The experiment was carried out with dual-purpose fowls developed for rural backyard farming -indigenous Katunitsa chicken (line "AN"), in a free range management system from hatching to 52 weeks of age. The purpose of the investigation was to establish the influence of a blend of herbs as a dietary supplement on some serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase, triglycerides and creatinine), growth performance, egg production, egg fatty acid composition, and health status. The composition of this blend of herbs included: 0.05% garlic powder (Allium sativum), 0.3% cinnamon powder (Cinnamomum verum) and 0.03% of each of the following dried herbs: yarrow (Achillea millefolium), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), thyme (Thymus serpyllum), basil (Ocimum basilicum) and oregano (Origanum vulgare). The birds were divided into two groups -control (n=60) without supplemental mixture to the diet and experimental (n=700) with supplemental mixture to the diet from the first day of age to the end of the experiment. The results showed that the herbal mixture supplement decreased significantly the blood serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels -at 7 (P<0.001) and at 52 weeks (P<0.05) of age. The content of phospholipids, triglycerides and linoleic acid in the egg yolk was higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (Р<0.05). There was no significant difference in the egg yolk cholesterol levels between both groups (P>0.05). Over the entire investigation period the chickens from the experimental group had a better feed conversion ratio (with 3.37%) and a higher egg laying capacity (with 1.79%). At the end of experiment (52 weeks of age), hens from the control group exhibited generalised fatty degeneration of liver parenchyma, while these in experimental group, the major part of hepatocytes had no fat droplets in their cytoplasm. The death rate from 0 to 7, from 8 to 21 and from 22 to 52 weeks of age was 18.33%, 0% and 8.57% in the control group and 1.00%, 0.26% and 2.62% in the experimental group, respectively. Therefore in conclusion, it can be affirmed that the use of this blend of herbs had a beneficial effect in the treated fowls and improved their egg productivity, vitality and health condition.Keywords: blood biochemical parameters, chickens, dried herbs, egg production, garlic, growth performance, mortality РезюмеПроучването е проведено с кокошки от общоползувателно направление, предназначени за свободно отглеждане във фамилни ферми -Катунска кокошка, (линия "AN") от излюпване на пилетата до 52-седмична възраст. Целта е да се установи влиянието на билкова смес използувана като добавка в комбинирания фураж върху някои серумни биохимични показатели (аланин аминотрансфераза, аспартат аминотрансфераза, общ холестерол, гамаглутамилтрансфераза, триглицериди и креатинин), растежа, носливостта, мастнокиселинния състав на яйчния жълтък и здравния статус. Съставът на билкова смес е: 0,05% чесън на прах, 0.3% канела (Cin...

The testes of three birds were examined at each age period. The testicular morphometry at the respective age included the following parameters-weight, length and width, diameter of seminiferous tubules (ST), ratio between ST volume and interstitial connective tissue volume. Immediately after hatching, there were two cell types in seminiferous tubular wall-Sertoli cells (Еpitheliocytus sustentans) and spermatogonia. At 2 months of age, spermatogonia formed one row in ST with lumen and the spermatogenesis has started. At 5 months of age, all generations of germ cells were present in ST. After that age, the histological picture is the typical one for the testis of a sexually mature bird. Morphometric findings were as followed: after the 2 nd month of age, the increase in testes weight and ST diameter became more pronounced at each subsequent age period. During the breeding period (at 8-12 months of age and at 2 years of age), the weight and size of testes were the greatest. From hatch to 1 month of age, the interstitial tissue (IT) prevailed over ST, whereas at age periods that followed, the opposite relationship was observed. During the non-breeding period (18 months of age) the testicular parenchyma regressed resulting in lower testes weight, lower ST diameter and volume and presence of spermatogonia only in ST lumen. The weight and size of testes was identical to that of birds at 4 months of age.

The purpose of this study was to follow out the influence of the prebiotic Salgard and of an herb mixture (rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano and cinnamon) on the growth performance and blood biochemical parameters of Pekin ducklings in an organic production system. In this study, 72 one-day-old Pekin ducklings reared up to the age of 63 days were used. They were divided into 3 groups of 24 birds each and sexed (12 ♂and 12 ♀) as followed: group I (control) fed a standard feed; group II-fed the same feed supplemented with the prebiotic Salgard at a concentration of 0.15 %, and group III-fed the same feed supplemented with 0.15 % of a herb mixture in an equal proportion (0.03% of each herb-rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano and cinnamon) from the first day of age to the end of the experiment. The individual live weight of the birds and the feed conversion ratio were controlled throughout the experiment at 1, 28 and 63 days of age. By the end of the study, blood serum ASAT, ALAT, GGT, triglycerides (TG), total and HDL cholesterol, and creatinine were assayed. The addition of Salgard to the feed of Pekin ducklings increased live weight with 4.94 % in males and with 4.67 % in females. The addition of the herbal mixture of rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, cinnamon to the feed had a positive effect on the live weight. It is increased with 3.75 % in males and insignificantly in females. A significant reduction in the blood serum concentrations of triglycerides (Р<0.01) and total cholesterol (Р<0.01) was established, which could be related with the anti stress effect of the herbal mixture on Pekin ducklings.

BACKGROUND Eggs are important foods in the daily diet of humans and have great biological activity and a high digestibility. Egg yolk is a good source of biologically active substances such as fatty acids, phospholipids, sterols and tocopherols. The eggs of seven chicken genotypes were analyzed for their chemical composition, and a detailed study of the lipids in egg yolk was conducted. RESULTS Energy composition of the egg yolk and egg albumen was 29.06–30.51 MJ kg−1 and 19.77–20.93 MJ kg−1 respectively. Regarding their chemical composition: water ranged from 471.7 to 515.4 g kg−1 and 878.3–885.9 g kg−1; fat content in dry matter ranged from 607 to 647 g kg−1 and 6.7–11.6 g kg−1; protein varied from 302 to 331.7 g kg−1 and 823.6–892.5 g kg−1; ash ranged from 33.7 to 37.7 g kg−1 and 63.8–74.0 g kg−1; and nitrogen‐free extracts ranged from 12.7 to 36.5 g kg−1 and 35.0–96.2 g kg−1. The sterols and phospholipids in the yolk lipids were 16–26 g kg−1 and 59–127 g kg−1. The main fatty acids in the lipids were oleic (39.1–47.3%) and palmitic (26.0–35.5%) acids. Cholesterol in the yolk lipids ranged from 15.9 to 25.9 g kg−1. Phosphatidylcholine (389–573 g kg−1), phosphatidylethanolamine (219–355 g kg−1) and phosphatidylinositol (112–284 g kg−1) were the main phospholipids. The content of saturated fatty acids in the phospholipids was significantly higher than that in triacylglycerols. CONCLUSION Small variations in the chemical composition of eggs from seven different genotypes were observed. Significant differences in the fatty acid compositions of the main classes of phospholipids and the triacylglycerol fraction were established. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

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A study for the influence of semen extenders IMV-buffer, HIA- 1 and AU on sperm motion characteristics of Muscovy drake spermatozoa was carried out. The semen from each male (n=6) was divided into three equal parts and diluted in ratio 1:3 (semen:extender) with the IMV-buffer, HIA-1 and AU respectively, and then was stored at temperature 0-4C? for 6 hours. Sperm motion parameters - velocity of spermatozoa (rapid, medium, slow and statistic), VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN, STR, WOB were measured using a Sperm Class Analizer (Micropticum, Spain). Computer-assisted sperm motion analysis indicated that Muscovy spermatozoa preserved a rapid and medium sperm velocity after 6 hours in vitro storage in three examination extenders. The total VCL, VSL and VAP of spermatozoa in the semen diluted with AU extender were 110.47?7.44 ?m/s, 29.42?2.02 ?m/s and 57.39?3.73 ?m/s, in the semen diluted with IMV-buffer were 94.93?11.10 ?m/s, 27.57?2.45 ?m/s and 51.35?4.98 ?m/s, and in the semen diluted with HIA-1 were 68.48?12.74 ?m/s, 20.08?4.18 ?m/s and 37.75?7.65 ?m/s, as the differences were significant between AU and HIA-1 - (P<0.05). About LIN, STR, WOB there were no significant differences for the influence of the extenders.

SummaryPoultry biodiversity conservation is a great challenge for many countries. Within the last several years, the number of endangered local breeds has increased, leading to a considerable loss of genetic resources. A similar trend was observed among the poultry breeds, including chicken, local turkey and goose breeds/lines established in Bulgaria, part of which is definitely lost. Currently these breeds/lines are at risk and/or threatened with extinction. The information obtained by phenotypic characterization of these breeds is the first step for planning the management of poultry genetic resources through setting up improved selection schemes and conservation strategies. In this paper, we reviewed the current state of knowledge regarding the morphological and phenotypic diversity of local poultry breeds and some old productive poultry lines in Bulgaria.