AbstRAct:The aim of the present study was to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for birth and weaning weights in Raeini goats. The data were collected from the Breeding Centre of Raeini (BCR) cashmere goats in Kerman province of Iran from 1986 to 2008. Random effects included direct and maternal additive genetic effects, maternal permanent environmental effects with direct-maternal genetic covariance and random residual effects. Variance and covariance components and genetic parameters were estimated using the DFREML program by fitting six single-trait animal models. Depending on the model, h d 2 varied from 0.057 to 0.323 for birth weight and from 0.043 to 0.229 for weaning weight. Estimates of m 2 ranged from 0.016 to 0.289 for birth weight and from 0.01 to 0.184 for weaning weight. The maternal permanent environmental effect was significant for both traits and ignoring maternal effects in the model caused the overestimation of direct heritability.

No abstract

The aim was to study the polymorphisms in GH, GHR, IGF-I and IGFBPII genes and their association with productive and reproductive traits. DNA was extracted from blood samples of 380 breeder hens of Mazandaran native fowls breeding station by modified salting out method. For genotyping, PCR products of GH, GHR, IGF-I and IGFBPII loci were digested with specific restriction enzymes. We found six genotypes of AA, BB, CC, AB, AC and BC with the frequency of 0.10, 0.01, 0.36, 0.07, 0.34 and 0.12 in GH, two haploid alleles and genotypes of B+ and B-with the frequency of 0.72 and 0.28 in GHR, three genotypes of BB, Bb, bb with the frequency of 0.49, 0.44 and 0.07 in IGF-I and three genotypes of CC, CT and TT with the frequency of 0.14, 0.62 and 0.24 in IGFBPII loci, respectively. Significant associations were found between SNPs in IGF-I locus and egg number at 120-270 and 345-375 days of age, egg weight at puberty and percentage of hatchability traits (P<0.05). We also found significant effects of GHR and IGFBPII loci on egg number at 345-375 days of age and average egg weight at 345-375 days of age traits, respectively (P<0.05). Mean comparisons analysis between different genotypes of GH gene for body weight at day one and puberty, age at sexual maturity, egg weight at puberty and 30 weeks of age, average egg weight and egg number at 345-375 days of age and also percentage of fertility traits and IGFBPII genotypes for laying intensity trait were observed to be significant (P<0.05). Regarding the significant effects of GHR, IGF-I and IGFBPII genes on egg production traits, it could be resulted that these candidate genes may be used as the candidate markers in poultry breeding programs to improve productive and reproductive traits in this population.

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.

1. The objective was to investigate inbreeding depression for some economic traits of Mazandaran native fowls using data collected from 1992 to 2012 (21 generations) using a REML 2. The mean inbreeding coefficient (F) for the whole population and dams was 4.67% and 4.12%, respectively, and most of the inbred birds (75.79%) and inbred dams (72.58%) had F < 12.5%. 3. Individual and dam inbreeding trends were 0.55% and 0.53% per year. 4. Inbreeding depression for body weight at hatch, at 8 weeks and 12 weeks of age, age at sexual maturity, weight at sexual maturity, egg weight at 1st d of laying and average egg weight at 28, 30 and 32 weeks of laying due to a 1% increase in individual inbreeding were -0.11 g, -3.1 g, -1.3 g, 0.15 d, 0.59 g, -0.05 g and -0.03 g, respectively. 5. A 1% increase in maternal inbreeding resulted in a reduction of 0.06, 0.6 and 3.6 g in body weight at hatch, 8 weeks and 12 weeks of age.

In this study the seasonal variations of milk compositions and fatty acids profile with emphasis on Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and vaccinic acid (VA) concentrations of buffalo’ s Milk in North of Iran was investigating. In each season (2006)we had 30 samples (10 samples for each month ) of milk from bulk milk and sent them to laboratory for determination of It’s Compositions .Then fatty acids profile of milk fat was determined by Gas Chromatograph. The mean of Data from 120 samples for 4 seasons of year (2006) were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test with an alpha of 5% and the results show that: The range of total solids (TS) in milk samples were 16.15 – 18.93 percent so that high percent of TS was in April to July. There was no significant difference in amount of lactose in each of the seasons and it, S range was 4.93 –5.12 percent. The range of milk protein was 3.60 – 3.88 percent, there was significant difference between seasons so that the high content of protein was in April to July and the low content of it was in December to March. There was significant difference in content of milk fat in samples of various season .It was 6.78 – 9.25 percent, so that the high percent of milk fat was in December to June. The content of Unsaturated fatty acids was 50.50 to 58.23 percent of total milk fat .The content of Unsaturated fatty acids (C14 – C18) were higher in Spring season .These Data show That season of Year can influence on milk compositions and fatty acids profile of milk via the type and quality of forages that buffalos use it in grazing or feeding, the amount and kind of supplementation of used diet

No abstract

No abstract