The aim of the present study was to evaluate growth performance parameters, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and hepatic and renal functions of APRI growing rabbits fed diets supplemented with zinc-oxide (ZnO) or nano-zinc oxide (ZnO-NP). A number of 60 weaned rabbits (5 wk of age) were divided into three experimental groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (G1), 50 mg ZnO (G2), and 30 mg ZnO-NP (G3) per kg during the growing period (5 to 13 wk of age). Live body weight, feed consumption, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, performance index and mortality rate were recorded. Biochemical parameters, antioxidant and immunity status were determined at 13 wk of age. Results show that dietary ZnO or ZnO-NP addition increased (P<0.05) growth performance parameters, serum high-density lipoproteins, glutathione, glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase, immunoglobulins. Concentrations of triglycerides and MDA in blood serum reduced (P<0.05) in treatment groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with ZnO or ZnO-NP can enhance growth performance, lipid profile, immunity and antioxidant status of growing rabbits under heat stress conditions.
Application of assisted reproductive technology in camelidea, such as artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer, has been slow in comparison to that for other livestock species. In Egypt, there are few attempts to establish in vitro maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF) techniques in dromedary camel. The present study was carried out to produce Sudanese camel embryos using in vitro matured oocytes and epididymal spermatozoa. Dromedary camel ovaries were collected from abattoirs and then, the oocytes were aspirated from all the visible follicles on the ovarian surface (~2-8 mm in a diameter). Meanwhile, Fetal Dromedary Camel Serum (FDCS) was obtained from camel fetuses after slaughtering. Thereafter, only Cumulus Oocyte Complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro in the Tissue Culture Medium (TCM-199) complemented with 10% FDCS. Spermatozoa required for in vitro fertilization were collected from testes (epididymal cauda) of the slaughtered camel bulls. The results clearly showed that the maturation rate of oocytes at metaphase II was about 59.5% while the fertilization rate was around 70.4%. Intriguingly, the embryo rates determined were 13.1%, in 2-cell; 0.0%, in 4-cell; 34.7%, in 8-16% cell; 39.1%, in morula and 13.1% in a blastocyst stage. This study represented a successful in vitro production of Sudanese dromedary camel embryos from epididymal sperm cells and in vitro matured oocytes recovered from slaughtered camels.
Buffaloes ovaries obtained from slaughterhouses were used to study the influence of the oocyte collection techniques (dissection, aspiration, slicing, and aspiration plus slicing) on the availability of oocytes quantity and quality of buffalo oocytes. The oocytes were collected aseptically from the ovaries by the four methods. In all methods, oocytes were classified into 5 classes on the basis of the morphology of compact, denuded, degenerated, expanded and partial denuded oocytes. Results showed that the oocyte recovery rate from ovaries was higher (P<0.05) by aspiration plus slicing (84.67%) and slicing (83.30%) than aspiration (72.68%), while dissection technique showed the lowest (P<0.05) oocyte recovery rate (52.04%). Percentage of cumulus oocyte complexes collected by slicing (63.17%) was higher (P<0.05) than aspiration (51.34 %), aspiration plus slicing (51.24%) and dissection (42.03%). The corresponding percentages of expanded cumulus oocytes were 29.93, 30.31, 27.55 and 32.68%, respectively (P<0.05). Such results may indicate efficacy of slicing technique as a collection method on quantity and quality of buffalo oocytes.
The objective of this study was to determine effect of humates, HTs (humic and fulvic acid mixture) on thermoregulation, body weight, sexual desire and semen quality of Damascus goat bucks under summer hot condition. The experimental work of this study was carried out at Sheep and Goats Breeding Research Department, Animal Production Research Institute. The experimental period lasted for 5 months, two months as primary period (April-May) and three months (Jun-August, 2017) as a semen collection period. During an experimental period of 5 mo, fifteen Damascus goat bucks weighing 31-33 kg and with 14-15 mo old were divided to three groups (n=5). Bucks of the 1 st group (G1) had no treatment (control), but bucks in the second and third groups were daily administrated orally with 50 mg HTs (G2) and 100 mg HTs (G3) per kg live body weight of buck, respectively. The determined amount of humic and fulvic acids mixture in powder form was mixed with distilled water in an emulsion dose of 5 ml/buck during treatment period. Throughout the experimental period, ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH %) were recorded weekly and the physiological measurements were determined (13:00-14:00 h) and temperature-humidity index (THI) was estimated. All bucks were fed the same ration (concentrate feed mixture, berseem hay and rice straw and kept under the same housing and managerial conditions. Hair (HT), skin (ST), rectal (RT), scrotal (SCT) and ear (ET) temperature degrees, respiration (RR) and pulse (PR) rates were determined. Live body weight of bucks (LBW) was determined during the experimental period. Body measurements (length, depth and chest circumference), and ear length were determined pre-treatment (initial) and at the end of experiment (final). Scrotal circumference (SC) and testicular length (TL) and volume (TV) were measured. Reaction time was determined and semen was collected by artificial vagina. Results indicated that bucks in all groups exposed to very severe heat stress during the experimental months from Jun to August. Both RT and SCT reduced (P<0.05) in G2 and G3, while RR and PR decreased (P<0.05) in G3 only. However, the effect of HTs on HT, ST, ET, internal gradients between RT-ST, ST-HT, RT-SCT and ST-SCT was not significant. External gradient between each of HT, ET and RT, and AT was lower (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 than in G1, but gradient between ST-AT was not affected by HTs treatment. Slight differences between groups in buck weights from April up to 1 st Jun, then bucks in G2 were heavier (P<0.05) than in G1 and G2 during July and August. The effect of HTs treatment on body measurements, TV and SC was not significant. Allici treatment increased (P<0.05) testicular length and plasma testosterone concentration, while decreased (P<0.05) reaction time as compared to control. Treatment with HTs improved (P<0.05) all physical semen characteristic and sperm outputs in G2 and G3 compared with G1. In conclusion, bucks in G3 receiving orally dose of 100 mg humic and fulvic acids mixture/kg LBW in hot months ...
his study was conducted to investigate the influence of zinc sulfate and zinc methionine supplementation on the nutrients digestibility, nutritive values of feeds and ruminal fermentation of sheep. Fifteen sheep averaged (52.2 ± 1.40 kg)were divided into five similar groups (three animals each),they were fed basal diet containing 33.34 mg Zn/kg dry matter (DM) with no supplemental Zn (control). Control group was consulted of concentrate feed mixture (CFM), corn silage and rice straw without zinc supplementation. The other four experimental groups supplemental with 30 or 60 mg of Zn/kg of DM from Zn sulfate (ZnS) or zinc methionine (ZnMet) to control diet. Results indicated that zinc addition either as zinc sulfate or zinc methionine increased (P<0.05) the digestibility of all nutrients which were reflected on the nutritive values (as TDN and DCP) of diets. Addition of zinc sulfate or zinc methionine reduced ammonia-N and increased both TVFA's rumen volume, rumen digesta and microbial protein synthesis of sheep.
The current study investigated the effect of breeding season and presence of corpora lutea (CLs) on the ovaries with, ovarian characteristics, and yield, quality and oocyte recovery rate in sheep. Also, the effect of addition of sheep serum (SS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to maturation medium of sheep oocytes during breeding and non-breeding season was studied. Ovaries were collected during breeding and non-breeding seasons from slaughterhouses. Ovaries were classified with or without CLs during both seasons. Oocytes were collected by slicing and their yield, category and recovery rate were determined. Only compact oocytes (COCs) were in vitro matured as affected by breeding vs. non-breeding season and addition of 10% SS vs. BSA. Results show that only ovarian weight was higher (P<0.05) in breeding than in non-breeding season and with CL-ovaries than without CLs. Ovaries were longer and thicker in breed in than in non-breeding season. CL-ovaries during breeding season showed the highest ovarian characteristics. Number of all visible follicles/ovary tended to be higher (P<0.05) in breeding than in non-breeding season and of ovaries with than without CLs (P≥0.05). Oocyte yield/ovary was greater (P<0.05) by 41.7% in breeding than in non-breeding season. Oocyte yield was insignificantly greater on ovaries with CLs than those without CLs. Oocyte recovery rate was insignificantly higher in breeding and on ovaries with CLs than in non-breeding season and on those without CLs. Number/ovary and percentage of COCs were higher, while number/ovary were lower in breeding than in non-breeding season (P<0.05). Number and percentage of all categories were higher for oocytes recovered from ovaries with than without CLs. Percentage of oocytes at M-I stage was slightly higher in non-breeding than in breeding season. Percentage of oocytes at M-II showed an opposite trend, reflecting insignificantly higher maturation rate in breeding than in nonbreeding season. Percentage of oocytes at M-I and M-II stages was insignificantly higher in BSA than in SS-medium. Oocyte maturation rate with SS than with BSA in breeding and non-breeding season. In conclusion, sheep oocytes were available to be harvested during non-breeding season from slaughtered ewes with acceptable yield, quality and the maturation rate in vitro by addition sheep serum (10%) to maturation medium.
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