فصلنامه تحقیقات تولیدات دامی
سال سوم شماره 3 (پاییز 1393)

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic acid supplementation on some characteristics of gastrointestinal tract and small intestinal morphology in male Ross 308 broiler chicks for 42 days. The study was completely randomized design with 4 treatments, 4 replicates and 8 chicks per each replicate. The treatments consisted of: T1: basal diet, T2: basal diet + 0.1% organic acid supplementation, T3: basal diet + 0.2% organic acid supplementation, T4: basal diet + 0.3% organic acid supplementation. The results showed that the relative weight and relative length of different parts of gastrointestinal tract were not significantly affected by experimental treatments (P>0.05). About acidity of different parts of gastrointestinal tract, the result showed that pH of proventriculus by treatment receiving 0.1% organic acid supplementation and pH of duodenum by treatment receiving 0.2% organic acid supplementation were, significantly decreased (P<0.05). Villous height in jejunum and ileum by use of 0.2% organic acid supplementation were significantly increased (P<0.05). Villous height to crypt depth ratio, in jejunum and ileum were significantly increased by consumption of 0.2% organic acid supplementations (P<0.05). Muscularis thickness in jejunum by treatment receiving 0.2% and 0.3% organic acid supplementations were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The results obtained from this experiment showed that the use of 0.2% organic acid supplementation have beneficial effect on small intestinal morphology of broiler chickens.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an organic acid (Ultimate acid, UA) and chicory extract (CE) on performances, carcass characteristics and immune system of broiler chickens.Three hundred thirty oneday old broiler chicks (Ross 308, male and female) were allocated to the experimental units based on a completely randomized design using a factorial arrangement of 2 × 3 with two levels of CE (0 and 2 ml/Lit. of dinking water) and three levels of UA (0, 0.25 and 0.5 ml/Lit. of drinking water). Each treatment replicated 5 times with 11 chicks per replicate. Feed intake, daily body weight and feed conversion ratio were determined during the entire (0-42 d) experimental period. At the end of experiment (day 42), two chicks close to average body weight of each replicate were selected and slaughtered for carcass quality triats. Administration of UA alone significantly (P<0.05) reduced both feed intake and body weight gain compared to the control group but did not show any adverse effect on feed conversion ratio. Adding CE to drinking water increased gain in body weight and improved the relative weights of carcass and parts yield of the chicks compared to the control group (P<0.05). Main effects for CE and UA, and their interactions showed positive effect on immune reponse of broiler chicks measured by antibody titres against SRBC using agglutination test. In conclusion, the evidence of this study suggests the addition of chicory extract in the drinking water of broiler chicks as a growth promoter.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary oil source and different duration of flaxseed oil consumption prior to slaughter on broiler performance, carcass composition and fatty acid profile of broiler breast and thigh. For it, a total of 336 unsexed day old Cobb 500 chicks were randomly assigned to 7 dietary treatments with 4 replicates of 12 chickens each as a completely randomized design. Treatments were as: 1) 0 d Flaxseed oil (FO): 42 d Soybean oil (SO), 2) 7 d FO: 35 d SO, 3) 14 d FO: 28 d SO, 4) 21 d FO: 2 d SO, 5) 28 d FO: 14 d SO, 6) 35 d FO: 7 d SO, 7) 42 d FO: 0 d SO. Supplementation of flaxseed oil to broiler diets increased their feed intake and breast muscle (P< 0.05). Longer the consumption of diets contained flaxseed oil increased UFA and PUFA content of broiler breast and thigh meat (P< 0.05). Based on the results of this study, using flaxseed oil in broiler diets enriched broiler breast and thigh meat with n-3 fatty acids.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of fennel seeds on laying performance and some physical and quality properties of eggs in Japanese quails. One hundred and twelve 42-day old Japanese quails (Coturnix Coturnix japonica) were randomly assigned into 4 treatments with 4 replicates and 7 birds per each replication. A corn-soybean basal diet was supplemented with four levels of fennel seeds (0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 %) to reach the dietary treatments. Eggs were collected daily, and the eggs laid during the last 2 d of every week were weighed. The eggs laid during the last 3 d of week 9 were collected and were used for physical and quality properties assays. Egg weight, egg production percentage, egg mass and feed conversion ratio were significantly affected by the levels of fennel seed (P<0.05). The egg weight, egg production percentage, egg mass and feed conversion ratio in the birds fed diet with the highest level of fennel seeds (1.2 %) were more than those of the control group. Also length, width, surface, volume, geometric mean diameter, Haugh unit (HU) and eggshell thickness significantly increased by increasing the dietary levels of the fennel seeds (P<0.05). The results of this experiment showed that using 1.2 percent of dietary fennel can positively affect laying performance and egg quality in Japanese quails.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different levels of purslane seed on some egg characteristics, serum metabolites, plasma minerals and serum enzymes activity in leghorn laying hens, strain hy-line (W36) in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments, 4 replicates and 8 hens in each replicate at the age of 32 to 42 weeks. The experimental treatments were; 1- Control treatment, 2- Treatment containing 1% purslane seed and 3- Treatment containing 2% purslane seed. Egg characteristics for 4 week periods and blood metabolites were measured at the end of the experimental period. The results showed that among of egg characteristics, average egg weight and albumin percent were significantly increased by consumption of 1% purslane seed (P<0.05). Concentration of calcium, phosphorus, iron and magnesium in blood as well as concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride in blood and egg yolk were not significantly affected by purslane seed (P>0.05). Blood glucose level was significantly decreased by consumption of purslane seed (P<0.05). HDL concentrations significantly increased by consumption of 2% purslane seed (P<0.05). Concentrations of liver enzymes AST, ALT, ALK, LDH wer not affected by different levels of purslane seed (P>0.05). The results of this study showed that level of 1% purslane seed can have positive effects on laying hens.

An experiment was conducted with 644 Ross strain fertilized eggs in 8 treatments and 4 replicates. Experimental treatments were: 1-(without any injection) control; 2-Injection of sodium chloride 0.9 percent) control; 3- Injection of 25ppm Iron sulphate (III); 4- Injection of 25ppm Iron nanoparticle; 5- injection of 10 ppm Alimet (liquid methionine); 6- Injection of 150ppm Iron-Alimet chelate; 7- Injection of 100ppm Iron nanoparticle and Alimet and 8- Adding of 0.002g/kg Iron nanoparticles to diet. On the day of incubation, the yolk sac of in ovo injection groups was identified by candling and 0.3 mL of each in ovo solution was injected. Treatments receiving iron nanoparticles+Alimet chelate significantly increased post-hatch chicken weight compared to treatments receiving iron, iron nanoparticles and Alimet (P<0.05). Also iron nanoparticles+Alimet increased chick weight to egg weight ratio compared to all other treatments except for two control treatments. All in ovo injection treatments except for iron nanoparticles+Alimet chelate significantly decreased percentage hatchability (P 0.05). There was a significant improvement in feed conversion ratio of in ovo iron nanoparticles+Alimet injected compared to other treatments during starter period (P<0.05). In ovo injection of iron nanoparticles+Alimet and dietary supplementation of iron nanoparticles significantly increased production index at 1-21 d of age (P<0.05). In total results indicated that injection of iron nanoparticles+Alimet in hatching fertile eggs improved performance parameters in broilers.

The litter size is a threshold trait that is controlled by many genes. Due to the low heritability (0.10), of litter size, classical breeding methods lead to slow genetic progress. Hence it is essential to use new technology to improve this trait. Length of chromosome 1 in goat is approximately 186 cM. Based on previously published data in addition to a high genetic homology between goat and cattle choromosome 1, a region between 16 to 169 cM of chromosome 1 was selected for QTL detection of litter size in the Markhoz goat breed. Sample population included 8 paternal half-sib families. The numbers of half-sib offspring per buck ranged from 30 to 40. All individuals were genotyped by six microsatellites specific to chromosome 1. QTL analyses were performedusing multiple regression method under a half-sib model. Our study indicated that a QTL in position 165 cM on chromosome 1 affect litter size rate in Markhoz goats. Its location was near to CSSM19 marker and was able to explaining 2.20 percent of the genetic variance of litter size. The QTL detected in this research could be related with POU1F1 gene. Hence this gene could be a candidate for the associated QTL on goat chromosomes 1.