Mahmoud Vatankhah; Mehrab Faraji
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 285-296
Abstract
Four hundered and ninety five (495) smallholder dairy farms active in 52 villages of different cities in Chaharmohalo Bakhtiari Province, keeping 1321 lactating within a total of 2811 mature cows (lactating and dry) were used. These herds were taken during winter 2009 to summer 2010 to assess some of ...
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Four hundered and ninety five (495) smallholder dairy farms active in 52 villages of different cities in Chaharmohalo Bakhtiari Province, keeping 1321 lactating within a total of 2811 mature cows (lactating and dry) were used. These herds were taken during winter 2009 to summer 2010 to assess some of the production, reproductive and economic performance traits under smallholder management system. A questionnaire survey was applied to collect retrospective data from the previous year's information, recorded information, direct recordings during the visit of the farms and as well interview with the smallholder farmer. The smallholder dairy farms included 441 small farms (89.09%), and 54 medium size farms (10.91%). From a breed aspect, there were: 11 native breed farms (2.22%), 327 cross bred farms (66.06%), and 157 Holstein breed ones (31.72%). The production performance figures were recorded as 30.56, 22.21 and 13.30 kg for total milk yield on farm, milk sold on farm and daily milk production per cow, respectively. A 62.75% of milk was reported as sold per total milk produced. The overall mean reproductive figures were recorded as 30.07 months for age for the first calving, 15.77 months for calving interval, 335.96 days for average lactation length and 6.99% for calf mortality rate. The mean daily feed consumption per cow was recorded as 15.85 kg, containing 25.69% of concentrate. The mean daily feed expenses and return from sale of milk were 35786 and 45765 rails, respectively. The ratio of feed expenses to income from milk and price of milk to feed ratio were found as 75.76% and 159%, respectively. The average herd size was 5.86 heads, including 2.21 lactating cows, and 2.67 total mature cows while the rest male and female calves. Also, the proportion of lactating cows to total cows and to total herd were estimated as 84.83% and 42.66% respectively. There were significant variations observed among different seasons, city and breed for most of the traits.
Tahereh Amirabadi Farahani; Hamid Amanlou; Najmeh Eslamian Farsuni
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 297-309
Abstract
Thirty multiparous Holstein dairy cows with average body weights of 687±15 kg and body condition scores of 3.25±0.15 were allocated to 1 out of each 3 groups, immediately after parturition (DIM=11) and in a completely randomized design. The first group was fed diet low in Rumen Undegradable Protein ...
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Thirty multiparous Holstein dairy cows with average body weights of 687±15 kg and body condition scores of 3.25±0.15 were allocated to 1 out of each 3 groups, immediately after parturition (DIM=11) and in a completely randomized design. The first group was fed diet low in Rumen Undegradable Protein (RUP; 5.1% of dry matter), the second group fed with medium RUP (7.2% of dry matter) while the third fed with high RUP (9.8% of dry matter). Diets were similar in Net Energy Lactation (NEL) and Rumen Degradable Protein (RDP). Statistical analysis of data obtained on dry matter intake indicated that an increase in RUP would result in greater dry matter intake. Increase in dietary RUP content, increased yield of milk and 4% FCM yield in fresh cows (d 1 to 21). Milk protein content as well as yield and Somatic Cell Count (SCC), and total efficiency were significantly different among experimental diets. Also, increased levels of RUP in the experimental diets increased blood concentrations of glucose, blood urea nitrogen and cholesterol while decreasing non-estrified fatty acids. Compared with the control diet, feeding diets 2 and 3 increased concentrations of total protein, albumin and globulin, while reducing ?-hydroxybutyric acid and aspartate aminotransferase activity, but had no significant effect on estrogen concentration. Change in body condition score differed among experimental diets. Overall, results indicated that the experimental diets with medium RUP (7.2% of dry matter) improved the animal's performance as well as its health.
Mohammad Ehsani; Mehran Torki
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 311-320
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding a commercial Medicinal Plant (MP) powder containing garlic (Allium sativum) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) to diets that included Olive Pulp (OP), on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. A total of 240 day old male Ross-308 ...
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This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding a commercial Medicinal Plant (MP) powder containing garlic (Allium sativum) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) to diets that included Olive Pulp (OP), on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. A total of 240 day old male Ross-308 broiler chicks were allocated into six iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic dietary groups with equal average of body weight per cage. Four pens of birds (n=10) were assigned to each of the six dietary groups. The main factors taken into account within a 3×2 factorial arrangement were three dietary inclusion levels (0, 50 and 100 g/Kg diet) of OP and MP (0 and 2 g/Kg diet) addition. Body Weight (BW) and Feed Intake (FI) were assessed on the 21, 42 and 49th days of age. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance as a completely randomized design using GLM procedure of SAS. Chicks fed OP-included diets increased in FI during the starting period (0-21); however the reverse trend was found out during the growing period (22-49). Inclusion of OP in diets improved BWG of broilers during the starting period (P?0.05), however, BWGs did not significantly differ (P0.05), but increased BWG during the finishing period (43-49). Broilers fed OP-included diets had improved in FCR during all the rearing periods (P?0.05). Birds fed MP-included diets had improved in FCR during the finishing period (P0.05). In conclusion, OP (an agricultural by-product) can be included in diets of broilers up to 10% with no adverse effects on performance. Addition of the mix powder of garlic and thyme MP to diets of broilers would have beneficial effects on the birds' performance, especially in terms of BWG and FCR.
Ahmad Malakzadegan; Mojtaba Zaghari; Mahmoud Shivazad
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 321-327
Abstract
The objective followed in this study was to determine the AMEn equivalency of multienzyme Natuzyme-P. one hundred and sixty male Ross 308 broiler chicks were made use of in the experimentations. Graded levels of AMEn, 2600, 2750, 2900, plus 3050 kcal/kg in the starter, and 2700, 2850, 3000, plus 3150 ...
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The objective followed in this study was to determine the AMEn equivalency of multienzyme Natuzyme-P. one hundred and sixty male Ross 308 broiler chicks were made use of in the experimentations. Graded levels of AMEn, 2600, 2750, 2900, plus 3050 kcal/kg in the starter, and 2700, 2850, 3000, plus 3150 kcal/kg of the diet in the grower periods were used throughout the study. All the nutrients other than AMEn were equal among the treatments. Four levels of dietary NP enzyme (0.15, 0.25, 0.35 and 0.45 g/kg) were added to the basal diet (2600 and 2700 kcal/kg in the starter and grower periods, respectively). Each dietary treatment was randomly assigned to four pens of 5 chicks each. Feed intake and body weight gain were recorded at 28 and 42 d of age, and feed conversion ratio calculated. Regression equations were derived for graded levels of AMEn, and NP enzyme. The derived regression equations for AMEn were set equal to those obtained for NP and solved. Equivalency values for AMEn were found out by subtracting the obtained values from nutrient content in the basal diet. Equivalency value of NP enzyme at 28 d of age for AMEn was estimated to be 77066 kcal/kg. During 28 to 42 d of age, equivalency value for AMEn was estimated as 93080 kcal/kg.
Seyed Abdolla Hosseini; Mojtaba Zaghari; Houshang Lotf-allahian; Mahmoud Shivazad; Hossein Moravej
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 329-336
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to determine the appropriate methionine level in broiler breeder’s diet. The treatments consisted of 6 levels of methionine (0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4 and 0.45% diets), with 4 replicates of 7 hens each for a duration of 8 weeks and for ages of 28 to 35 weeks. Diets contained ...
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An experiment was conducted to determine the appropriate methionine level in broiler breeder’s diet. The treatments consisted of 6 levels of methionine (0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4 and 0.45% diets), with 4 replicates of 7 hens each for a duration of 8 weeks and for ages of 28 to 35 weeks. Diets contained similar levels of protein metabolizable energy. The levels of the other amino acids were taken equal in all the diets to ensure that methionine was chosen as the only limiting amino acid in each dietal treatment. Feed intake, egg production, egg weight, settable eggs, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, egg content and SRBC responses were evaluated during the experimental periods. For finding out the optimum methionine level, Simple Additive Weighted (SAW) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods as well as economic maximum equation were employed. Application of multi attribute decision making system SAW and TOPSIS indicated the appropriate methionine levels as 0.329 and 0.297 percent in the diets, respectively. Total methionine content in the diets, for maximum economic profit (according to feed cost and chick value) was recorded as 0.307. Results finally indicated that using 0.3-0.33 percent methionine in the Arian broiler breeder diets could be approppriately suggested for maximum performance and most economical profit.
Ameneh Mohammadifar; Mohammadreza Mohammadabadi
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 337-344
Abstract
Kermani sheep breed is one of the major sheep breeds in Iran, especially in Kerman province for which no study has yet been carried out through Y-chromosome specific microsatellite markers. Throughout this study, amplification quality related to 17 bovine Y-chromosome specific microsatellites was evaluated ...
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Kermani sheep breed is one of the major sheep breeds in Iran, especially in Kerman province for which no study has yet been carried out through Y-chromosome specific microsatellite markers. Throughout this study, amplification quality related to 17 bovine Y-chromosome specific microsatellites was evaluated for the mentioned sheep breed. One hundred males and twenty females of non-related animals were randomly selected and blood sampled. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood using DNA Purification Kit. PCR reactions making use of all the 17 primers were successfully done. All the primers, UMN0803, UMN0929, UMN0108, UMN3008, UMN0307, UMN0907, UMN2303, UMN0301, UMN0406, UMN0504, UMN2405, UMN2706, UMN2713, INRA057, INRA124, INRA189, and BM861 are found out to be polymorphs. In total, 102 alleles were observed in these 17 microsatellites, the highest, and the lowest number of which were observed in INRA124 (16 alleles) and UMN2303 (5 alleles), respectively. The results of this research indicated that bovine Y-chromosome specific microsatellites can be employed for a determination of the genetic diversity in sheep.
Ali Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi; Mohammad Moradi Shahrbabak; Ardeshir Nejati Javaremi; Seyed Reza Miraei Ashtiyani; P. R. Eymer
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 345-353
Abstract
The financial losses, absolute and net economic values (EVs) for direct (DCD) and Maternal Calving Difficulty (MCD) were estimated using a bioeconomic model and taking into account the categorical nature of the trait. The effects of dystocia on other traits were estimated. But because of low reliability ...
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The financial losses, absolute and net economic values (EVs) for direct (DCD) and Maternal Calving Difficulty (MCD) were estimated using a bioeconomic model and taking into account the categorical nature of the trait. The effects of dystocia on other traits were estimated. But because of low reliability they were not considered for calculations in the base situation. In the base situation, the average costs of dystocia incidence were estimated to be Rls 518,700 per calving. Absolute EVs (per calving per cow) and net EVs (per cow per year) for DCD were Rls -27,800 and -14,200 respectively, and for MCD the two of them were stimated as Rls-2800. Most important economic consequences of calving difficulty were milk losses, probability of dead cow and stillbirth. Sensitivity analysis showed that frequency of dystocia incidence was the factor with the largest impact on the costs and economic values for difficult calving. According to population, production and economic parameters valid in 2009, total dystocia costs to Holstein dairy cattle industry were estimated to be Rls 49.1 billions. Results obtained in this study can be helpful to change the attitudes of farmers and their consultants to pay more attention to calving performance and use management and genetic strategies to reduce dystocia incidence.
Fariborz Khajali; Fereydoon Khajali
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 355-360
Abstract
An experiment was conducted in which 30 broiler chickens were selected based on their ECG and designated as healthy or subclinical ascites. Subsequently, blood samples were collected and assayed for hemoglobin, hematocrit and differential leukocyte count. Finally, all the birds were euthanized and their ...
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An experiment was conducted in which 30 broiler chickens were selected based on their ECG and designated as healthy or subclinical ascites. Subsequently, blood samples were collected and assayed for hemoglobin, hematocrit and differential leukocyte count. Finally, all the birds were euthanized and their hearts harvested for the ventricle cuts. Results indicated that broilers with subclinical ascites had numerically higher hemoglobin as well as heterophil to lymphocyte ratio. However, the differences between treatment groups were not statistically significant. Nevertheless, hematocrit, the proportion of right ventricle to body weight, and the weight ratio of right ventricle to total ventricles were significantly (P
Armin Towhidi; Farhad Samadian; Hamid Kohram; Mehdi Ansari
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 361-367
Abstract
The aim followed in this study was to make a comparison of the composition of fatty acids available in the sperm lipids of cattle, sheep and goat. Semen samples were collected from 28 Holestein cows, 12 Chal rams and 7 Mahabadi goats. After washing out and removal of the seminal plasma, total lipids ...
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The aim followed in this study was to make a comparison of the composition of fatty acids available in the sperm lipids of cattle, sheep and goat. Semen samples were collected from 28 Holestein cows, 12 Chal rams and 7 Mahabadi goats. After washing out and removal of the seminal plasma, total lipids of the sperm were extracted and fatty acids trans-methylated. The fatty acid methyl esters were injected into GC apparatus and the percentages of fatty acids calculated. The results indicated that the percentages of C16:1 and C18:0 were significantly higher in bull sperm than those in goat and ram sperm. C20:4(n-6), C20:2(n-6) and C20:5(n-6) were detected in small percentages only in bull sperm samples. The proportion of C22:6(n-6) was significantly higher in bull sperm (19.3%) as compared with goat and ram's (3.85% and 3.14% respectively). The proportion of long chain fatty acid C24:0 was significantly higher in bovine sperm lipids as compared with that in ovine sperm. This fatty acid was not detected in goat sperm. The ratio of n-3/n-6 fatty acids in bull sperm (2.56) was significantly higher than this ratio in goat (0.53) and ram (0.21) sperm.
Hamed Salehi; Saeid Zeinaldini; Armin Towhidi; Mahmoud Shivazad
Volume 42, Issue 4 , March 2012, Pages 369-377
Abstract
This experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of dietary Caspian Kilka fish oil on breast meat fatty acid (FA) profile and as well as sensory acceptability of breast meat. Fish oil supplementation was added to provide four graded levels (0, 1, 2, and 3% fish oil) in place of vegetable oil for supporting ...
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This experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of dietary Caspian Kilka fish oil on breast meat fatty acid (FA) profile and as well as sensory acceptability of breast meat. Fish oil supplementation was added to provide four graded levels (0, 1, 2, and 3% fish oil) in place of vegetable oil for supporting 3% oil in the diet during the period of breeding. These four diets were allocated to one hundred and twelve birds of Ross-308 strain. The diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous being fed to birds for a duration of 42 days. At the end of the experiment, eight birds out of every treatment were slaughtered, breast samples taken and frosted at 20 ?C. Feeding of 3% fish oil increased DHA from 0.055 to 0.906 milligram per gram of total fatty acids as compared with control. Moreover, feeding of three percent fish oil led to an enhancement in total n-3 PUFA from 0.244 to 1.302 milligram per gram of total fatty acids, and the ratio of n-3 to n-6 of PUFA from 0.075 to 0.458 milligram (per gram of total fatty acids) in comparison with control (P
