This study aimed to know the effect of feeding different levels of dandelion leaf powder on the productive and some physiological traits of broiler chickens, in which 180 one-day age chicks of the unsexed Ross 308 strain were used. The chicks were distributed randomly into 4 treatments that included each treatment (3 replicates at an average of 15 chicks for each replicate). The transactions were divided into The first (control) treatment was without addition, the second, third and fourth treatments included the addition of dandelion leaf powder at a concentration (1.0,1.5,2.0) g/kg feed respectively. The results showed that there was a significant increase (P<0.05) for T2 and T4 birds in the mean live body weight and total weight gain, with a significant decrease (P <0.05) in the total feed consumption rate and obtaining the best feed conversion factor for T4 birds compared to the rest of the treatments. In addition, there was a significant decrease (P <0.05) in the blood glucose and triglyceride concentrations of the two treatments T2 and T4 birds, with a significant decrease (P <0.05) in the cholesterol concentration and a significant increase (P<0.05) in the Glutathione peroxidase concentration in the blood serum of T4 treatment birds compared to With the other treatments, a significant decrease (P <0.05) of Malnualdehyde concentration (MDA) was obtained for all additive treatments compared to control. We conclude from this that adding dandelion leaf powder at a concentration of (1.0, 2.0) g / kg feed to the broiler chickens diet has a positive effect on improving the productivity and some physiological traits of broiler chickens.
. Litter size is one of the crucial factors in livestock production and is of high economic value, which is affected by ovulation rate, hormones, and growth factors. Growth factors play a multifaceted role in reproductive physiology. This review aims to investigate the association of bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) with litter size in livestock. The transforming growth factor β (TGF- β) superfamily includes more than 34 members; GDF9 and BMP15 are among the most significant factors for regulating fertility and litter size in most livestock species. Ovarian follicles release BMP15 and GDF9 that are involved in the maturation of primary follicles into the basal form, proliferation of granulosa and theca cells, steroidogenesis, ovulation, and formation of the corpus luteum. Besides, these factors are highly expressed in oocytes and are necessary for female fertility and multiple ovulation in several livestock species. Animals with two inactive copies of these factors are sterile, while those with one inactive copy are fertile. Thus, the present review provides valuable information on the association of BMP15 and GDF9 with litter size in livestock that can be used as biological markers of multiple ovulation or for improving fertility in livestock.
This research aimed to assess the genetic polymorphism of the BMP15 gene concerning sex hormone levels and birth type in Awassi ewes. The genome DNA of 138 Awassi ewes was isolated (52 ewes produced a singleton and 86 produced twins). The BMP15 gene exon-2 was amplifiable by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), so two genotypes were identified based on 141 bp amplicons: TT and TA. A sequencing reaction revealed a novel mutation, c.50980646T>A, in the TA genotype. This single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) showed a high association (P≤0.01) with sex hormone levels and litter size, sheep containing this SNP had higher levels of sex hormones and larger litter sizes than sheep without it. Ewes with the TA genotype had a 1.89 litter size than their TT counterparts. Logistic regression confirmed that the c.50980646T>A SNP increased litter size. In conclusion, the c.50980646T>A SNP appears to be significantly related to reproductive traits (especially sex hormone levels and litter size) in Awassi sheep. With these results, mutations of the BMP15 gene are suitable for developing marker-assisted selection programs to increase Awassi sheep litter size.
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