ABSTRACT:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of commercial monostrain and multistrain probiotics in diets on growth performance, intestinal morphology and mucin gene (MUC2) expression in broiler chicks. Three hundred seventy-eight 1-d-old male Arian broiler chicks were allocated in 3 experimental groups for 6 wk. The birds were fed on a corn-soybean based diet and depending on the addition were labeled as follows: control-unsupplemented (C), birds supplemented with Bacillus subtilis (BS) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) based probiotics. Each treatment had 6 replicates of 21 broilers each. Treatment effects on body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and biomarkers such as intestinal goblet cell density, villus length, villus width, and mucin gene expression were determined. Total feed intake did not differ significantly between control birds and those fed a diet with probiotics (p>0.05). However, significant differences in growth performance were found. Final body weight at 42 d of age was higher in birds fed a diet with probiotics compared to those fed a diet without probiotic (p<0.05). Inclusion of Bacillus subtilis based probiotic in the diets also significantly affected feed conversion rate (FCR) compared with control birds (p<0.05). No differences in growth performance were observed in birds fed different types of probiotic supplemented diets. Inclusion of lactic acid bacteria based probiotic in the diets significantly increased goblet cell number and villus length (p<0.05). Furthermore, diets with Bacillus subtilis based probiotics significantly increased gene expression (p<0.05), with higher intestinal MUC2 mRNA in birds fed diet with probiotics compared to those fed the control diet. In BS and LAB probiotic fed chicks, higher growth performance may be related to higher expression of the MUC2 gene in goblet cells and/or morphological change of small intestinal tract. The higher synthesis of the mucin gene after probiotic administration may positively affect bacterial interactions in the intestinal digestive tract, intestinal mucosal cell proliferation and consequently efficient nutrient absorption.

The present study was carried out to estimate variance components for growth traits in Naeini goats. Bodyweight records were collected for two flocks under supervision of the Agriculture Organisation of the Esfahan province between 2000 and 2007. Investigated traits were birthweight (BW; n = 2483), weaning weight (WW; n = 1211) and average daily gain from birth to weaning (ADG; n = 1211). Environmental effects were investigated using fixed-effect models, while (co)variance components and genetic parameters were estimated with single- and three-trait analyses using REML methods and WOMBAT software. Six different animal models were fitted to the traits, with the best model for each trait determined by log-likelihood ratio tests (LRT). All traits were significantly influenced by herd, birth year, sex of the kid, birth type and dam age (P < 0.01). On the basis of LRT, maternal permanent environmental effects (c2) were significant for WW and ADG, while BW was affected only by direct genetic effects. Direct heritability estimates for BW, WW and ADG were 0.25 ± 0.05, 0.07 ± 0.06 and 0.21 ± 0.11, respectively. The estimate of c2 was 0.16 ± 0.06 for both WW and ADG. Estimates of genetic correlation for BW–ADG, BW–WW and ADG–WW were 0.49, 0.61 and 0.94, respectively. The estimated phenotypic correlations were positive and were between 0.03 (BW–ADG) and 0.95 (ADG–WW). These results indicate that selection can be used to improve growth traits in this goat breed.

Data and managementData and pedigree information on Ghezel sheep collected at the Breeding Station of Ghezel sheep, over the period from 1999 to 2007 (9-years), were used in this research. This information included pedigree information (animal, sire and dam code), birth information (date of birth, lamb sex, birth type) and performance records (birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and 6-months weight (6 MW)). Data which were available for analysis included 9,221 lamb records born from 180 sires and 5,060 dams for BW, 7,206 lamb records born from 167 sires and 4,497 dams for WW, and 6,112 lamb records born from 157 sires

In a two-factorial experiment, 420 1-day-old male commercial broiler chickens were randomly divided and fed a basal diet with or without vitamin C (500 parts/10(6)). Half of the birds within each group receiving the same kind of feed were fed a T(3 )supplemented diet from day 1, in order to increase the ascites incidence. Weekly body weight and feed intake were measured. Venous blood samples were taken from 10 birds per group weekly from day 14 on, for haematocrit measurements, blood gas analysis, measurement of thyroid hormones and lactate/pyruvate ratios. Ascites mortality was recorded daily. Dietary T(3) significantly increased ascites mortality. Adding vitamin C to the feed significantly reduced ascites mortality while it had no effect on performance parameters. Plasma thyroid hormone levels were significantly reduced by dietary vitamin C administration, but neither haematocrit nor blood gas levels were influenced.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Intermittent feeding programme (IFP) and Bacillus subtilis-based probiotic (BSP) addition in diet on liver malic enzyme and isocitrate dehydrogenase activity, lipid metabolism and performance in broiler chickens. Five hundred and four one-day old male broiler chicks were randomly allocated in four experimental treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4). Groups T1 (control diet) and T3 (Bacillus subtilis-based probiotic diet) were fed ad libitum, whereas groups T2 (control diet) and T4 (Bacillus subtilis-based probiotic diet) served as IFP from day 8 to the end of the experiment. The data on initial body weight, weekly feed consumption and body weight gain were recorded up to six weeks of age. Carcass composition, blood parameters and hepatic enzyme activity were measured at the end of the experiment. Although body weight gain was not significantly different among any of the treatments, the birds raised under IFP consumed significantly (P<0.05) lower feed (207 g) and utilized their feed more efficiently (1.78) than those of the control group fed ad libitum (1.84). Carcass weight as a percentage of live weight was not affected by probiotic supplementation on the diet, but IFP significantly reduced (P<0.05) broiler carcass weight. However, the liver malic and isocitrate dehydrogenase enzyme activity was not significantly different between IFP and BSP groups. 411Archiv Tierzucht 56 (2013) 40, 410-422 BSP may influence the pathway of fat metabolism through promotion and/or suppression of serum lipid metabolites.

The present study was conducted to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for growth traits of Iran-Black sheep, maintained at the Abbasabad sheep breeding station, located in northeast of Mashhad, (Razavi Khorasan province of Iran) over a period of 24 years (1981 through 2004). Records of 4607 lambs descended from 155 rams, and 1227 ewes were used in the study. Traits included for the present study were birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), weight at 6 months (W6), weight at 9 months (W9), and yearling weight (YW). Analyses were carried out by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) fitting an animal model and ignoring or including maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects. Six different animal models were fitted for all traits. The most appropriate model was chosen after testing the improvement of the log-likelihood values. Heritability estimates for weight at birth; weaning; and 6, 9, and 12 months of age were 0.04, 0.14, 0.16, 0.19, and 0.18, respectively. Maternal heritability of body weight declined from 0.33 at birth to 0.04 at six months of age. The maternal permanent environmental component accounted for 6% to 15% to the total variance for all traits under study. The direct-maternal genetic correlation (r am ) was positive for all traits and ranged from 0.3690.27 for BW to 0.9990.98 for YW, but was never significant. The results showed that modest rates of genetic progress appear possible for all weights. Results also suggest that maternal additive effects were only important in early stages of growth, whereas a permanent environmental maternal effect existed at all ages up to 12 months of age, probably as a carry-over effect of maternal influences present at weaning. Direct genetic correlations (r a1,a2 ) between traits were positive and ranged from 0.82 (BW-WW) to 0.99 (W6-YW). The estimates of correlation between permanent environmental maternal effect among traits were close to those of r a1,a2 . Phenotypic and environmental correlations for all traits were generally lower than direct genetic correlations.

The aim of this study was to estimate the allele frequencies in polymorphic site of exon six of POU1F1 gene in three Iranian native and Holstein cattle. Genomic DNA was extracted from 3 Iranian native cattle breeds, including 97 Mazandarani, 87 Sarabi, 112 Golpaygani and also 110 Holstein cattle. A 451 bp fragment of intron 5 and exon 6 were amplified and digested with HinfI restriction enzyme. Frequencies of allele A were 0.37, 0.27, 0.34 and 0.21 for Mazandarani, Sarabi, Golpaygani and Holstein cattle, respectively. Significant differences in genotype frequencies were found between Mazandarani or Golpaygani and Holstein cattle. No significant differences in genotype frequencies were found between Sarabi and Holstein cattle. Transition A to G in nucleotide 1256 is responsible for HinfI(-) allele. No significant association was observed between POU1F1 polymorphism and milk production. Differences in allelic frequency between native Bos indicus breeds (Mazandarani, Golpaygani) and Holstein at the present study might be due to differences in origin breeds, low number of samples and/or as the effect of natural selection in native breeds.

Abstract:In an experiment with complete randomized design, the effect of intermittent lighting (1 h L: 3 h D) was studied on performance of 400 broiler chicks from 10 to 42 d of age. During of the experiment feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio were measured weekly. Mortality was measured throughout the experiment. At 42 d of age 10 chicks from each treatment were slaughtered for abdominal fat weight. There wasn't significant difference for body weight at 42 d between treatments. Use of intermittent lighting schedule improved feed conversion ratio significantly (P<0.05). Due to decrease fat deposition, intermittent lighting program reduced abdominal fat percentage (P<0.05). There wasn't significant difference between treatments for mortality. In conclusion, since physical activity is very low during darkness, and energy expenditure for activity is reduced, therefore use of intermittent lighting program enhanced production efficiency, reduced room temperature and cost of electricity.