Explore the vast range of titles available.

The productivity of animals is closely related to the quality of the diet and of dry matter intake. Dry matter intake (DMI) is a factor that needs to be assessed before an animal’s diet can be calculated correctly. Purebred bulls of the Kazakh white-headed breed in the amount of 70 heads of 7-8 months of age were selected for the experiment. By the end of the test, the bulls were about 11-12 months old. The average weight of the bulls when put to the test was 248.47 ± 2.46 kg, at the end of the test their average weight was 319.7 ± 3.44 kg. It is worth noting that the largest average daily increase was 2.46 ± 0.05 kg, which was in a bull that consumed 6.26 kg of dry matter per day, while the lowest average daily increase was 0.36 ± 0.05 kg, which was in a bull that consumed 5.67 kg of dry matter.

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary energy and protein level growth performances of selected indigenous Ethiopian sheep breeds. Fifty intact ram lambs, 25 from each breed with 12 months of age and a mean initial body weight (IBW) of 19.31 ± 1.7 kg, were employed for this experiment. Animals were distributed randomly into five dietary treatments, i.e., minimum Energy and Protein (mEmP), medium energy and protein (MEMP), medium Energy and high Protein (MEHP), high energy and medium protein (HEMP), and high Energy and high Protein (HEHP) diets in randomized complete block design with 2 * 5 factorial arrangements. The minimum, medium, and high energy diets were 2.388, 2.866, and 3.344 Mcal/kg dry matter (DM) with the corresponding 10%, 16%, and 20% crude protein (CP) diets, respectively. The diets were formulated in a total mixed ration from wheat bran (WB), maize grain, peanut cake, and pasture hay feed ingredients. Diet offer was at the rate of 3% of lambs' live weight and revised biweekly as per the attained body weight changes. Digestibility trial was conducted for 7 days of actual fecal data collection, followed by 90 days of feeding trial. The animals fed on the MEHP diet had a maximum DM and nutrient intakes (CP and organic matter) and the best final body weight (FBW), total gain, gain rate, average daily gains, and feed conversion efficiency (31.3, 12.9 kg, 41.2%, 143.3 gm, and 23.13, respectively), followed by HEMP, HEHP, MEMP, and mEmP diets. Digestibility of DM and nutrients linearly followed similar trends ( < 0.01). Hararghe sheep was heavier ( < 0.01) by 4.3 and 3.1 kg in its FBW and total gain and more efficient in nutrients utilization (22.57 18.18) as compared to Afar sheep (AS). It is concluded that MEHP and MEMP are superior and optimum diets for sheep breeds, and Hararghe sheep is carried out better than AS in most growth performance parameters.

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of different levels and sources of fats in diets on growth performance, carcass characteristics and immune response of turkeys during four periods (0-21, 22 to 42, 43 to 63 and 64 to 70 days of age). A completely randomized design with five treatments, six replicates and eight B.U.T.6 turkey chickens per replicate was used. Treatments included: Control diet, diet containing 2.5% of soybean oil, diet containing 2.5% fat supplement, diet containing 5% soybean oil, diet containing 5% fat supplement. The results showed that using 5% of soybean oil increased average daily gain of turkeys (89.04 g) throughout the experimental period (0-70 days) compared with the control group (81.11 g; p < 0.05). Treatments containing 2.5 and 5% soybean oil improved feed conversion ratio compared to control group (p < 0.05). Soybean oil at the levels of 2.5 and 5% was led to higher spleen and bursa percentages compared to other treatments, respectively (p < 0.05). The level and source of dietary fat had not significant effect on antibody titer against Newcastle virus vaccine on 42 and 70 days of age (p > 0.05). It can be concluded that supplementing diet with 5% soybean oil improved the performance of turkeys.

The study was conducted to determine the effect of agro-ecological zone, season of birth and sex on Nguni calves’ pre-weaning performance. Production indices such as birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), pre-weaning average daily gain (P-ADG) and pre-weaning gain (P-WG) were assessed in the different agro-ecological zones. Herd records on performance of 826 Nguni calves’ from nine Nguni herds representing different agro-ecological zones: arid zone ( n  = 217); semi-arid zone ( n  = 296); dry sub-humid zone ( n  = 118) and humid zone ( n  = 195) were used for the analysis of pre-weaning calf performance. General linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS ( 2013 ) was used to analyse data, whereas mean separation was conducted using Tukey’s HSD test. Agro-ecological zone had a great influence ( P  < 0.01) on performance levels arising from pasture conditions which were dependent on rain, temperature, topography and soil type. Fluctuations in WW, P-ADG and P-WG performance across agro-ecological zones depicted the sensitivity of Nguni calves’ to postnatal stress. Calves’ in humid zone had higher performance with 121.21 kg for WW, 96.83 kg for P-WG and 0.477 kg/day for P-ADG. The lowest WW (114.51 kg), P-WG (89.98 kg) and P-ADG (0.438 kg/day) were observed in arid zone. Male calves were heavier at weaning (128.18 kg), P-ADG (0.503 kg/day) and total gain (103.03 kg); however, similar BW of 25 kg was observed for both male and female calves. Season had a significant ( P  < 0.05) effect on BW, P-ADG and P-WG. The P-ADG was 0.461 kg/day for calves born in summer and 0.449 kg/day for calves born in winter season. Calves born in summer gained 94.69 kg and calves born in winter gained 92.10 kg. Summer calves gained 2.59 kg more than winter calves. Summer heifer calves performed poorly whilst summer male calves outperformed heifer calves in terms of WW, P-WG and P-ADG. Pre-weaned calves in humid zone outperformed all calves in other agro-ecological zones. It was concluded that acceptable levels of growth are achievable from Nguni cattle under the different agro-ecological zones of Limpopo province, South Africa.

Abstract The effects of supplementing lambs with Co, either alone or in combination with vitamin B12 and Se, were evaluated over the period from weaning to selection for slaughter. Two hundred and five recently weaned (at 14 wk [SD 0.44] of age), spring-born lambs of various crossbred genotypes were stratified, within genotype, by BW and gender and allocated to 3 groups, which were then allocated at random to one of the following treatments: no supplement (Control), a supplement containing Co only (Co-only), or a supplement containing Co, vitamin B12, and Se (VitMin). The concentration of Co in the Co-only supplement was 2.1 mg/mL (as cobalt sulfate); the VitMin supplement contained Co (10 mg/mL, as cobalt acetate), vitamin B12 (200 μg/mL), and Se (0.25 mg/mL, as sodium selenite). Lambs on the Co-only and VitMin treatments received, every 14 d, 10 and 2.1 mL, respectively, of oral drench. Lambs were managed in a rotational-grazing system from 12 July (swards predominantly Lolium perenne) and selected for slaughter, on the basis of BW, after 45, 73, or 115 d; all remaining lambs were slaughtered on d 157. Supplementation, with Co-only or VitMin, increased BW at slaughter (P < 0.01), ADG (P < 0.001), carcass weight (P < 0.001), dressing percentage (P < 0.001), carcass fat score (P < 0.05), and the proportion selected for slaughter by d 73 (P < 0.05) and 115 (P < 0.01). Relative to the Control, the benefit to ADG from supplementation increased as the season advanced. Therefore, supplementation did not alter (P = 0.82) ADG between d 1 and 45 but increased ADG over the intervals d 45 to 73 (P < 0.01), d 73 to 115 (P < 0.001), and d 115 to 157 (P < 0.001). There was no difference (P > 0.05) between the Co-only and the VitMin treatments for ADG, carcass weight, fat score, or dressing percentage. Supplementation with Co increased liver Co concentration (P < 0.001), and lambs supplemented with VitMin had greater liver Co concentration than lambs supplemented with Co-only (P < 0.05); the concentrations were 0.18, 0.85, and 1.18 μmol/L for the Control, Co-only, and VitMin treatments, respectively. Treatment had no effect (P = 0.65) on the concentration of Se in kidney tissue. It is concluded that supplementation with Co increased lamb performance after weaning, that response to supplementation increased as the grazing season progressed, and that no extra benefit in performance resulted from augmenting supplementary Co with B12 and Se.

Background The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of different inclusion levels of a partially defatted black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens L.) larva meal on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, gut morphology and histological features of piglets. A total of 48 newly weaned piglets were individually weighed (initial body weight (IBW): 6.1 ± 0.16 kg) and randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments (4 boxes as replicates/treatment and 4 animals/box). BSF larva meal was included at increasing levels (0% [BSF0], 5% [BSF5] and 10% [BSF10]) in isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets formulated for two feeding phases: I (from d 1 to d 23) and II (from d 24 to d 61). The weight gain (WG), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated for each feeding phase and for the whole trial. The haematochemical parameters and nutrient digestibility of the piglets were also evaluated. A total of 3 piglets per box were slaughtered on d 61 and the slaughtered piglets were submitted to morphometric investigations and histopathological examinations. Results No overall significant differences were observed for growth performance ( P  > 0.05), except for the ADFI of phase II, which showed a linear response to increasing BSF meal levels ( P  < 0.05, maximum for the BSF10 group). Dietary BSF meal inclusion did not significantly influence the blood profile, except as far as monocytes and neutrophils are concerned, and these showed a linear and quadratic response, respectively, to increasing BSF meal levels ( P  < 0.05, maximum for the BSF10 and BSF5 groups, respectively). On the other hand, the nutrient digestibility, gut morphology and histological features were not affected by dietary BSF meal inclusion ( P  > 0.05). Conclusions The obtained results show that a partially defatted BSF larva meal can be used as a feed ingredient in diets for weaned piglets without negatively affecting their growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, gut morphology or histological features.

The effects of feeding different postbiotics on growth performance, carcass yield, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, immune status, and growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) gene expression in broilers under heat stress were assessed in this study. A total of 252 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned in cages in identical environmentally controlled chambers. During the starter period from 1 to 21 days, all the birds were fed the same basal diet. On day 22, the birds were weighed and randomly divided into six treatment groups and exposed to cyclic high temperature at 36 ± 1 °C for 3 h per day from 11:00 to 14:00 until the end of the experiment. From day 22 to 42 (finisher period), an equal number of birds were subjected to one of the following diets: NC (negative control) basal diet; PC (positive control) basal diet + 0.02% oxytetracycline; or AA (ascorbic acid) basal diet + 0.02% ascorbic acid. The other three groups (RI11, RS5 and UL4) were basal diet + 0.3% different postbiotics (produced from different Lactobacillus plantarum strains, and defined as RI11, RS5 and UL4, respectively). The results demonstrated that birds fed RI11 diets had significantly higher final body weight, total weight gain and average daily gain than the birds that received the NC, PC and AA treatments. The feed conversion ratio was significantly higher in the RI11 group compared with the other groups. Carcass parameters were not affected by the postbiotic-supplemented diet. Postbiotic supplementation improved villi height significantly in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum compared to the NC, PC and AA treatments. The crypt depth of the duodenum and ileum was significantly higher in NC group compared to other treatment groups except RI11 in duodenum, and UL4 in ileum was not different with NC groups. The villus height to crypt depth ratio of duodenum and ileum was significantly higher for the postbiotic treatment groups and AA than the PC and NC treatment groups. The postbiotic RI11 group recorded significantly higher caecum total bacteria and Lactobacillus count and lower Salmonella count compared to the NC and PC treatment groups. The Bifidobacterium population in the NC group was significantly lower compared to the other treatment groups. The postbiotic (RI11, RS5 and UL4) and AA treatment groups showed lower Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli counts and caecal pH than the NC and PC treatment groups. The plasma immunoglobulin M (IgM) level was significantly higher in the birds receiving postbiotic RI11 than those receiving other treatments. The plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) level was higher in the RI11 treatment group than in the NC, AA and RS5 groups. The plasma immunoglobulin A (IgA) level was not affected by postbiotic supplements. The hepatic GHR mRNA expression level was significantly increased in birds fed postbiotics RI11, RS5 and UL4, AA and PC compared to the NC-fed birds. Postbiotic RI11 led to significantly higher hepatic IGF-1 mRNA expression level compared to the NC, PC, and AA treatments. Mortality was numerically lesser in the postbiotic treatment groups, but not significantly different among all the treatments. In conclusion, among the postbiotics applied in the current study as compared with NC, PC and AA, RI11 could be used as a potential alternative antibiotic growth promoter and anti-stress treatment in the poultry industry.

Enteric methane (CH4) emissions produced by microbial fermentation in the rumen resulting in the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. The GHG emissions reduction from the livestock industry can be attained by increasing production efficiency and improving feed efficiency, by lowering the emission intensity of production, or by combining the two. In this work, information was compiled from peer-reviewed studies to analyze CH4 emissions calculated per unit of milk production, energy-corrected milk (ECM), average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), and gross energy intake (GEI), and related emissions to rumen fermentation profiles (volatile fatty acids [VFA], hydrogen [H2]) and microflora activities in the rumen of beef and dairy cattle. For dairy cattle, there was a positive correlation (p < 0.001) between CH4 emissions and DMI (R2 = 0.44), milk production (R2 = 0.37; p < 0.001), ECM (R2 = 0.46), GEI (R2 = 0.50), and acetate/propionate (A/P) ratio (R2 = 0.45). For beef cattle, CH4 emissions were positively correlated (p < 0.05–0.001) with DMI (R2 = 0.37) and GEI (R2 = 0.74). Additionally, the ADG (R2 = 0.19; p < 0.01) and A/P ratio (R2 = 0.15; p < 0.05) were significantly associated with CH4 emission in beef steers. This information may lead to cost-effective methods to reduce enteric CH4 production from cattle. We conclude that enteric CH4 emissions per unit of ECM, GEI, and ADG, as well as rumen fermentation profiles, show great potential for estimating enteric CH4 emissions.

In the present work, a total 180 monosex male Nile tilapia fingerlings (15.73 ± 0.05 g) were stocked in 150-l FRP tanks categorised into four diet groups with triplicate each and fed with dietary nano-selenium-supplemented diets at different concentration (T1—0, T2—0.5, T3—1.0 and T4—2.0 mg/kg of feed) for 90 days and different nutrition physiological parameters (feed utilization, haematology, serum biochemistry), immune response and antioxidant were analysed during pre- and post-challenge against Aeromonas hydrophila. The study results depicted that significantly (p < 0.05) better growth and feed utilization (absolute weight gain, specific growth rate, average daily gain, protein efficiency ratio, food conversion ratio) found in fish fed diet supplemented with 1 mg/kg of nano-Se. Significantly (p < 0.05) improved haematological (red blood cells, haemoglobin, white blood cells, platelets) and serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides) observed in the same diet group. The same trend was followed by immune parameters (nitro blue tetrazolium, lysozyme activity, myeloperoxidase, total immunoglobulin). Also observed the statistically (p < 0.05) improved antioxidant activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxides, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity) in the same diet group. Relative percent survival after the fishes challenged with A. hydrophila was significantly (p < 0.05) differed. The findings suggested that supplementation of 1 mg/kg of dietary nano-Se could able to ameliorate nutrition physiology, immunity, antioxidant activity and disease resistance in tilapia and proved that it may be one of the best element for fish farmers to increase the production in an economically feasible way.

Myogenin is a protein in the myogenic regulatory factor family that plays an important role in determining carcass and meat traits and is vital for the growth and development of livestock muscles. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of Origanum majorana leaf (MOL) on the myogenin gene expression of lambs. Twenty-four male Kermani lambs were used in a completely randomized design using two experimental groups (0% Origanum majorana L. = MOL0 and 4% Origanum majorana L. = MOL4). Final weight, average daily gain, hot and cold carcass weight, feed conversion ratio, empty body weight, hot and cold dressing percentage, the weight of the shoulder, loin, leg, and lean meat, and the lean/bone ratio were measured. A standard kit was used for extracting total RNA from the loin, leg, and shoulder muscles of the lambs’ tissues. The cDNA was synthesized, a real-time PCR was performed, and the obtained data were analyzed. The results of this study showed that the effect of MOL4 on dry matter intake is not significant. The MOL4 diet increased final weight by 8.22%, average daily gain by 28.57%, hot carcass weight by 11.38%, cold carcass weight by 13.43%, feed conversion ratio by 31.03%, empty body weight by 9.38%, hot dressing percentage by 2.92%, cold dressing percentage by 3.75%, shoulder weight by 56.70%, loin weight by 8.98%, leg weight by 10.90%, lean meat weight by 14.62%, and the lean/bone ratio by 2.85% (p < 0.05) compared to the MOL0. Along with adding MOL4 in the lambs’ diets, in comparison with MOL0, there was higher expression of myogenin in the loin (3.5 times), leg (3.9 times), and shoulder (3.6 times) muscles of the lambs. Due to the fact that adding Origanum majorana to the diet of the lambs enhanced the expression of the myogenin gene in the loin, leg, and shoulder muscles and increased parameters related to growth, it can be used to improve the parameters related to growth and to increase myogenin gene expression in the muscle of lambs.