was higher than the others (P < 0.05). In conclusion, under the condition of this study (15 birds/m2), Thr supplementation (both of the levels) did not improved broiler chickens performance and immunity and more research is needed in this subject.

Abstract In order to investigate the effect of fresh whole garlic bulb (FGBP) on production index, immune system and carcass characteristics of Arian broiler strain, 592 male one day old chicks were studied during 42 days in two independent experiments. The first experiment was conducted under normal temperature condition (NTC) with 4 treatments, 4 replicates and 21 birds per replicate and second experiment was conducted under cold temperature condition (CTC) with 4 treatments, 4 replicates and 16 birds per replicate basis balanced completely randomized design. The treatments were 1- basal diet without FGBP (control group), 2, 3 and 4 basal diet containing 0.5, 1 and 1.5 percent FGBP, respectively under both NTC and CTC. The highest level of body weight gain and production index were related to treatment of basal diet with 0.5 percent FGBP treatment under both NTC and CTC (P