مجله علوم دامی ایران
سال چهل و یکم شماره 3 (پاییز 1389)

Effect of three cucurbita varieties, cvs. ‘Ace’, ‘Shintozwa’ and ‘ShintoHongto’ as rootstocks, on survival rate and primary growth of melon cv. Khatooni as well as on muskmelon cv. Samsuri seedlings was investigated in greenhouse conditions. The rootstocks exhibited high compatibility (up to 97%) with scions with the response of muskmelon seedlings more pronounced than that of the melon ones. The root activity (synthesized formazan concentration per Dry Matter (DM)), in rootstocks was 2-3 times that in scions. All the rootstocks except ‘Shintozwa’ had more vascular bundles than scion plants. Such plant growth characteristics as root activity, stem length, rootstock stem diameter, leaf chlorophyll content and fresh weight of top organs were positively affected by grafting and by rootstocks (p = 0.01). Scion stem diameter, leaf number and leaf area were significantly affected by treatments at p = 0.05. Fresh weight of top organs and of root, as well as root dry weight were not significantly affected by grafting and by rootstocks. In most of the evaluated characters, grafted seedlings were in a more proper had better situation than non-grafted ones. Among the grafted seedlings, all the rootstocks experienced approximately similar effects. So, according to the obtained results, use of evaluated rootstocks for Iranian melon and muskmelon can be advisably recommended.

In this study, production, reproduction, management and economic parameters deduced from recordings of 5 flocks with 720 heads of native goats during an annual cycle of production in transhumance, village and farming systems were employed to determine the trait's economic values. The economic values of the traits were estimated, using maximizing profit, revenue per cost as well as minimizing cost situations. The relative economic values of traits for transhumance system resulted from maximizing profit situation were 15.29 for survival rate in goat, 5.60 for conception rate, 4.92 for kidding frequency, 2.37 for kidding rate, 3.34 for kid survival rate up to weaning, 2.74 for kid survival rate to yearling, 1.00 for kid live weight at sale, -5.45 for body weight of goat and 13.37 for milk yield. In village system, these values were 8.30, 4.52, 4.16, 1.21, 1.55, 1.38, 1.00, -6.42 and 4.96, respectively. In farming system, these values were estimated as 1.73, 1.13, 0.73, 0.37, 0.53, 0.50, 1.00, -0.77 and 1.16, respectively. The absolute economic values of traits increased with improving economic efficiency from transhumance to farming systems, but the relative economic values decreased. Although, the calculated economic values from all the three situations were different numerically, but from the rank point of view of traits they ended up with apporoximatly similar results.

In this study, production, reproduction, managerial, and economic parameters obtained from data recorded for Lori-Bakhtiari flock of sheep (500 heads of breeding ewe) stationed at the sheep's Breeding Station, were employed to determine the relative economic values of and breeding objectives for an annual cycle of production, in village system in this breed of sheep. Economic value for a trait was estimated as the level of change in the profit of system as its mean increased by one unit, while the means of other traits being kept constant. The economic values were investigated in three approaches including a included to maximization profit to maximize economic efficiency and to minimize cost. The results show, live weight of (carcass weight) accounted for 94.51% while wool and manure for the remaining 5.49% of the revenue, respectivly. Feeding and management costs represented about 72.28 and 25.94% of total costs, respectively. Relative economic values for conception rate, litter size, mature ewe live weight, weight of wool, lamb survival at 6 months of age, 6-month live weight, carcass lean weight and carcass fat weight at 6 months of age were 60.52, 48.00, -0.05, 1, 56.55, 1.01, 4.61 and -0.92, respectivly for maximization of profit approach. Relative economic values from the three approaches were approximately the same. Litter size, conception rate and ewe live weight were the most important traits in the breeding objectives for ewe in the village system. Lamb survival at 6 months of age, carcass lean and fat weights were the most important traits in the breeding objectives for the lamb in the village system. Estimates of sensitivity analysis of relative economic values to changes in prices of input and output by? 20% indicated that the relative economic values of traits, relative to change in cost of input (feed and management), were of low sensitivity, while relative to change in output (carcass and carcass lean weight) indicated a relatively higher sensitivity.

Average age distribution and generation interval were investigated in four different selection pathways. i.e., Sire of future Sires (SS), Sire of future Dams (SD), Dam of future Sires (DS) and Dam of future Dams (DD). Young Bulls pathway (YB) is also considered as a path that affects the generation interval in SD pathway when using progeny testing program. Data were collected from Animal Breeding Center of Iran. Data were consisted of 584053 DD, 236628 DS, 345213 SD and 60 SS born from 1994 to 2008. Cow survival rates showed a linear diminishing trend (b=-0.0461) with a high R-square (98%) from one lactation to the next. Young Bull's sperm usage was much higher than the usage of proved bull's sperm due to the lower sperm price. This has led to a lower generation interval in DS pathway, when compared with that reported in other studies. On the other hand, percent of usage of local proved sire was very low compared with imported proved sperm. By using age distribution, obtained through different pathways, the generation intervals were recorded as 6.5, 7.5, 4.22, 4.10 and 3.37 years for SS, SD, DS, DD and YB pathways, respectively. Considering 20% test capacity, mean generation interval in Holstein dairy cattle in Iran was around 5.37. To overcome the problem of high generation interval, it is necessary to consider a suitable policy in selection/ culling and in a controlled use of young bulls’ semen.

In this study records of 15723, 12108 and 5236 Zel sheep for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW) and 6-month weight (6MW) traits were used. Data has been collected by the Jahad-e-Keshavarzi organization of province of Mazandaran during 1994-2009. The heritability of direct and maternal of growth traits was estimated using the univariate analysis with restricted maximum likelihood (REML). In order to Fit an appropriate model, six models via adding and elimination of maternal genetic effects and maternal permanent environmental was applied. The likelihood ratio test showed that the model with direct genetic effects and maternal additive genetic, regardless covariance between them, were appropriate for birth and weaning weight and the model with direct genetic effects and permanent environmental for 6-month weight were appropriate. Heritability of reproduction traits using multiple trait analysis were estimated as 0.05 for number of lambs born per ewe and 0.14 for total litter weight at birth per ewe. Direct genetic trend of birth weight, weaning weight and 6-month weight through univariate and multivariate analysis were estimated 1.91±0.07 and 2.53±1.10, 98.50±10.40 and 105.38±25.20, 73.23±21.20 and 78.46±33.40 gr per year, respectively. Maternal genetic trend of birth weight through univariate and multivariate analysis were estimated 2.94±1.21 and 3.07±2.49 gr per year, respectively.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of adaptation period to oak leave's tannin on rumen pH and ammonia, rumen microbial population, gas production and dry matter true digestibility (IVTDMD) in Alamout Goat’s rumen (with no previous history of oak leaf consumption) compared with Markhoz Goat (with previous history of oak leaf consumption). The goats were fed either oak leaves or Lucerne for 21 d. Dry Matter (DM), Organic Matter (OM), Crude Protein (CP), Ether Extract (EE), Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF), lignin (ADL) and phenolic compounds of oak leaves were determined through laboratory analysis. Additionally, ruminal population of cellulytic and proteolytic bacteria and protozoa, pH and the concentration of ammonia-N were found out. An in vitro gas production was employed to estimate organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolisable energy (ME) and IVTDMD content. Oak leaves’ DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF, ADL, total phenolic compounds, condensed tannin and hydrolysable tannin, respectively, were 940, 950, 115, 35.0, 520, 320, 98.0, 113, 100, 20.0 and 90.0 g/kg DM. Ruminal pH, ammonia-N concentration, and population of cellulytic and proteolytic bacteria and protozoa of Alamout Goat were, respectively, 6.64, 22.26 mg/dl of ruminal fluid, 7.76, 8.39 and 5.67, for which the adaptation to oak leaves had resulted in a decline in all of them (p<0.01). In vitro gas production volume, OMD, ME, b, c and IVTDMD estimated by use of goat’s ruminal fluid were 19.2 ml, 38.9 g/ kg DM, 5.8 MJ/kg DM, 27.5 ml, 0.05/h and 490 g/kg of DM, which had increased (p<0.01) through an adaptation to oak leaves. On the other hand, addition of PEG to the samples resulted in enhancement of these parameters (p<0.01). In conclusion, adaptation of goats to oak leaves caused a reduction in the negative effect of tannins, and resulted in a change in ruminal fermentation and digestibility.

Sixty eight Holstein cows, 38 primiparous and 30 multiparous, were employed in a randomized complete block design to evaluate the effects of 2 diets of varied rumine fermentable carbohydrate sources (Corn Grain (CG) and Wheat Grain (WG)) on blood metabolites and hormones during periparturint period. Primiparous and multiparous cows were blocked by parity. The cows were fed diets as total mixed ration with similar energy and crude protein contents including: 1) 18.6% CG, or 2) 18.6% WG from 23±9 d relative to expected calving until calving. Following calving, all the animals received the same lactation diet until 28 d. Blood sampling was carried out weekly and on days –1, 0, and +1 relative to calving. The results indicated that, there was no significant effect of the pre-partum carbohydrate source on the overall plasma concentration of glucose, non-esterified fatty acid,? -hydroxybutyrate, triglyceride, cholesterol, albumin, cratinin, plasma urea nitrogen, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, insulin, and cortisol in multiparous and primiparous cows. The multiparous cows fed the WG diet during the pre-partum period had greater glucose (P=0.09) at pre-partum period and greater calcium at postpartum period (P=0.09) compared with multiparous cows fed the CG diet. Primiparous cows fed the WG diet had a higher plasma calcium in the first week of lactation (P<0.5). It is finally concluded that feeding pre-partum diets containing rolled wheat grain may improve metabolism and smoothen the adaptation from gestation to lactation in peripartum Holstein cows.

This research was planned to evaluate the nutritive value of some starchy feeds including wheat grain, wheat flour, starch grades 1 and 2 through in vivo, in vitro and gas test methods. The first experiment was done through an employment of 4 Maku-ii rams with 43.2±1.4 Kg of body weight in a completely randomized design and in a change over design arrangement. The chemical compositions of test diets and of feces were proximately analyzed while the feces starch’ concentration being determined through Entrone method. Digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, CF, NFE for wheat grain and for wheat flour were 68.91, 72.97, 71.10, 60.20, 79.33, 77.67, 80.29, 72.17, 62.20 and 84.02%, respectively. Digestibility coefficients of DM for starches grade 1 and 2 were 98.26 and 94.62%, respectively. The mentioned values for digestibility coefficients of DM in the second experiment (in vitro) were 54.9, 62.27, 67.74, 69.76, 82.78, 84.38, 92.61, and 90.84%. These values were highly correlated with those resulted from the first experiment(r>0.8). In the third experiment, gas production, OM digestibility and short chain fatty acid concentration increased respectively in wheat grain, wheat flour, starch grade 2 and 1. The results obtained from the three experiments in this study found to be highly correlated with each other.

This study was performed to determine the efficacy of feeding waste grapefruit silage vs. corn silage on performance and body composition of Kermani fattening lambs. Twenty seven male lambs weighing an average of 18.5±2.5 kg and again an average of 150±10 days old were randomly divided into three groups in a completely randomized design. For making waste grapefruit silage, the waste was chopped, mixed with wheat straw (4:1) and ensiled for 60 days. The experimental diets were: 1) corn silage 30% with 70% of concetrate (control), 2) 15% corn silage and 15% waste grapefruit silage with 70% of concetrate, and 3) 30% waste grapefruit silage together with 70% of concetrate. The lambs were fed TMR diets ad-libitum and twice a day. Daily dry matter intake, feed conversion, dry matter intake as percent of live weight, body weight, daily weight gain, and body fat percentage of fattening lambs were not affected by waste grapefruit silage. The feeding of waste grapefruit silage increased lambs’ bodies’ water content while decreasing the protein of the body (p<0.05). Feeding mixed corn and waste grapefruit silages the increased (p<0.05) the lambs’ body minerals. The results finally indicated that if there is waste grapefruit left over after human consumption, if can be enciled and fed to fattening lambs up to 30% of their diets.

The fate of mouse spermatogonia stem cells’ (SSCs) regulation is controlled by the interplay of signaling networks that either promote self- renewal or induce differentiation. It has been proven that cytokines, growth factors and feeder layers are capable of inducing self- renewal or reducing apoptosis in SSCs, suggesting that the self- renewal signaling pathways and maintenance of cells are promoted by other such triggers as the chemical or physical properties of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM). To investigate the issues, a synthetic polyamide matrix (ultra–web) whose nanofibrillar organization resembles the ECM/basement membrane was employed. Testis cells harvested from the NMRI mouse were cultured on either a nanofiber or a non-nanofiber surface for 10 days. GDNF, bFGF and EGF were taken into account as growth factors. Several tests were conducted on the7th and 10th days past of the culture. Colony assay revealed a higher colony number as well as higher cell number/colony on the nanofiber surface on day 10. Such SSCs markers as? 6, c-kit,? 1, thy-1, OCT-4 and Plzf were also detected using immunoflourecent staining. Reverse Transcription-PCR test revealed the expression of such genes as GFR?-1,Stra8, Vasa,? 6,? 1, thy-1 and OCT-4 for SSCs on the nanofiber and the non-nanofiber surfaces. For functional evaluation, the single cells’ suspension from SSCs colony were microinjected into seminiferous tubules of infertile recipients. Donor germ cells from both groups (nanofiber and non- nanofiber surfaces) were present in the recipient testis. Results indicated that the growth of SSCs on this nanofibrillar surface greatly enhanced proliferation, self- renewal and maintenance in comparison with growth on the non-nanofiber culture surface, despite the presence of growth factors in either of the systems. Thereby it being concluded that a nanofiber surface can provide a suitable microenvironment for SSCs in an in vitro culture system.