Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential for dietary garlic to influence egg yolk cholesterol concentrations and overall performance in different layer strains. Thirty-six, 28-wk-old, Hisex Brown,Isa Brown, Lohmann, Starcross, Babcock, and Starcross-579 strains (six hens per strain) were fed diets supplemented with 0 (control), 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10% sun-dried garlic paste for 6 wk. There were no differences (P > 0.05) among diets or strains in egg weight, egg mass, feed consumption, feed efficiency, and BW gain as averaged over 6 wk. Yolk weight, however, responded quadratically with increasing levels of dietary garlic and differed among strains (P < 0.05). Egg production and yolk weights were significantly higher in the Babcock strain in comparison with other strains. Serum and egg yolk cholesterol concentrations decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of dietary garlic. Serum and egg yolk cholesterol concentrations also differed among different strains (P < 0.05). It was concluded that garlic paste in the diets of laying hens reduced serum and yolk cholesterol concentrations. It was also concluded that dietary garlic paste had no adverse effects on layer performance.

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An experiment was conducted with commercial broilers to investigate the effects of feeding citric acid, acetic acid and their combination on their performance and to determine the economic competence of using citric acid and acetic acid in broiler rations. A total number of 108 one day old straight run broiler chicks were distributed to four dietary treatments i.e. 0 % citric or acetic acid (A) , 0.5% citric acid (B), 0.5% acetic acid (C) and their combinations 0.5% citric acid and 0.5% acetic acid (D). The birds were reared in cages. Body weight gains, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, dressing yield and carcass characteristics were recorded. The performance showed significant increase in body weight gain (P<0.05) when compared with the control during 0-5 weeks of age on 0.5% citric acid (B). Feed consumption increased (P<0.05) at 2 nd and 3 rd weeks of age on 0.5% citric acid (B). Feed conversion was found higher (P<0.05) during 0-5 weeks of age in treatment B when compared to those of the other treatments. Carcass characteristics were not affected by dietary treatments. The highest mortality was found in treatment A and treatment C due to excessive hot. It may be concluded that use of 0.5% citric acid in the diet of broilers may have better performance in respect of live weight gain and feed conversion.

An experiment was conducted during July-December 2001 at the Agronomy field laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to study the effect of nitrogen levels and plant spacing on the yield and yield contributing characters of transplant Aman rice (var. BRRI Dhan 31). Five levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 kg N/ha) and three spacings (25 cm x 20 cm, 25 cm x 15 cm, 25 cm x 10 cm) were included as treatment variables. A gradual increase in panicle length (24.50 cm), grains/panicle 110) and grain yield (4.91 t/ha) were observed with the increase in nitrogen levels upto 150 kg/ha and declined thereafter. Thousand-grain weight was not significantly influenced by application of different levels of nitrogen. The maximum grain yield (4.22 t/ha) was observed at the spacing 25 cm x 10 cm closely followed by 25 cm x 15 cm (4.21 t/ha). Wider spacing (25 cm x 10 cm) produced the tallest plant (108.38 cm), but significantly highest tllers/hill (8.06) and grains/panicle was recorded from (25 cm x 20 cm). Plant spacing had also no significant effect on 1000-grain weight. The interaction effects of nitrogen and plant spacing was significant in panicle length, grains/panicle, and grain yield. The higher grain yield (5.00 t/ha) was recorded from the treatment combination of 150 kg N/ha with 25 cm x 15 cm spacing, but statistically identical to same N dose with other two spacings. Response of grain yield to added N was quadratic. The optimum doses were found to be 132 kg N/ha for 25 cm x 20 cm, 119 kg N/ha for 25 cm, and 177 kg N/ha for 25 cm x 10 cm spacing, yielding 4.38, 4.63 and 4.75 t/ha, respectively. Key Words: Nitrogen; plant spacing; aman rice. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v34i2.5801Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 34(2): 279-285, June 2009

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding laying hens grains naturally contaminated with a combination of Fusarium mycotoxins. Parameters measured included performance, organ weights, and plasma chemistry. One hundred and forty-four, 45-wk-old laying hens were fed diets including: (1) control, (2) contaminated grains, and (3) contaminated grains + 0.2% polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GMA) for a 12-wk period. The feeding of contaminated grains decreased feed consumption compared with controls in the first 4 wk. Feed consumption increased, however, from 4 to 8 wk and from 8 to 12 wk. The efficiency of feed utilization (feed consumption/egg mass) decreased compared with controls in the periods from 4 to 8 and from 8 to 12 wk when birds were fed contaminated grains. Supplementation with GMA decreased feed consumption and increased the efficiency of feed utilization in the period from 8 to 12 wk. Egg production and egg mass decreased in wk 4 and 8 compared with controls when contaminated grains were fed, whereas egg and eggshell weights decreased in the fourth wk. Plasma uric acid concentrations increased throughout the experiment and relative kidney weights increased at the end of the experiment compared with controls when birds were fed contaminated grains. The feeding of GMA prevented the elevation in uric acid concentrations and relative kidney weights. It was concluded that layer performance and metabolism were adversely affected by chronic feeding of a combination of Fusarium mycotoxins, and that GMA prevented many of these effects.

Twenty-eight healthy trained and untrained men and eleven untrained women were exercised at several grades on a treadmill or in various athletic events. The serum levels of five enzymes (two transaminases, aldolase, and two dehydrogenases) were compared prior to and at intervals after work. Generally there was a rise after exercise which reached its peak 5 min after completion of the work. The greatest increment of enzyme increase was observed in the untrained subjects and the least in the trained athletes. As the total amount of work output increased the mean serum enzyme levels were correspondingly raised. Aldolase and lactic dehydrogenase showed the least change, malic dehydrogenase increased moderately, while the two transaminases manifested very significant rises after all forms of exercise. Submitted on September 5, 1961

A chronological account of observations on the nature of the shell membrane protein system is presented. The review indicates that although the major protein in the shell membrane is not elastin, it does contain desmosine and isodesmosinethe cross-linking amino acids. The membranes also contain small amounts of collagen. The formation of these proteins can be impaired by the inclusion of lathyrogens in the diet of laying hens. This impairment is caused by a failure to synthesize cross-links of membrane protein and this is very similar to the effect obtained when hens are fed copper-deficient diets. The disruption of the protein system has a considerable effect on the development of eggs, which are abnormal in size, shape and shell texture. The lathyrogens also have a depressing effect on egg production. The problems and prospects of utilizing seeds of certain Lathyrus plants containing lathyrogens are indicated.

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