https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/ Iranian Journal of animal Science en daily 1 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103329.html This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tannin from three sources on functional characteristics, blood metabolites and health parameters of Holstein calves.  Thirty-six female Holstein calves were assigned to three experimental treatments : ( 1) control group 2) calves fed with tannin supplementation ( 50% oak kernel + 30% elm and 20% pomegranate peel) for 30 days daily 30 g and 3) calves they were fed tannin supplement for 30 days daily for 60 g) in a completely randomized design. All calves were weaned at 70 days of age. Feed efficiency,  daily weight gain and weaning weight were higher for calves treated with tannin supplementation compared to the control group (P<0.05), but treatments had no significant effect on the amount of dry matter intake. The highest daily weight gain was observed in the third treatment. withers height and hip height were higher in the third treatment compared to calves in the other two groups (P<0.05), but the other related traits with skeletal growth were not affected by experimental treatment. Stool scores, days of diarrhea and rectal temperature were affected by experimental treatments (P<0.05). Total white blood cell and neutrophil counts were significantly lower in calves receiving tannin supplementation. In general,  the use of a combination supplement of oak, pomegranate peel and elm improves the performance of calves resulting strengthening the immune system. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103409.html This research focused on evaluating black soldier fly larvae as a potential alternative protein source for animal feed by analyzing their protein fractions using the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System and assessing protein degradability with the nylon bag method. The larvae were raised on waste from a student restaurant. Upon completion of the larval growth phase, their approximate composition, fatty acid, and amino acid profiles were analyzed. Proteins were fractionated using phosphate buffer, neutral detergent, and acidic detergent solutions. Degradability was conducted with the nylon bag technique using two sheep fitted with permanent rumen fistulas. The rearing process showed that 85 grams of eggs produced 63.5 kilograms of dried larvae, and 225.76 grams of fresh larvae were generated per kilogram of feed consumed. The entire growth and hatching period lasted 15 days, with larvae reaching an average size of two centimeters. The larvae contained 41.71% crude protein and 35.01% ether extract, with high levels of essential amino acids such as methionine and lysine, and non-essential amino acids including aspartic and glutamic acids. The main fatty acids were saturated lauric and palmitic acids, along with unsaturated oleic and linoleic acids. Intermediately degradable protein was the largest fraction, while non-protein nitrogen and rapidly degradable protein made up 14.58% and 9.63% of the protein, respectively. The potential and effective degradability of crude protein at a passage rate of 0.05 were 43.97% and 31.59%, respectively. Overall, the results suggest that black soldier fly larvae possess favorable nutritional qualities and efficiently convert organic waste into valuable nutrients, making them a viable alternative protein source for ruminant feeding. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103408.html Considering the importance of homozygosity of sex alleles on yield and honey production, the present study aimed to evaluate the level of homozygosity in beekeepers of Sistan and Baluchistan province based on the centers of apiaries and based on beekeeping potential, number of colonies and beekeepers. For this purpose, colonies with queens of the same age and the same population (preferably more than seven times the population) were randomly selected from the centers of beehives in different regions of the province and subjected to field studies. A total of 200 honey bee colonies (from four counties, 5 districts in each district 10 colonies) were selected. The traits of the number of empty cells and the amount of honey production were measured at the end of the 6 months. Based on the number of empty cells, the percentage of homozygosity of sex alleles and the number of homozygous alleles were calculated. Data analysis was performed using a nested design with two factors: county and district. The effects of homozygosity on honey production performance were analyzed using analysis of covariance and regression analysis. The results showed that the lowest hemozygosity coefficient (2.89%) was observed in the Ismail-Abad district, Khash city. Additionally, Delgan city produced the highest amount of honey (12.07 kg per hive), but the amount of honey produced in Habib Abad district, Taftan city, was the highest at 18.79 kg per hive, compared to other districts. The higher amount of honey production in the Habib-Abad sector, Taftan city, may be due to more suitable regional conditions or better nutrition of honey beehives in this sector compared to other industries. In the present study, the correlation between the percentage of homozygosity and the honey production trait was insignificant. Therefore, the adverse effects of homozygosity on honey bee performance and reduction in colony population size were not observed, thus indicating the favorable state of beekeeping and high diversity in honey bee colonies in the Sistan and Baluchistan province, and enabling breeding programs by selecting for the production of queens with high performance and other desirable traits. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103671.html This study evaluated the effect of supplementing a Tris–egg yolk-based extender with methanolic bee pollen extract on the sperm quality of Zel rams during short-term storage and after cryopreservation. Semen was collected twice a week from four mature Zel rams using an artificial vagina. After initial evaluation, qualified ejaculates were pooled to eliminate individual variation. Samples were diluted with extenders containing 0 (control), 5, 10, and 15 mg/mL of methanolic bee pollen extract. Additionally, 0.1 mM vitamin E was used as a positive control, and 5 µL of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was added as the solvent for the extract, whose effect was also evaluated. Short-term storage was carried out at 4°C for 5, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cryopreserved samples were assessed 14 days after storage in liquid nitrogen. Sperm parameters were evaluated, including motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, morphological abnormalities, and lipid peroxidation (MDA levels).  Results showed that supplementation with bee pollen extract significantly (P<0.05) improved all evaluated parameters compared to the control. The 5 mg/mL treatment yielded the best outcomes during short-term storage, while 15 mg/mL was most effective after thawing. Moreover, the 5 mg/mL concentration was superior in reducing oxidative stress by lowering MDA levels. These findings suggest that adding 5 mg/mL methanolic bee pollen extract to the extender improves ram sperm quality and may be an effective strategy for semen preservation. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103337.html This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ethanol extracts of walnut leaves and green tea leaves on ruminal fermentation characteristics, methane and total gas production under in vitro conditions, and microbial population in lactating ewes using microbial-based methods. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four treatments: a control group (no extract) and three experimental groups receiving 100 mg extract per kg of live weight from walnut leaves, green tea leaves, or an 1:1 ratio. Extracts were administered orally twice daily for two months. At the end of the period, rumen fluid was collected from each treatment and subjected to in vitro gas production tests, including total gas production, methane production, and protozoal counts, conducted in three independent runs with four replicates per treatment. The results indicated that the control group had the highest potential gas production (A) at 373.60 mL, while the mixture of extracts showed the lowest (265.60 mL). The molar proportion of acetate decreased, and that of propionate increased significantly, with the highest propionate values observed in the mixture (34.39%) and walnut leaf (32.21%) treatments, and the lowest in the control (29.80%) and green tea leaf (29.66%) treatments. The combination of extracts led to a reduction in protozoa and methanogen populations, while fungal populations increased significantly (P < 0.02). Overall, the findings suggest that dietary inclusion of these extracts in lactating ewes may beneficially modify rumen fermentation patterns in terms of volatile fatty acid profiles, gas production, and microbial populations. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103341.html The objective of this study was to investigate single step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) evaluation in different scenarios with different numbers of genotyped animals, pedigree errors and heritability using simulated data for weening weight of lambs. Different scenarios were simulated based on heritability and pedigree error, each of them with three levels, and genotyped animals based on five levels. Accuracy and response to selection were studied to compare different scenarios. The R environment was used to perform the simulation steps. With the increase in the percentage of genotyped animals in the ssGBLUP evaluation, the accuracy of selection increased and at different levels of heritability selection accuracy showed less difference. The mean accuracy in the scenario of non-genotyped animals with different levels of pedigree error and heritability was 0.5, and for the scenario with 100% of genotyped animals it was equal to 0.79. In the scenario with non-genotyped animals, pedigree error levels had an inverse relationship with the accuracy of the ssGBLUP evaluations. By increasing the percentage of genotyped animals, the effect of pedigree error with the accuracy of ssGBLUP evaluations becomes less. Also, with the increasing number of genotyped animals, response to selection mean increased. Pedigree error showed a significant effect in a scenario with non-genotyped animals. When the number of genotyped animals added the effect of pedigree error was adjusted and its effect on the response to selection rate decreased. According to obtained results, ssGBLUP evaluation is a suitable choice for genetic analysis of small animal populations. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103342.html This study investigated the effects of Floresis postbiotic supplementation on the health and productive performance of Holstein dairy cows. Twenty multiparous Holstein cows (parity ≥2) were randomly allocated to two groups in a completely randomized design: a control group (no postbiotic) and a treatment group receiving 500 g/day of Floresis postbiotic. The experimental period spanned from 21 days prepartum—including a 7-day adaptation period—to 49 days postpartum. Milk and fecal samples were collected at defined intervals (milk: days 3, 14, 28, and 49 postpartum; feces: day 14 prepartum and day 49 postpartum). Production parameters included milk yield and composition (fat, protein, lactose, and somatic cell count). Health indicators included body condition score, body weight, dry matter intake, rectal temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, fecal score, and fecal coliform counts.Postbiotic supplementation significantly increased milk yield (30.42 vs. 26.85 kg/day; P < 0.05), and improved milk composition, including fat content (P < 0.01), protein and lactose percentages and yields (P < 0.01), and reduced somatic cell count (P < 0.01). Additionally, rectal temperature (P < 0.01) and heart rate (P ≤ 0.02) were improved in the treatment group, suggesting better physiological stability. No significant differences were observed in other measured parameters. These findings indicate that Floresis postbiotic can be a safe and effective supplement for improving the health and productive performance of dairy cows. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_104340.html This research sought to evaluate triticale (a winter crop) as a suitable alternative to corn silage in dairy cow diets, examining its advantages over conventional forage in relation to feed consumption, nutrient digestibility, milk yield and quality, along with an economic assessment. The experiment involved 10 Holstein-Simmental crossbred dairy cows with similar production levels and physiological states, divided into two 30-day trial periods. A completely randomized factorial design was used to compare two treatments and each treatment with 10 replications: 1) a control diet containing corn silage and 2) a diet incorporating triticale silage. Based on National Research Council standards, the experimental diets were balanced for protein and energy content. The data were then analyzed using SAS software. When compared to corn silage, triticale silage resulted in lower feed intake as well as reduced organic matter and protein digestibility. However, neutral detergent fiber digestibility improved with triticale silage. No significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in milk yield or composition between the two treatments. Due to its lower cost, reduced feed intake, and the same milk output, the triticale-based diet proved significantly more economically viable than corn silage (P<0.01). In sum, it can be concluded that secondary cultivation of triticale with low water requirements, especially in areas with abundant rainfall such as Mazandaran Province, can be a suitable solution to compensate for the shortage of forage and improve the country's livestock farming conditions. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103346.html Marbling, or intramuscular fat, is a critical quality trait in beef cattle, directly influencing flavor, juiciness, and tenderness, and significantly contributing to the economic value and marketability of beef. This Meta-analysis aimed to identify genomic regions and gene networks associated with marbling in beef cattle. By integrating data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and gene network analyses, we investigated genomic regions and candidate genes affecting this trait. Data were collected from reputable scientific databases, standardized, and analyzed using Fisher’s and Stouffer’s statistical methods to enhance statistical power. The Results revealed that chromosome 15, harboring the CADM1 gene with the highest significance level (-log10(p) = 29.24), plays a pivotal role in regulating marbling. Additionally, chromosomes 1, 2, 12, 17, 19, and 24 were also identified as key regions containing genes involved in lipid metabolism and immune response. Gene coexpression network analysis identified two hub genes, CLEC12A and CD69, on chromosome 5, which regulate biological pathways including lipid metabolism, immune regulation, cellular signaling, and transcriptional control. The observed scale-free network structure demonstrated biological stability and flexibility. These findings provide opportunities for developing molecular markers for targeted genomic selection, enhancing beef quality and increasing the global competitiveness of the beef industry. Future studies leveraging whole-genome sequencing and multi-omics analyses may further refine these results. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_93063.html Bovine leukemia virus infection is more prevalent in dairy herds and so far there is no known cure or vaccine for this disease. This research aimed to conduct a genome-wide scanning (GWAS) study to identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with BLV infection. This study was conducted using Iranian Holstein cows that were naturally infected with BLV. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from 150 Holstein cows in an industrial cattle farm in Isfahan, and DNA and serum were extracted from them. Then the prepared DNA samples were genotyped using k30 chips (SNPchip30k). Quality control of genotyped markers based on rare allele frequency indices (PMAF < 0.05), missing genotype (PMIND > 0.05), genotyping rate (PGENO > 0.05) and Hardy-Weinberg balance (PH-W <1×10-6) was performed by PLINK software. After the quality control analysis, 140 cows (77 patients and 68 controls) and 22868 markers remained for further analysis. After performing the genome scan analysis in the PLINK program, eight markers above the significance threshold were finally identified. Then, by bioinformatic analysis of significant genomic regions using online ensemble databases and genecards, genes associated with significant markers were identified, the most important of which include GRK4, TP53BP1, SCAPER, GLRB, PDGFC, TNIP2, PSTPIP1, CEP350, MR1, TOM1L2, SREBF1, COPS and TNFRS13B. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that these genes are mostly involved in regulating enzyme activity, DNA stability, lipid activity, antiviral response, innate immune response, and disease resistance. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103345.html This study was conducted to develop predictive regression equations for the apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) of wheat bran samples produced in Iran. To this end, twelve wheat bran samples were collected from flour mills across various provinces of the country (Alborz, Khuzestan, Hamedan, Shiraz, Azerbaijan, Lorestan, Kerman, Zanjan, Qom). The samples were analyzed for crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content.The apparent metabolizable energy of the wheat bran samples was determined in broiler chickens aged 22 to 27 days, using the substitution method in the diet and the CELITE marker (used as acid-insoluble ash) for digestibility calculations. The basal diet in this study consisted of corn and soybean meal, with wheat bran substituted at 30% of the basal diet.The data obtained from this experiment were analyzed using SPSS software, applying the ENTER regression procedure to develop predictive equations for AMEn based on the chemical composition of wheat bran samples.The resulting regression equations for predicting AMEn of Iranian wheat bran samples were derived, and among them, the most suitable equation was selected based on criteria including p-values of the equations, p-values of the independent variables’ coefficients, the coefficient of determination (R²), and the standard error of prediction (SEP), the most appropriate equation proposed was: AMEn=23.421×NFE. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_104339.html Objective: Energy requirements for maintenance (MEm; kJ/BW0.75) and growth (MEg; kJ/g) of growing fat-tailed Afshari lambs were estimated using Relative Growth Index (RGI) method.Method: Thirty healthy fat-tailed Afshari male lambs (40±1.5 kg, age: 170± 10 days) that were individually housed were used. Lambs were randomly assigned to three plane of nutrition in a completely randomized design The lambs were fed either ad libitum (ADL, n=10), or restricted to 80% (R80, n=10) and 60% (R60, n=10) intake of ADL. The RGI was calculated by dividing metabolic body weight (BW0.75) to average daily gain (ADG; g). Then, the MEm (kJ/BW0.75) and MEg (kJ/g) were extrapolated from the intercept and slop of a linear regression between RGI and metabolizable energy intake (MEI) per unit of gain. The observed daily gain values of Afshari lambs were compared to the predicted value of daily gains from CNCPS-S.Results: Estimated MEm was 440 kJ/BW0.75 [ME (kJ/g ADG) = 440 RGI (BW0.75) + 24.2 (kJ/g ADG), R2=0.85]. The calculated MEm for a male Afshari lamb with 45 kg body weight and qm=0.64 and 250 g gain was 13.7 MJ per day based on RGI equation (440×17.37 + 24.2×250 = 7645(MEm) + 6050 (MEg)). The predicted ADG of fat-tailed Afshari lambs by the CNCPS-S model was markedly affected by feed intake level. Conclusions: This study suggests that RGI method is suitable to predict energy requirement of fat-tailed sheep and that a single recommendation (e.g. NRC) for all sheep breeds under diverse management conditions cannot be feasible. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_104341.html The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using fat powder and Lipidol, a lysophospholipid-based feed additive, on growth indices, feeding behavior, digestibility, and blood metabolism in suckling Holstein calves. For this purpose, 36 male Holstein calves with a mean weight of 38.3 ± 0.6 kg were assigned to four groups in a completely randomized 2×2 factorial design: 1) basal diet containing 0.15% Lipidol without fat powder, 2) basal diet containing 0.3% Lipidol without fat powder, 3) basal diet containing 0.15% Lipidol and 3.0 % fat powder, and 4) basal diet containing 0.3 % Lipidol and 3.0 % fat powder. The experimental period continued until the calves reached 67 days of age. Growth indices, feed consumption, skeletal growth, feeding behaviors (eating, rumination, chewing, and resting time), apparent digestion coefficients, and blood metabolites (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, and albumin) were measured. The results showed that calves receiving the combination of Lipidol and fat powder exhibited the highest daily growth, increased dry matter intake, and relative improvement in skeletal growth . Additionally, eating and chewing time were reduced, while resting time increased, suggesting enhanced feeding efficiency and improved satiety. The concentration of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood significantly increasedin the groups receiving Lipidol, whereas glucose, total protein, and albumin levels did not show significant differences. In conclusion, adding fat powder and Lipidol to the diet of suckling calves can improve growth and metabolic status by enhancing fat digestibility, nutrient absorption, and altering feeding behaviors. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_104342.html Grazing livestock production systems are vital for supplying animal protein, ensuring food security, and supporting sustainable livelihoods worldwide. These systems face challenges from climate change, market fluctuations, and limited natural resources. Strengthening resilience is essential for their sustainable development. This study aimed to identify mechanisms for improving resilience of grazing-based livestock systems in Kermanshah province. The statistical population consisted of 140 experts and specialists in the field of livestock management and natural resources, and was studied using a census method. Of these experts, 131 individuals (response rate of 93 percent) completed the research questionnaires. The content validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed by faculty members and experts. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed with SMART-PLS software. The results showed that economic (β=0.786), environmental (β=0.652), managerial (β=0.620), legal (β=0.609), technical (β=0.587), and social (β=0.529) mechanisms had the greatest impact on resilience. The most important economic mechanisms included livelihood diversification for herders, improved access to credit, and increased insurance support, which reduce dependency, strengthen economic capacity, and protect against losses. In the environmental dimension, cultivating drought-resistant fodder and implementing watershed management operations to store rainwater were highly important. Overall, the sustainability of grazing-based livestock systems in Kermanshah requires a comprehensive and multidimensional approach. In this regard, livelihood diversification through processing industries and rural tourism, facilitating access to low-interest loans, expanding insurance services, developing drought-tolerant fodder, and implementing watershed management, along with technical training, establishing sustainable pasture regulations, and providing financial incentives to nomadic herders, are recommended. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_104343.html Sexual maturity and fertility in female animals are key components for enhancing reproductive efficiency and breeding strategies in livestock production; however, the gene regulatory mechanisms underlying these processes remain incompletely characterized. In the present study, to investigate the molecular regulations associated with fertility in goats, RNA-Seq data from the ovarian tissue of female Jining Black Grey goats at four developmental stages (birth, two months, four months, and six months old) were analyzed. Genes exhibiting upregulation and downregulation were separately classified. For each group, miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks and related functional modules were reconstructed. Hub genes were identified based on two approaches: multi-partite regulatory network analysis, which led to the identification of hub genes CCDC39, CCDC40, CCDC65, DNAH1, DNAI2, LRGUK, and LOC102177295. Additionally, by assessing gene participation levels in biological pathways, DNAH2, DNAH6, DNAH7, DNAH5, ENSCHIP00000030934, and DNAI2 emerged as hub genes. The gene DNAI2 was identified as a hub gene by both methods. Moreover, two hub miRNAs, mir-187-5p and mir-147a, were identified within the upregulated gene network, demonstrated prominent interactions with their target genes. These genes are involved in various biological processes including ciliary motility, dynein arm assembly, organelle organization, microtubule-based transport, germ cell differentiation, and acrosome activation. The findings of this study provide deeper insights into the genetic regulation affecting sexual maturity and fertility in female goats and may serve as a foundation for developing improved strategies for reproductive management in female goat populations. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_105362.html BayesianLASSO is a penalized regression method with the potential of variable selection using the regularization parameter λ. In a fully Bayesian framework, it is possibleto treat λ as random parameter and different priors can be assigned to it. The effect of assigning three different priors including gamma, beta, and fixed distributions on the predictability and estimation of genetic parameters was investigated using mice genome and seven traits with different genetic architecture. The results showed that estimation of variance components and heritabilityare strongly affected by the assigned prior.Highest genetic variance and heritabilityand the lowest residual variance were estimated by fixed λ model for different traits. The average accuracy obtained for each trait using different priors was relatively similar, but standard deviation of the accuracies by the fixed λ model was always greater than the other two priors. Comparison of the minimum and maximum values of the models accuracies via fivefold cross validation revealed that the highest accuracy values were obtained using the assignment of gamma and beta distributions to the regularization parameter. By increasing the heritabilitynd the number of background QTLof the traits, the accuracy of the models increased and the difference between the three different priors decreased.Thedifference between the models was greater regarding to prediction bias, but it generally followed the same trend of the accuracy, i.e. the models with the highest accuracy also had the lowest prediction bias. Based on the presentresults, proper prior assignment to λ is more necessary for traits under small number of QTL and lowheritability. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_105363.html Candidate miRNAs were selected based on a multi-step criterion. Initially, a systematic review of previous studies that experimentally (via RNA-Seq, qPCR, or DNA microarray) reported the specific expression of miRNAs in inflammatory or infectious mastitis samples in cattle was conducted. Subsequently, miRNAs identified in at least two independent studies or in more than one reliable database (miRBase, NCBI GEO, miRTarBase) as being involved in inflammatory or immune responses were considered. Using bioinformatics analyses and reputable databases such as MirtarBase, TargetScan, DAVID, and NCBI, candidate genes associated with mastitis were identified, and their target signaling pathways were examined. This multi-step selection process was employed to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the selected miRNAs. The results of these analyses identified five key miRNAs, including bta-mir-146a, bta-mir-16a, bta-mir-181, bta-mir-21-5p, and bta-mir-223, each of which plays a role in critical biological pathways such as TLR4/NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K-AKT, TGFβ, and estrogen and progesterone hormone signaling. Furthermore, the findings revealed that bta-mir-146a, bta-mir-21-5p, and bta-mir-223 influence 7, 9, and 11 key proteins, respectively, within these biological pathways. These pathways are involved in regulating immune response, inflammation, cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis, disruptions of which may lead to the onset or exacerbation of mastitis. Each of these miRNAs, by targeting multiple key proteins, could serve as sensitive and specific biomarkers for the early detection of mastitis in dairy cattle. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_105364.html In order to compare the effects of postbiotic, probiotic and multhiomycin in low protein diet on performance, carcass characteristics and microbial population of broiler chickens, an experiment was conducted using 200 male broiler chickens of Ross 308 strain in a completely randomized design with five treatments, four replications and 10 birds per replication for 42 days. The experimental treatments included: 1- Recommended crude protein diet without additives, 2- Low protein diet (95% of recommended requirements) without additives, 3- Low protein diet + postbiotic, 4- Low protein diet + 0.02% probiotic, 5- Low protein diet + 0.03% multhiomycin. Feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio of the chicks were calculated periodically and throughout the breeding period. The results showed that reducing the dietary protein level without and with adding of postbiotic and probiotic to the diet had not significant effect on feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio in the starter, growth, finisher, and whole periods of the experiment. Treatment containing 0.03% multhiomycin significantly reduced feed consumption in the starter and whole periods (P<0.05). The percentage of carcass in the treatment containing 0.03% multhiomycin was significantly lower than the other groups (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between the experimental treatments in terms of feed conversion ratio inut the whole period. The percentage of thymus in the treatment containing postbiotic (treatment 3) was higher than the treatments 1, 2 and 4. The percentage of spleen in treatment 2 was significantly higher than the treatments 1, 3, and 5 (P<0.05). https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_105365.html Hydatid cyst is a larval-stage structure of Echinococcus granulosus, the parasite responsible for causing hydatidosis in humans and animals. Protoscoleces within the cyst play a crucial role in completing the parasite’s life cycle, and their inactivation could help interrupt transmission. Gamma irradiation, with its high penetration power, has been proposed as a potential approach for protoscolex inactivation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different gamma irradiation doses on the viability of hydatid cyst protoscoleces under in vitro conditions. Hydatid cysts were collected from the lungs of infected sheep, and after confirming fertility, protoscoleces were placed in sterile microtubes containing phosphate-buffered solution. The samples were irradiated using a Cobalt-60 gamma source at the Northwest Research Complex (Bonab, Iran) for 1.5 to 5 min at doses of 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2 kGy at 25 °C, with three replicates for each dose.. Viability was assessed using 1% eosin staining. Sodium chloride 5% was used as a positive control, and non-irradiated hydatid cyst fluid served as the negative control. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s test. Results showed that protoscoleces mortality was dose-dependent; the highest mortality was observed at 2 kGy (98.5%), while the lowest mortality among irradiated groups was observed at 1 kGy (49%). The negative control group had the lowest mortality rate. In conclusion, gamma irradiation, with increasing doses, effectively inactivates hydatid protoscoleces and may be considered a novel and safe strategy for controlling hydatidosis and reducing the risk of transmission to humans and animals https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_105366.html This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different selenium sources (inorganic, organic, and nano) and levels of alpha-lipoic acid on growth performance, carcass characteristics, jejunum morphology, and intestinal microbial population of broiler chickens. Four hundred and fifty Ross 308-male broiler chicks were used in 6 treatments with 5 replicates each. The experimental diets were arranged in a completely randomized design with a 2×3 factorial arrangement, including two levels of alpha-lipoic acid in the diet (0 and 300 mg/kg) and three selenium sources: inorganic (sodium selenite), organic (selenomethionine), and nano (nano-selenium). Results showed that chicks fed organic and nano selenium had better feed conversion ratios compared to those fed inorganic selenium (p<0.05). Additionally, supplementation with 300 mg/kg alpha-lipoic acid significantly increased body weight and improved feed conversion ratio in broilers (p<0.05). Addition of nano selenium increased the relative weights of carcass, thigh, bursa and spleen compared with inorganic selenium (P<0.05). Furthermore, the highest weight of spleen was observed in group with combination of nano selenium and alpha-lipoic acid (p<0.05). Morphology of jejunum, consumption of alpha-lipoic acid and nano selenium significantly increased the length and surface area of jejunal villi (p<0.05). The results of microbial population indicated that adding alpha-lipoic acid to the diet increased Lactobacillus population in cecum (p<0.05). Therefore, it is concluded that the use of organic or nano selenium along with alpha-lipoic acid can improve growth performance and gut health in broiler chickens. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_105367.html This study was conducted to investigate allele-specific expression (ASE) in two types of bovine adipose tissues—intramuscular adipose tissue (IMF) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) in order to identify regulatory differences between these depots. Intramuscular fat is a key determinant of beef quality, contributing to tenderness, flavor, and juiciness, and unlike subcutaneous fat, it develops at later stages of animal growth. To achieve this objective, RNA-Seq data from eight tissue samples collected from the 9th to 11th rib region of crossbred Angus cattle were retrieved from the NCBI database (accession number PRJNA1053327) and processed using HISAT2, GATK, and VEP pipelines. The average read-mapping rate was 95%, and more than 580,000 genetic variants were identified. In IMF, among 214,613 ASE-informative SNPs, 890 significant ASE sites were detected, corresponding to 32 genes exhibiting clear allele-specific expression. In contrast, in SCAT, 1,094 significant ASE positions were identified among 305,996 ASE-informative SNPs, associated with 21 genes. Only one gene, SUGCT, was shared between the two tissues; this gene is involved in fatty acid metabolism and cellular energy regulation. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that immune-related pathways such as JAK–STAT and Necroptosis were predominant in SCAT, whereas IMF was enriched for energy-related pathways, including Hippo signaling and Ubiquinone biosynthesis. The key regulatory genes IFNAR1 in SCAT and RB1 in IMF played major roles in immune regulation and adipocyte differentiation, respectively. Overall, the findings highlight fundamental biological differences between the two bovine fat depots: subcutaneous adipose tissue is more actively engaged in protective and immune-related functions,