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

Abstract Objective: The Stock density is one of the most important management factors in the poultry industry, directly affecting the health, performance, and welfare of broiler chickens. However, high stocking density can exert various negative effects on birds ‘physiological status and performance, particularly during the later stages of growth. To alleviate the adverse impacts of high stocking density, the use of natural and safe feed additives such as herbal extracts and organic acids has been proposed as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry nutrition. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary encapsulated acidifier and herbal extracts administered via drinking water on growth performance, carcass characteristics, jejunal morphology, ileal microbial population, and immune response of broiler chickens under different stocking densities.
Methods: A total of 630 one-day-old male and female Ross 308 broiler chicks, with an average initial body weight of 42.61 ± 0.58 g, were used. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of nine treatments and five replicates per treatment. Stocking densities were set at 12, 14, and 16 birds per square meter. Experimental treatments were included three stocking densities (12, 14, and 16 birds/m²) and three additive types (control, encapsulated acidifier, and herbal extracts). Growth performance parameters, including feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio, were recorded during the starter (1–10 d), grower (11–24 d), and finisher (25–42 d) periods. Carcass characteristics, jejunal morphology, ileal microbial population and relative antibody titers against infectious bronchitis (IB), infectious bursal disease (IBD), and newcastle disease virus (NDV) were measured at 42 days of age.
Results: The results indicated that both the acidifier and herbal extracts significantly mitigated the adverse effects of the greatest stocking density (16 birds/m²) on body weight and weight gain. Birds reared at 12 birds/m² showed a greater relative breast weight compared to those reared at 16 birds/m² (P<0.05). Increasing stocking density from 12 to 16 birds/m² decreased relative spleen weight (P<0.05). The use of acidifier and plant extract supplements in the diet of broiler chickens increased the villus height compared to diets without additives (P<0.05). The interaction effects of additive type and density level showed that the use of acidifier and plant extract supplements in the diet of broiler chickens raised at a density of 16 compared to a density of 16 without additives significantly increased the number of Lactobacillus and significantly decreased the number of Coliforms (P<0.05). A significant interaction between stocking density and additive type was observed, showing that supplementation with herbal extracts at both 12 and 16 birds/m² increased the antibody titer against IBD compared with un supplemented groups at the same densities (P<0.05). Moreover, broilers receiving herbal extract supplementation exhibited grater antibody titers against NDV than those fed diets with acidifier or without additives (P<0.05). Increasing stocking density from 12 or 14 to 16 birds/m² significantly reduced antibody titers against IB (P<0.05).
Conclusion: In conclusion, supplementation with encapsulated acidifier and herbal extracts improved growth performance, villus height, ileal microbial population, spleen weight, and antibody titers against NDV and IBD, suggesting their potential to alleviate the negative effects of high stocking density stress in broiler chickens.

Abstract Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of Pahak (green Khalal-stage date) on growth performance, blood biochemistry, carcass characteristics, intestinal morphology, and gastrointestinal microbial population in Japanese quail.
Methods: A total of 360 chicks were used in a completely randomized design with four dietary treatments and six replicates per treatment (15 birds per replicate) for a 35-day experimental period. The treatments consisted of: (1) control (basal diet without Pahak); (2) 5% dietary Pahak; (3) 10% dietary Pahak; and (4) 15% dietary Pahak.
Results: Body weight was not influenced by the dietary inclusion of Pahak at any stage of the experiment. Inclusion of 5% Pahak reduced feed intake and improved feed conversion ratio as well as energy and protein efficiency ratios, whereas 15% Pahak increased feed intake (P < 0.05). Dietary inclusion of 10% and 15% Pahak decreased total cholesterol levels, and all three Pahak levels reduced the cardiac risk ratio and atherogenic index (P < 0.05). Diets containing 10% and 15% Pahak respectively decreased and increased relative carcass and liver weights (P < 0.05). The lowest liver weights were recorded in birds receiving control diet and 5% Pahak, whereas the highest liver weight occurred with the 15% inclusion level (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, feeding 5% Pahak increased villus height and decreased submucosal thickness in the duodenum (P < 0.05). The greatest submucosal thickness was observed in birds fed 15% Pahak (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, inclusion of 10% and 15% Pahak reduced villus height, villus thickness, and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in the ileum (P < 0.05). Moreover, the 15% Pahak level increased both submucosal and muscular layer thicknesses (P < 0.05). Feeding 5% and 10% Pahak led to a moderate reduction in the average number of goblet cells in the ileum, whereas 15% Pahak markedly reduced goblet cell counts (P < 0.05). Among treatments, the largest and smallest ileal villus surface areas were observed in birds fed 5% and 15% Pahak, respectively (P < 0.05). Although crypt depth was not significantly affected by Pahak, its values increased quadratically with increasing Pahak level (P < 0.05). Compared with the control, inclusion of 10% and 15% Pahak increased Salmonella-Shigella, Clostridia, and coliform colonization in the ileum (P < 0.05). Compared to the control, the inclusion of 5% Pahak reduced the total aerobic bacterial colonization in the cecum, while the 15% level increased the colonization of these bacteria (P < 0.05). Moreover, the colonization of Salmonella-Shigella and coliforms in the cecum of birds fed the 15% Pahak diet increased compared to the other treatments (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: It is concluded from the results that Pahak can be safely utilized at a dietary inclusion rate of 5% for Japanese quail during the first 35 days of the rearing period, with no deleterious effects on productive performance.

Abstract Objective: Agricultural residues are used as part of ruminant diets. Optimal utilization of these materials and reducing their wastage is essential. Proper processing (treating) of these residues improve the palatability. Rice straw and rice bran are two major residues after rice harvesting and processing which, chemical processing mostly improve their digestibility. Chemical treatment weakens hydrogen bonding inside the rice straw; resulting in improved fiber digestion. Therefore, this experiment was carried out to study the effect of chemical processing (with nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, and sodium hypochlorite) as a desilication method on the chemical composition, fermentation parameters, and in vitro digestibility of nutrients of rice straw and rice bran and compare them wheat straw and bran.
Method: Desilication of rice straw and bran was carried out using nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, and sodium hypochlorite, pressure, heating and drying. The experimental treatments included 1- Straws: 1- wheat straw as positive control, 2- untreated rice straw, 3-treated rice straw and 2- Brans: 1- wheat bran as positive control, 2- untreated rice bran and 3- treated rice bran). Chemical composition, concentration of silica and in vitro gas production parameters and neutral detergent fiber digestibility of all treatments were measured and metabolizable energy, organic matter digestibility and short-chain fatty acids concentration were estimated.
Results: The results showed that chemical treatment reduced the contents of silica, crude protein, ether extract and ash in treated rice straw (P > 0.05) compared to the untreated rice straw. Potential of gas production, lag time, ammonia nitrogen concentration, total protozoa population, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were not affected by chemical processing of rice straw; however, gas production rate and estimated short chain fatty acid concentration increased (P > 0.05) and pH decreased (P < 0.05) in treated rice straw compared to untreated rice straw and wheat straw.
In vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility tended to increase in treated rice straw compared to untreated rice straw and wheat straw. Dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and ash contents decreased and pH increased with chemical processing (P > 0.05). Furthermore, gas production potential, gas production rate, ammonia nitrogen concentration and neutral detergent fiber decreased in treated rice bran compared to untreated rice bran (P > 0.05). Lag time, total protozoa population, Epidinium and Entodinium population, estimated metabolizable energy, organic matter digestibility and short-chain fatty acids concentration were not affected by chemical treatment in rice bran.
Conclusions: Chemical processing of rice by-products by reducing anti-nutritional compounds such as silica and improving some fermentation and digestibility characteristics, facilitate use of fiber fraction of these material in the livestock diet.

Abstract objective: Enhancing the nutritional quality of eggs through enrichment with micronutrients such as selenium is a value-adding strategy in the poultry industry. Selenium-enriched eggs can not only help supply this essential element in the human diet but may also lead to improved oxidative stability and longer shelf life of the product due to their enhanced antioxidant profile. Furthermore, selenium's role in regulating the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress response and detoxification pathways reveals another layer of its positive effects on cellular health. Given the inherent differences among various selenium sources in absorption, metabolism, and bioavailability, a precise evaluation of their impact on performance, health, and product quality in laying hens is essential. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of dietary supplementation with two common selenium sources (sodium selenite and selenomethionine) at two different levels on production performance, oxidative stress indicators, selenium accumulation in eggs and liver, and the expression of key antioxidant genes in the liver of laying hens.
Method: An experiment was conducted using 300 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments, 4 replicates, and 10 birds per replicate. The experimental treatments included: 1) Basal diet (without selenium), 2) Basal diet + 0.5 mg/kg sodium selenite, 3) Basal diet + 1 mg/kg sodium selenite, 4) Basal diet + 0.5 mg/kg selenomethionine, and 5) Basal diet + 1 mg/kg selenomethionine. Performance traits, including feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio, were measured periodically. Antioxidant activity, expression of GPx and TXNRD1 genes, and selenium deposition in egg yolk, egg albumen, and liver were evaluated. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SAS software.
Results: The results showed that supplementation with different organic and inorganic selenium sources had no significant effect on average weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio in laying hens during any production period (P>0.05). Similarly, plasma antioxidant activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were not significantly affected by different selenium sources (P>0.05). However, selenium supplementation led to a significant decrease in hepatic MDA levels compared to the control group (P<0.05). Treatments receiving organic selenium showed significantly lower hepatic MDA production compared to those receiving inorganic selenium (P<0.05). Supplementation with 1 mg/kg organic selenium resulted in significantly higher selenium deposition in dried egg yolk and albumen compared to other experimental treatments (P<0.05). Selenium supplementation significantly increased selenium concentration in fresh egg yolk and albumen (P<0.05) and significantly elevated selenium concentration in the liver (P<0.05). Treatments receiving organic selenium showed higher expression levels of GSH and TXNRD1 genes compared to those receiving inorganic selenium (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Based on the findings, although selenium did not significantly affect performance indicators, dietary supplementation with 1 mg/kg selenomethionine reduced MDA levels, increased selenium content in eggs, and positively regulated the expression of antioxidant genes. Therefore, it can be recommended as an effective nutritional strategy to enhance bird health and improve the nutritional quality of eggs.

Abstract Objective: Increased inflammation and oxidative stress during the transition period may, in addition to having negative effects on ewe health, also have negative effects on fetal health and development. Vitamins and minerals are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Vitamins and minerals are essential for the health and production of ewes because they act as cellular antioxidants and immune modulators. Given the importance of micronutrient nutrition during the transition period of ewes, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation during late pregnancy on blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant and hormonal indices of the Dalagh ewes, and the performance of their lambs.
Method: Forty Dalagh ewes were allocated to four treatments with ten replicates in a completely randomized design during the final stage of pregnancy. The experimental treatments were as follows: 1) Control group: no vitamin and mineral supplement injection, 2) Vitamin group: ewes receiving injectable vitamin supplement, 3) Mineral group: ewes receiving injectable mineral supplement, and 4) Vitamin + mineral group: ewes receiving simultaneously injectable vitamin and mineral supplements. All injections were administered 21 days before lambing and the amounts for mineral and vitamin supplements per ewe were 20 and 5 mg, respectively. The vitamin supplement contained vitamins A, D3, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, and C, while the mineral supplement included calcium, copper, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Results: The albumin concentration and albumin:globulin ratio in the blood of ewes that received minerals and vitamins by injection were lower than those in the control group, and the albumin and albumin:globulin ratio in ewes that received minerals and vitamins simultaneously were lower than those in other treatments (P≥0.05). In the serum of ewes that received minerals and vitamins, the concentration of globulin and ceruloplasmin was higher than that in the control ewes, and their concentration in the serum of ewes that received minerals and vitamins simultaneously was higher than those in other treatments (P≥0.05). Cortisol, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant status, and alkaline phosphatase were lower than those in the control group (P≥0.05). Total antioxidant status and alkaline phosphatase in ewes that received minerals and vitamins simultaneously were lower than other treatments (P≥0.05). In the serum of ewes that received minerals and vitamins, hemoglobin concentration was higher than that of control ewes (P≥0.05). Placental expulsion time was adjusted by micronutrient injection, and the shortest placental expulsion time belonged to ewes that received minerals and vitamins simultaneously (P≥0.05). On the other hand, lamb birth weight improved in ewes injected with minerals and vitamins, and the highest lamb birth weight was for the treatment injected with minerals and vitamins simultaneously (P≥0.05). 45-day weight, lamb weight gain during the period, daily weight gain, and apparent dry matter digestibility were improved by maternal injection of minerals and vitamins. Also, the number of lambs with diarrhea and days of diarrhea decreased in treatments where the mother received minerals and vitamins, and the lowest number of lambs with diarrhea was in the group receiving vitamins and minerals and vitamins simultaneously (P≥0.05).
Conclusion: In general, simultaneous prepartum injection of minerals and vitamins in ewes during the transition period is recommended. This approach enhances antioxidant capacity, improves immune function, and leads to better health and performance in their lambs.

Abstract Objective: The honey bee, as one of the most important pollinators in agricultural and natural ecosystems, comprises 10 species belonging to the genus Apis, family Apidae, and order Hymenoptera. One of the most significant species is the European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), which is now found in most parts of the world. One method for identifying them is through morphometric characteristics, which not only serve as a key tool in their classification but also show a significant correlation with colony performance, efficiency, and adaptation. The aim of this study was to compare the morphometric traits of the native Iranian honey bee (Apis mellifera meda) with the Buckfast hybrid (Apis mellifera buckfast) under the climatic conditions of Gorgan.
Method: The research was conducted at the honey bee breeding farm of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in July 2025. Six colonies from each genotype were selected, and from each colony 10 worker bees were randomly collected from the entrance of the hive. In total, 120 specimens (60 from each genotype) were anesthetized with ethyl acetate and preserved in 95% ethanol. The target body parts were then dissected and mounted on microscope slides using Canada balsam.Subsequently, 11 traits were measured under the standard Ruttner protocol using a stereomicroscope equipped with a digital camera and image analysis software. These traits included forewing length and width, wing venation angles A4, D7 and G18, cubital index (length of veins a and b in the cubital cell), hind leg components (length of femur, tibia and first tarsal segment), and proboscis length. All data were organized in Microsoft Excel and statistically analyzed in SAS using the t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: The results showed that the Buckfast breed had significantly greater forewing length and D7 angle than the native Iranian breed (P < 0.05), while no significant differences were observed in the other morphometric traits. Correlation analysis indicated that in the Buckfast breed, significant relationships were mainly confined to within-wing traits. In contrast, in the native Iranian breed, significant positive correlations were observed between wing traits and locomotory traits (hind leg components). These findings suggest a greater structural integration and proportionality between flight and locomotory organs in the native Iranian breed compared with the Buckfast breed.
Conclusion: The results indicated that under the climatic conditions of Gorgan, Buckfast and native bees did not differ significantly in most morphometric traits, and the superiority of the Buckfast breed was limited to forewing length and the D7 angle. Considering the overall morphological similarity between the two breeds, relying solely on these traits is not sufficient to demonstrate the superiority of the Buckfast breed. Therefore, a definitive evaluation requires further studies focusing on functional traits such as productivity, foraging behavior, and resistance to diseases.

Abstract ABSTRACT
Objective: The interleukin-4 receptor gene (IL-4R) is a critical component of immune signaling pathways and plays an essential role in regulating immune responses and reproductive functions in mammals. The present study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of the IL-4R gene sequence and to compare nucleotide variation, substitution patterns, selective pressures, and phylogenetic relationships between European cattle (Bos taurus) and Indian cattle (Bos indicus).
Method: For this purpose, 26 nucleotide sequences related to different breeds of both European and Indian species were extracted from the NCBI and Ensemble databases and aligned. Alignment of gene sequences was performed using the CLUSTAL-W algorithm in MEGA software version11. Then, the number and types of mutations and the amount of polymorphism, nucleotide diversity, the number of positions where similar or non-similar substitutions occurred, the percentage of gene divergence, the percentage of transitional and transversional substitutions and gene conversion were calculated using MEGA11 and Dnaspv5 software. The percentage of nucleotide transition and transversion substitutions was calculated using the composite maximum likelihood method. Haplotype diversity was calculated based on the maximum likelihood method and genetic distance was calculated based on the Tamura-Nei model and finally the phylogenetic tree was drawn using the Neighbor-joining (NJ) method. To assess selective pressure acting on the IL-4R gene, the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) was estimated.
Results: Nucleotide diversity was estimated to be 0.33 in European cattle and 0.214 in Indian cattle, demonstrating a higher level of genetic variability in Bos taurus compared to Bos indicus. In all analyzed populations, the frequency of transitional substitutions was higher than that of transversional substitutions. The dN/dS ratio was calculated as 0.9 for European cattle, indicating that purifying selection has predominantly acted on the IL-4R gene during its evolution in this group. In contrast, the dN/dS ratio in Indian cattle was estimated to be 1.11, suggesting evidence of positive selection acting on this gene locus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct evolutionary patterns of the IL-4R gene among the studied populations. Although both cattle groups share a common ancestor, European cattle exhibit greater evolutionary divergence and appear to have a longer evolutionary history for this gene compared to Indian cattle.
Conclusions: The findings of the present study indicated different evolutionary patterns in European and Indian cattle. The dominance of pure selection in European cattle and the presence of evidence of positive selection in Indian cattle indicate that the IL-4R gene has been under different selective pressures during the evolutionary process. Therefore, in addition to a better understanding of the molecular evolution and genetic diversity of immune genes in cattle, the aforementioned results can be used in future breeding strategies in cattle, especially in the field of immune function and disease resistance.

Abstract The effect of feeding of soaked barley straw on milk production and composition and rumen characteristics was studied. The degradability of soaked barley straw (for 24, 48 and 72 hours) and unsoaked barley straws were studied in the first experiment. The unsoaked barley straw had more readily degraded fraction (a) than soaked straw treatments (p> 0.05). There was no significant difference between slowly degradable fractions (b) and degradation rates (c, %h) in various treatments of barley straw. The degradability parameters of different rations also studied. The differences between readily (a) and slowly (b) degradable fractions were not significant. In the second experiment the effect of partial replacement of alfalfa hay with unsoaked barley straw and 24h soaked barley straw on performance of 9 multiparous lactating dairy cows in midlactation (580.9 ± 39.3 BW) with 27.8 ± 4.5 kg daily milk yield was studied in a crossover design. The effects of different treatments on milk yield (p< 0.05), milk fat (g/kg yield) (p< 0.05), N-NH3 rumen liquor (p< 0.0001), rumination and chewing activity (min/d) were significant. The rumination and chewing activity (min/d) were increased in diets that contained barley straw. In conclusion utilization of soaked barley straw in ration of midlactation cows is recommended.

Abstract The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary Curcumin supplementation on histological parameters of testis in aged Ross 308 broiler breeder roosters. A total of twelve 48-week old broiler breeder roosters in a completely randomized design were randomly assigned to four treatments and three replicates during a 13 weeks of experimental period. Treatments included no dietary Curcumin supplementation (control group), and daily supplementation of 10, 20, and 30 mg Curcumin/birds as mixed in the basal diet. At the end of the experimental period, all of the roosters were slaughtered, and testis tissue samples were collected. Testicular weight was higher in the roosters that daily received 30 mg Curcumin compared with the control group (P<0.05). Dietary supplementation of 20 and 30 mg Curcumin/day increased the diameter of seminiferous tubule compared to the control group (P<0.05). Seminiferous epithelium thickness was dose-dependently increased in Curcumin-supplemented birds compared to the control group (P<0.05). The number of spermatogonia cells was increased in all treatment groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). The number of Leydig cells was also increased in roosters received 20 and 20 mg Curcumin/day compared to the control birds (P<0.05). However, treatments did not affect the number of testis blood vessels (P>0.05). According to the results of the present study, dietary supplementation of 30 mg Curcumin/day/bird improves testis histological parameters in aged broiler breeder roosters.

Abstract In order to determine the optimal levels of energy and protein in grower diet of Japanese quail, 360 day
old Japanese quails were used in a 3×3 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments that comprised three
levels of metabolisable energy (2750, 2850, and 2950 Kcal/kg) and three levels of crude protein (24, 26
and 28 percent) with four replicates per treatment in a completely randomized design. Feed intake and
body weight were measured weekly and feed conversion ratio was calculated. At 35 d of age, four birds
(from both sexes) from each replicate were randomly selected and killed following blood sampling to
evaluate carcass traits. The blood samples were assayed for the sera concentrations of growth hormone.
Results indicated that birds fed on diets containing 2850 kcal/kg metabolisable energy and 26 percent
protein had higher daily weight gain and better feed conversion ratio and carcass yield (P<0.05). The sera
concentration of growth hormone was higher in birds fed on diet containing 2750 kcal/kg metabolisable
energy (P<0.05). This study indicated that Japanese quails can grow faster and more efficiently on diet
containing 2850 kcal/kg metabolisable energy and 26 percent protein. Therefore, the diet containing 2850
kcal/kg metabolisable energy and 26 percent protein could be recommended as dietary metabolisable
energy and protein requirements for growing Japanese quails.

Abstract The current study was designed to estimate the frequency of IGF-I gene 1 polymorphism and investigate if their polymorphisms have association with biometric traits in Moghani sheep by PCR-SSCP method. For this purpose, a number of 100 sheep were randomly chosen from Moghani sheep Jafarabad, Moghan breeding station that located in Ardabil state and blood samples were collected from the left jugular vein using vacuum tubes. DNA were extracted from blood samples that using the salting-out procedure and amplified a fragment of 279 bp in size from IGF-I gene exon 1. The Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) method was used for genotyping. Electrophoresis of PCR products were done on acrylamide gel that observed the polymorphic in this region. Based on SSCP patterns, three genotypes BC, BD and BB obtained with frequencies of 65, 26 and nine percent, respectively. The genotypes in this locus deviated from HWE. The traits data were analyzed using the SAS program. The BB genotype were associated with Leg girth but no association of the other genotypes with the withers height, back height, body length, breast girth other examined biometric traits were found (P< 0.05).

Abstract Myostatin (MSTN), also known as growth and differentiation factor-8 (GDF8), is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?) superfamily that decreases growth in mammals. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the myostatin (GDF8) 3'UTR of OAR2 has been known as responsible for muscular hypertrophy in foreign breeds. In this study, in order to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the myostatin (GDF8) gene, blood samples were collected from a population set of Chaal (n = 20), Zandi (n = 24) and Zel sheep (n = 17) lambs. Genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood samples and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out in order to amplify a 1003 bp fragment of the target gene and PCR products sequenced to detect single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Comparison of the sequence of the target gene in Gene Bank with our results of sequencing showed all animals had the g. + 6223G allele in the 3'UTR of myostatin which do not cause double muscle (DM) phenotype.

Abstract This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Natuzyme Plus (a multi enzyme) in diets containing wheat and canola meal on broiler performance. A total of 336 day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used in a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replicates. Experimental diets were: 1 . Diet based on corn-soybean meal (control), 2 . Diet containing 30 precent wheat and 3 . Diet containing 30 percent wheat + 10 percent canola meal, which Natozyme was added (350 g/ton) to these diets to make diets containing enzyme (totally six treatments). Adding enzyme to diet containing wheat and canola meal increased significantly feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at starter and overall rearing period (P< 0.01). Use of Natuzyme Plus in diet containing wheat and canola meal reduced significantly the relative weight of digestive organs in compared of same diets without enzyme. The results of this study indicate that the performance of broiler chickens fed the diets containing wheat and canola meal could be improve by supplementing with Natuzyme plus preparations.

Abstract This experiment was conducted to improve the nutritive value of barley stubble for two consecutive years. After harvesting crop, at first year, a completely randomized design, with a 3 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted in which 27 plots were divided into nine treatments. The treatments including zero, 2.5 and five percent urea each with zero, three and six percent molasses were mixed with water and sprayed on the stubble (three plots per treatment). During five periods, all plots were sampled before and after spraying with 10 days intervals for the chemical analyses. The crude protein (CP) was increased but crude fiber (CF) decreased in urea-molasses treatments (P< 0.05). The Ash content was increased (P< 0.05) only in the treatments contained 6 percent molasses. At the second year, after harvesting the barley crop, four hectares of stubble was divided in four parts and sprayed with four treatments of urea-molasses liquor including: 1) 2.5 percent urea, 2) 2.5 percent urea +3 percent molasses, 3) 5 percent urea, 4) 5 percent urea +3 percent molasses. Forty eight Shal ewes were divided among the treatments and grazed for 50 days. All ewes showed body weight gain, during the experiment but the body weight changes were not different between the treatments. As a result of twining, the lambing rate was increased about 25 percent for the animals received five percent urea +3 percent molasses comparing to the other treatments.