ahmad afzalzadeh

The effects of water type and hardness on performance, immune and biochemistry traits of blood, intestinal microflora population, meat and bone quality were evaluated using 192 male broiler chickens as a factorial arrangement (2 × 2) with four treatments and four replicates. The two factors studied were the type of drinking water (magnetized water and non-magnetized water) and the water hardness (normal-850 and hardess-2000 ppm). The results showed that in the whole period, the birds were received normal magnetized water showed a tendency to gain more weight compared to other birds were received other treatments (P = 0.09). Birds were received normal, magnetized, and non-magnetized water had more feed intake compared to birds were received hard magnetized water. Birds were received hard water consumed less water (P <0.05). Birds were consumed magnetic water had higher blood cholesterol and heterophilic to lymphocyte index than birds were received non-magnetic water (P<0.01). Birds that received hard water and magnetic water had less energy to break bones compared to birds that received normal water and non-magnetic water. The magnetization of hard water increased the population of lactobacilli in the ileum compared to birds were received non-magnetic hard water (P <0.001). Water hardness increased water holding capacity and decreased oxidation in meat. Thigh of birds were received magnetic water had lower concentration of malondialdehyde (P <0.01). Finally, magnetization of hard water increased the population of Lactobacillus ileum in the intestine, improved meat quality and reduced bone strength and feed intake without affecting feed conversion ratio.

In this study, chemical compositions of black seed meals samples were determined. 18 male weaning Zandi lambs with an average body weight of 23.5 ±1.5 kg were used in a completely randomized design in three groups of six in individual pens. Experimental treatments were: 1) control (basal diet with 12% soybean meal and without black seed meal), 2) diet containing 6% soybean meal and 9% black seed meal and 3) diet containing 18% black seed meal and without soybean meal. The concentration of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, NDF, ADF, ADIN, and crude ash of black seed meal samples were 97.53±0.58, 31.26±0.99, 15.16 ± 0.61, 25.95 ± 1.34, 14.2±0.80, 0.69±0.04 and 5.07 ± 0.24, respectively. Replacement of soybean meal with black seed meal in the diet of experimental lambs had no effect on final body weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, dry matter intake, dressing percentage, tail and total body fat deposition. Albumin and total protein were higher for lambs fed by diet containing 18 % black seed meal compared to other treatments (P <0.05). However, the concentration of blood triglyceride, cholesterol and urea nitrogen were not differed between experimental groups. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude fat and protein were not affect by feeding of experimental diets. It seems that black seed meal can be used in the diet of fattening lambs up to 18% without adverse effect on performance and nutrients digestibility of growing lambs.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of urea treatment of wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse on chemical composition, lag time and ruminal degradability parameters of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) by nylon bag technique. The chemical composition and degradability parameters of unprocessed samples and processed samples with five percent urea were determined using three mature rumen-fistulated Holstein dairy cows (with initial body weight of 615±15 kg and three lactation number). Urea treatment decreased DM and NDF degradation lag time of processed wheat straw (P<0.05); however it had no effect on DM and NDF degradation lag time of sugarcane bagasse. The urea treatment resulted to increase in DM and NDF degradability rate of processed wheat straw (P<0.05), but had no effect on DM and NDF degradability rate of sugarcane bagasse. The potentially degradable fraction of DM and پ NDF of both experimental materials were increased by treatment (P<0.05). The effective degradability of DM and NDF of experimental roughages increased (P<0.05) after urea treatment from 35.69 and 21.69 to 44.04 and 29.12 percent, respectively for wheat straw and from 18.88 and 15.65 to 23.92 and 19.52 percent, respectively for sugarcane bagasse. According to the results of this experiment, urea treatment of roughages-feeds, especially wheat straw improves degradability of DM and NDF.

This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of different feed additives as mycotoxin binders in vitro. Four prevalent aflatoxin-sequestering agents (SAs) including two bentonite clays (common and acid activated bentonite), a yeast cell wall product and an activated charcoal product were evaluated in vitro to verify their capacity for binding aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The SAs were individually mixed at two different ratios with AFB1 (1:70,000, 1:120,000) and their binding capacity indices were determined. Experimental bentonites showed high adsorption abilities, binding more than 70.00% of the available AFB1. At the 1:70,000 and 1:120,000 aflatoxin binder (AF:B) ratios, acid activated bentonite were sequestered over 87.00 and 99.00% of the AFB1, respectively. Yeast cell wall showed moderate adsorption ability at the 1:120,000 AF:B ratio, adsorbing 47.00 of AFB1. The adsorption ability of activated carbon at two AF:B ratio and yeast cell wall at 1:70,000 AF:B ratio were significantly lower than other binders. The ratio of chemisorption and binding equivalency factor were higher for acid activated bentonite compared to other sequestering agents. Based on the result of this study, it seems that acid activated bentonite could be considered efficient at sequestering the available AFB1, resulting as promising agents for use in animals diet.

To study the effects of replacing canola meal with black seed meal on performance, blood parameters and carcass characteristics, eighteen male lambs (with initial BW, 29.5 ±1.5 kg and 110 ± 7 days of age) were used in a completely randomized design with 3 different treatments over 90 days. Experimental treatments were: 1) control; diet containing 9% canola meal, 2) diet containing 4.5 % canola meal plus 4.5 % black seed meal and 3) diet containing 9 % black seed meal. The amount of dry matter, ash, crude protein, fat, NDF, ADF, and ADIN of black seed meal was 92.60 ±0.58, 7.24±0.27, 35.8±1.0, 12.31±0.51, 24.56±1.24, 13.0±0.79 and 2.15±0.17, respectively. There were no significant differences between treatments for digestibility of organic matter, NDF, fat and protein. Daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, daily weight gain, final body weight, carcass efficiency, weight of liver, heart, kidney and testis were not differed between experimental groups. However, lambs fed with black seed meal had lower level of subcutaneous fat, tail-fat and total body fat deposition compared to control group (P<0.05). Feeding 9% black seed meal increased blood total protein and albumin concentration compared to the other experimental groups (P<0.05). The results of this study showed that it could be feasible to use black seed meal up to 9% in finishing lamb diet.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of partial replacement of wheat straw for corn silage and alfalfa hay at 7% diet dry matter (DM) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk production of late-lactation Holstein cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows (averaging 2.9±0.35 parity; 43.6±2.6 kg/d milk yield; 214±18 d in milk) were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin Square design. During each of four 21-d periods, cows were fed  total mixed rations varying in forage source: 1) control (13.5% alfalfa hay, 20% corn silage and 66.5% concentrate), 2) wheat straw replaced for corn silage, 3) wheat straw replaced for alfalfa hay 4) wheat straw equally replaced for corn silage and alfalfa hay. Diets were formulated to contain similar values of NDF, forage NDF and physically effective NDF. The DM intake, milk production and compositions as well as total tract digestibility of DM, organic matter, NDF, and crude protein were unaffected by treatments. Likewise, ruminal and blood parameters were not affected by experimental treatments. Body weight gain tended to be lower (P=0.06) for cows fed the wheat straw-included diets. These results indicated that, at 7% of diet DM, chopped wheat straw could be used as an alternative for major forage sources high concentrate diets for lactation cows yielding over 40 kg/d milk.

To study the effects of feeding rumen-protected ascorbic acid and salicylic acid on performance of dairy cows under heat stress conditions, forty four lactating dairy cows in early lactation were allocated in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 11 animals in each treatment for 30 days. Experimental treatments were: 1) control (diet without coated ascorbic acid and salicylic acid), 2) diet contained 30 g/d coated ascorbic acid, 3) diet contained 10 g/d coated salicylic acid and 4) diet contained 30 g/d coated ascorbic acid + 10 g/d coated salicylic acid. Cows were fed with salicylic acid supplement had a higher daily milk yield (51.47 kg/day) compared to other experimental groups (P<0.05). Feeding of coated ascorbic acid increased milk fat percent, glucose, BHBA, NEFA concentration and decreased somatic cell count compared to other treatments (P<0.05). Total milk's solids, energy and fat corrected milk and milk urea nitrogen were increased in coated ascorbic acid group compared to control (P<0.05). Blood urea concentration in coated ascorbic acid and salicylic acid group were less than control group (P<0.05). The results showed that feeding coated ascorbic acid and salicylic acid could improve performance of Holstein dairy cows in early lactating phase under heat stress conditions.

The aim of this research was to study the feeding value of Lactuca Serriola at different harvesting stages and comparison of different models for prediction of its lag time. The forage was cut at tow growing stages before and after bloom and chemical composition, degradability and gas production parameters were compared with alfalfa hay. Also lag time of experimental forages was determined. The crud protein and NFC concentration were the lowest and NDF and ADF content were the highest after bloom compared with alfalfa hay (p<0.05). potentially digestible fraction (b) of DM increased by enhancement of the growing stage od Lactuca Serriola (p<0.05). effective degradability (ED) and gas production potential before bloom stage were significantly higher than the other experimental forages (p<0.05). Results obtained from prediction of lag time showed that the lag timewas the highest before bloom of Lactuca Serriola (p<0.05). In conclusion, Lactuca Serriola ( before bloom) could be considered as a good potential forage source in ruminant nutrition.

This study examined the effects of partial replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with heat-treated soybean meal (HSBM) in heat-stressed cows. 32 multiparous Holstein cows (DIM = 110 ± 20; milk yield = 40 ± 4.1 kg) were used in a complete block randomized design with a 2×2 factorial arrangment of treatments. Treatments included two dietary crude protein levels (i.e. 17 and 15.5%) each combined with HSBM partially replaced for SBM. The experiment was conducted in two periods of 28 days with the last seven days for sampling and collection of data of tempreature, nutrient intake and digestibility and blood variables. Average THI showed that cows were in mild heat stress (70.60 and 71.50 for periods 1 and 2, respectively)(p > 0.05). Diets with 15.5% CP and based on HSBM increased intakes of dry and organic matter (p 0.05). Butyric and isovaleric acid were increased in cows received HSBM (p

The aim was to evaluate effects of in vitro fermentation of different forages co-incubated with different types of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) on gas production, digestibility, microbial biomass, medium pH and ammonia concentration. A completely randomized design with factorial arrangement (9 treatments and 3 replicates) were used wherein wheat straw, alfalfa hay and corn silage constituted main forage sources and starch, sucrose and pectin were components of NFC. 0.2 g of each forage samples incubated with 0.3 g of each NFC component for 24 h and gas production, apparent and true digestibility, microbial biomass, pH and ammonia concentration measured. Forage and NFC sources, alone but not in combination, had a significant effect on gas production, digestibility as well as ammonia concentration (p

Intercropping has many advantages including improved soil conditions (Chen et al., 2004), increased resources and better weed control (Banik et al., 2006). Due to their positive effect on forage quality, intercropping of cultures has an important role in farming systems. Furthermore, intercropping improves absorption of solar radiation, increases the activity of soil microorganisms and contributes to better weed- and pest-resistant conditions (Karadage, 2004). The goal of this research is to investigate intercropping of maize and sorghum with legumes, such as mung beans, cowpeas and clover, in order to evaluate the benefits. The benefits should include increased yield, improved quality forage (higher protein levels), and better weed control. Intercropping should best suit the climatic conditions of the region and improve agricultural practices.
In order to investigate the effect of additive intercropping of maize and sorghum with legumes on qualitative and quantitative forage and weed growth, a field experiment was carried out over two years, in the 2011-12 growing seasons in the village of Mafin-Abad, in the Eslamshahr region of Tehran Province. Maize and sorghum monoculture and their intercropping with three different legumes (mung beans, cowpeas and berseem clover) in different additive intercropping systems were compared in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The traits evaluated in this study include yield, forage dry matter, protein, index against ground, and economic advantages.
The results showed that intercropping increased forage dry matter and crude protein. Intercropping also significantly decreased weed dry weight. In all intercropping treatments, LER was above 1, indicating yield advantages for intercropping. Maize and cowpeas in the 100% density treatment showed the best results over both years and produced the highest dry forage yield, LER and CP and the least amount of weed dry weight. Based on the results of this experiment, it could be concluded that maize and sorghum-legume intercropping could substantially increase forage quality and quantity. These intercrops can be recommended to replace monoculture systems. Maize and sorghum-cowpea additive intercropping could be highly recommended because of higher forage quality and quantity with fewer side effects on the environment.
The results showed that intercropping could be used to increase yield, improve forage quality and weed control. Intercropping cultures also indicated that LER was more than 1 and led to a higher economic profit in comparison with a monoculture. This can be a suggestion for farmers to use intercropping in this recommended form. In the intercropping of maize and sorghum and cowpea, particularly with a density of 100%, cowpea clearly manifests itself. Therefore, intercropping can be recommended to farmers as a way to boost performance, revenue, forage quality (protein) and control weeds.

Introduction It has been estimated that PBP production based on fresh weight in Iran is over 400,000 MT annually. Pistachio by-products consist of 53.50% external hull (epicarp) with the remaining composed of leaves, mesocarp and kernel. The results of few studies showed feeding of low levels of PBP had no effects on sheep, dairy cow and goat performance. Ensiled of PBP with PEG, NaOH and urea then treated by electron irradiation could be caused to better nutrition value via deactivation of tannins. The aim of this study was to survey the effect of diets containing pistachio by products treated by electron irradiation, NaOH, and PEG on nutrients digestibility and performance of finishing Zandi lambs.
Materials and methods Twenty male Zandi lambs with the initial average body weight of 21±1.52 kg were housed in individual pens and were allocated to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design for 70 days. The basal diet consisted of 220 g/kg DM PBP, 130 g/kg DM wheat straw and 650 g/kg DM barley based concentrate. The four dietary treatments included control diet (Treatment 1; basal diet containing 22% PB), ER-PBP (Treatment 2; containing 22% electron irradiated PBP), NaOH-PBP (Treatment 3; containing 22% NaOH treated PBP) and PEG-PBP (Treatment 4; PEG added to basal diet as 15 g/kg of diets DM). Throughout the 70 d experiment, body weight was measured weekly. Feed intake and ort of lambs were recorded and sampled daily for determination of nutrient intake of DM, CP (N × 6.25), EE and NDF as describes before.
Apparent total digestibility of nutrients was estimated by the marker ratio technique using acid insoluble ash (AIA) as an internal marker.
Blood samples (10 ml) were taken from jugular vein of lambs before morning feeding on d 70 of experiment. The serum concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin, creatinine, glucose and urea were determined using commercial laboratory kits (Pars Azmun Laboratory, Tehran, Iran) and an auto analyzer. The data were analyzed as completely randomized design. Duncan’s multiple range tests were used to determine the differences amongst treatments. Significant levels were defined as those with probabilities of 0.05 or less.
Results and Discussion Nothing as the effects of dietary treatments were observed on FBW. Feeding ER-PBP diet to lambs tended to increase DMI and also increased (P Conclusion It can be concluded that irradiation of pistachio by-product is a useful treatment to improve nutritional value of pistachio by-product as a feed ingredient for sheep. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effects of other physicochemical treatments of PBP on lamb performance and to evaluate the economic value of including PBP in ruminant diets.

In recent years, dietary fat supplementation has become a common practice and fat supplemented diets have had variable effects on animal performance and carcass characteristics.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of increasing the levels of sesame oil on performance, rumen parameters and plasma lipid profile in finishing Chal lambs.

Eighteen male lambs were fed with control (C; without sesame oil) and the diets contained low level (LSO; 2.5%) and high level (HSO; 5%) of sesame oil.

The addition of fat had no effect on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass weight. Treatments with sesame oil had no effect on rumen ammonia concentration and total protozoal count. Ruminal pH was numerically smaller (p=0.14) for control compared to lambs fed diets containing 2.5 and 5% sesame oil. Treatments had no effect on total VFA, acetate, butyrate, valerate and isovalerate concentrations. The propionate concentration decreased (p=0.04) by supplementation of sesame oil compared with the control. Total cholesterol (TC) and HDL increased and the tendency for VLDL and triglyceride (p=0.13) to increase was observed by treatment groups when compared with the control. Glucose concentration and LDL were not affected by treatment.

Sesame oil had no effect on the performance and carcass weight of lambs but there was decrease in blood cholesterol concentration.

The current study evaluated the effects of electron beam (EB; 10, 20, 30 and 40 kGy), urea and NaOH treatments on chemical composition, phenolic compounds, in vitro gas production and in situ ruminal degradability of pistachio by-product (PB). The EB decreased (p < 0.01) neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents of PB. Treating PB by NaOH and urea increased cell wall constitute of PB (p < 0.01). Irradiation at doses of 30 and 40 kGy reduced tannin and increased total phenol content of PB (p < 0.01). NaOH and urea treatments decreased tannins, total phenolics and condensed tannins of PB compared to control (p < 0.01). In situ ruminal dry matter (DM) degradation data showed that irradiation increased (p < 0.01) and, urea and NaOH decreased (p < 0.01) rapidly fermentable fraction (a) of PB. NaOH decreased (p < 0.01) fraction b and total degradable fraction (a + b) of PB. Irradiation and polyethylene-glycol increased rate of gas production (k), metabolizable energy (ME) and short chain fatty acid concentrations (SCFA), while, NaOH decreased gas production potential (b), ME and SCFA (p < 0.01). Data showed that although NaOH was efficent in detannification of PB, howevr, it reduced gas production and in situ degradation of PB.

This study was conducted to investigate effect of different sources of copper on gas production parameters and nutrients digestibility in Zandi male lambs. In the first experiment, 18 male lambs (initial body weight 17.53±1.62) divided into three groups and fed one of the three experimental diets for 70 days. Dietary treatments were control (basal diet without copper supplement), basal diet plus 10 ppm copper from sulfate and basal diet plus 10 ppm from proteinate copper. In comparison with control, copper supplementation improved average daily gain and feed conversion ratio, but there was no significant difference among the dietary treatments for dry matter intake. Dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and acid detergent fiber digestibility was higher for lambs fed with organic copper compared to lambs fed with control and inorganic copper (P<0.01). In the second experiment, an in vitro gas production technique was used to evaluate the effects of copper sources on the amount and rate of gas production, dry matter degradability, utilization of metabolizable energy (ME), and ruminal fermentation patterns using rumen fluid from three lambs as inoculum. Rate of gas production (c) did not differ among the treatments. Asymptotic of gas production (b) was higher for diets containing supplemental copper compared to control. It seems that supplementation of fattening lamb diet with of organic copper could be improved rumen fermentation and performance of lambs.

The effect of replacing alfalfa by artichoke hay on nutrient digestibility، gas production parameters، performance and carcass characteristics of Lori-Bakhtiari lambs was studied. The lambs in control group received diet containing 30 percent alfalfa، 15 percent barley straw and 55 percent concentrate and in test group alfalfa hay was replaced with artichoke hay، completely. Dry matter intake was higher for test group lambs (P<0. 05)، but average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were not differed between experimental groups. Gas production rate was not differed between groups، but b fraction was higher for test group (P<0. 05). Replacing alfalfa by artichoke caused to increasing digestibility of dry matter and organic matter (P<0. 05). However، control diet had higher digestibility of crude protein and NDF (P<0. 05). After slaughter، there were no significant differences between groups in carcass characteristics and percentage of internal organs. Results of this study showed that artichoke hay could be replaced with alfalfa hay in finishing lambs diet.

In this study, about 1000 kg of wet Rose Flower pulp were obtained from Ghamsar – Kashan in Iran and dried in air for 10 days. The DM, CP, Ash, EE, total extractable phenols, total tannin, Ca and P of Rose flower extraction pulp (RFEP) were 96.0, 12.5, 6.5, 1.8, 2.7, 1.3, 1.1 and 0.1 percent, respectively. Four adult Chaal sheep in a changeover design used for determination of digestibility, dry matter intake and nitrogen balance. The sheep fed by four diets with different ratio of RFEP: alfalfa (0.0:100, 15:85, 30:70 and 45:55). Digestibility of DM and OM were not affected by experimental diets. Inclusion of 30 percent or more RFEP, decreased CP digestibility (P< 0.05). Dry matter intake was not affected by inclusion of different levels of RFEP in diets. The nitrogen balance of diets including zero, 15, 30 and 45 precent RFEP were 3.1, 2.6, 1.4 and 1.1 gram per day, respectively (P< 0.05). The DM and CP effective degradability of RFEP were 68.5 and 67.8, respectively. It seems that Rose flower extraction pulp can be used as a part of roughage in the ruminant’s diet.

To study the effects of various levels of whole cottonseed (WCS) on performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters, an experiment in completely randomized design (CRD) with four diets containing zero, four, eight and 16 percent WCS on 20 Zandi male lambs with initial average weight 30.4 ± 1.8 kg and 5-6 months old for 90 days was performed. Energy and chemical composition of rations were similar. In comparison of control diet with diets contain WCS in aspect of feed intake, feed conversion ratio, the percent of the carcass and also abdominal fat was significant difference (P< 0.01). The effect of diet on concentration of blood parameters was significant (P< 0.01). Glucose concentration with increasing of WCS in diet was decreasing, whereas concentration of cholesterol and triglyceride in blood increased linearly. This experiment showed that the WCS could be included up to eight percent of the fattening male lamb’s diet.

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.