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Strawberry [Fragaria × ananassa (Weston) Rozier] cultivation is increasingly shifting toward soilless systems due to soilborne disease pressures and sustainability concerns. Peat, the traditional substrate of choice, faces ecological and economic challenges, driving the search for alternative materials. Biochar, a carbon‐rich byproduct of biomass pyrolysis, offers benefits such as enhanced water retention and nutrient dynamics, while wood distillate (WD), a secondary pyrolysis product, functions as a biostimulant promoting plant growth and stress resilience. This study evaluated the effects of biochar (0, 2% and 4% wt/wt) and WD (0, 2.5 mL/L, 5 mL/L and 10 mL/L on the substrate and 3 mL on the leaves) on soilless strawberry cultivation. Biochar had minimal impact during early growth but improved plant height, root length, and leaf area at harvest, particularly at higher concentrations, while at lowest doses, fruit yield and most quality parameters were unaffected, with slight improvements in colour and soluble solids. WD treatments, especially at 2.5 and 5 mL/L, enhanced several morphological and physiological traits. While neither amendment significantly increased yield or bioactive compound accumulation, both demonstrated potential to improve plant vigour and fruit quality. These findings support the use of biochar and WD as sustainable inputs in resource‐efficient, climate‐resilient strawberry production systems.

This study was conducted at the poultry farm , Animal Production Department , Shatrah Technical Institute / Southern Technical University for the period from 13/11/2020 to 25/12/2020 (42 days), to find out the effect of improving the nutritional value for water hyacinth leaves (WHL) fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (Sc) and fermented with Iraqi probiotic at different levels and its effect on the productive performance of broilers chickens. In the experiment, 300 day old unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks were. The chicks were fed on a starter ration for 1-21 days of age and a finisher  ration form 22-42 days of age. The birds were randomly distributed in to 10 treatments, with 3 replicates for each treatment (10 birds for replicates),the treatments were as follows: T1 Control without any replacement, T2 replacement (WHL) powder at a level 6% instead of wheat, T3 Replacement (WHL) powder treated With (Sc) yeast at a level 6% instead of wheat, T4 replacement (WHL) powder treated with probiotics at a level of 6% instead of wheat, T5 replacement (WHL) powder  at a level 12% instead of wheat, T6 replacement (WHL) powder  treated with (Sc) yeast at a level 12% instead of wheat, T7 replacement (WHL) powder treated with probiotics at a level 12% instead of wheat, T8 replacement (WHL) powder at a level 18% instead of wheat, T9 replacement (WHL) powder treated with (Sc) yeast at a level 18% instead of wheat and T10, replacement (WHL) powder treated with probiotics at a level 18% instead of wheat, The results showed an improvement in live body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and food conversion ratio for all addition treatments compared with control. Treatments T2,T6 and T7 recorded the best results in productive characteristics.

The current study aimed to explore the effect of Spirulina platensis (SP) inclusion at various levels in quail diets, in terms of their production performance, physiological traits, stress measurements, and immunological parameters under heat stress (HS) conditions. Four hundred Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) chicks, one day old, were equally distributed into forty wire cages, and the cages were placed in two chambers with environmentally controlled systems (20 cages in each chamber). From 21 to 42 d of age, the quails were randomly subjected to a factorial design of two HS treatments × four SP treatments. To induce HS treatments in the quails, the first chamber was maintained at a thermoneutral temperature of 24 °C (TN group), while the temperature of the second chamber was elevated to 35 °C during the daytime (9:00–17:00 h), followed by a thermoneutral temperature for the remaining 24 h cycle (HS group). The birds in each chamber were further allocated into four SP treatments (5 replicate cages × 10 birds per cage in each treatment), where the quails were fed on a basal diet that included 0, 5, 10, or 15 g/kg SP (SP0, SP5, SP10, and SP15 groups, respectively). After exposure to the HS, a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of 5% in body weight and 9% in both weight gain and feed intake was recorded, and the slaughter performance of the quails was adversely (p < 0.05) affected. In addition, HS significantly (p < 0.05) impaired the physiological traits (total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine transferase, aspartate transferase, creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, and triglycerides) and immunological parameters (total white blood cells, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and T- and B-lymphocyte stimulation indexes), but increased the stress measurements (corticosterone, malondialdehyde, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α). In contrast, most of these parameters were linearly (p < 0.05) improved by increasing the SP levels in the diets of the TN quail group. When the SP was included in the diets of the HS quail group, the deleterious effects of HS on the alanine and aspartate transferase activities, creatinine, uric acid, triglycerides, corticosterone, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and T- and B-lymphocyte stimulation indexes were remarkably (p < 0.05) relieved. These results concluded that SP nutritional application can improve the production performance and the overall physiological homeostasis of the Japanese quail, especially when suffering from heat stress.

This study was conducted at the poultry farm, the Department of Animal Production, Shatrah Technical Institute , Southern Technical University for the period from 19/2/2021 to 1/4/2021 for (42 days), according to the results  Prevous part of the study the best treatment for (WHL) powder was chosen and the replacement was level 6% instead for Wheat, and the best treatment for (WHL) powder treated with yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at level 12% instead of wheat, and the best treatment for (WHL) powder treated with Iraqi probiotics at level 12% instead of wheat. In two periods of 1-21 days and 22-42 days, the chicks were fed on a starter diets for 1-21 days of age and a finisher diets for 22-42 days of age for the purpose of determining the best rearing period and its impact on the productive performance for broilers. Seven treatments were used with Three replicates per treatment (10 bird’s for replicate) in a floor hen house divided into enclosures of 1.25 x 1 m dimensions. The treatments were as follows: T1:Control without any replacement, T2: replacement (WHL) powder at a level 6% instead of wheat and for the period from 1-21 Day, T3 : replacement (WHL) powder  treated with (Sc) yeast at a level 12% instead of wheat for a period of 1-21 days, T4: replacement (WHL) powder treated with Iraqi probiotics at a level 12% instead of wheat and for a period of 1-21 days, T5: replacement (WHL) powder at a level 6% instead of wheat and for the period from 22-42 days, T6: replacement (WHL) powder  treated with (Sc) yeast at a level 12% instead of wheat and for the period from 22-42 days and T7: replacement (WHL) powder treated with Iraqi probiotics at a level 12% instead of wheat and for the period of 22-42 days. The results showed an improvement in live body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and food conversion ratio for all addition treatments compared with control also treatments T5,T6 and T7 recorded the best results in productive characteristics.

 In total, 240 one-day–old Japanese quails (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) allocated at random to 6 treatments with 4 replicates and 10 birds in each. Treatments used were: 1) Negative control (without any additives or AFB1); 2) Positive control (basal diet + 2.5 ppm AFB1; 2); 3) TA008 (positive control + 108 cfu/ml Bacillus. megaterium TA008); 4) TA049 (positive control + 108 cfu mL-1 Bacillus. subtilis TA049); 5) TA010 (positive control+ 108 cfu mL-1 Brevibacillus brevis TA010) and 6) P (positive control + 2.5 g kg-1 Polysorb® in feed). Hatchability and embryonic mortality were significantly influenced by additives and AFB1 (p < 0.05). Birds fed TA008 improved 12 % hatchability and reduced 10 % embryonic mortality in compared to positive control (p < 0.05). Weight gain and feed conversion ratio did not affected by treatments (p > 0.05). Feed intake was significantly improved in birds feeding by TA008 at 0-21 days (p < 0.05). There were significant differences on relative weights of carcass, gizzard and proventriculus among treatments (p < 0.05). Serum total protein, albumin, cholesterol, glucose, HDL, globulin and uric acid were significantly affected by treatments (p < 0.05). These results showed that the inclusion of bacillus megaterium as potential probiotic into contaminated diets could improve the adverse effects of AFB1 in Japanese quails.

A 35-day-long trial was conducted to compare the consequences of supplementing citric acid (CA), , and their combination as natural substitutes for antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) on the productive performance, dressing percentage, and blood serum metabolites of broilers. A total of 150-day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatment groups, each having 30 chicks in it (10 chicks per replicate cage). The dietary groups were as follows: 1- Control (corn-soybean-based), 2- Control + antibiotic (Enrofloxacin, 10 mg/kg bodyweight), 3- Control + 1% , 4- Control + 0.5% CA, and 5- Control + 1% spirulina + 0.5% CA. Starting from day 7 up to day 21, antibiotics were administered via water; spirulina and CA were offered via feed. When compared to the control, all dietary supplements significantly (p < 0.05) improved broiler growth performance. However, dressing characteristics and serum metabolites (serum creatinine, albumin, and uric acid) were not influenced ( > 0.05) by dietary changes, except cholesterol level ( 0.05). Supplementation with antibiotics, CA, and spirulina produced comparable results. Among them, the CA-fed group recorded the highest live weight, weight gain, feed intake, improved feed conversion ratio, and the lowest serum cholesterol level (106.5 mg/dl). The combination group performed better than the control, but not as well as their single supplementations. CA and might both be good candidates as natural alternatives to AGP (Enrofloxacin). But, among them, CA performed better in terms of production performance.

This experiment was conducted at Al-Amer Poultry Company (Private Sector) in Babil Governorate for the period 6/14/2020 - 10/14/2020 in order to test new, efficient molting methods that are compatible with animal welfare. Four hundred and eighty Lohman red laying hens, 85 weeks old, were randomly divided into five treatment groups, each treatment 6 replicates.The experimental treatments included: the first treatment (T1), the second treatment (T2), the third treatment (T3), the fourth treatment (T4) and the fifth treatment (T5) which means a control treatment without molting process, the California method, a new method, adding 20 gm/kg feed Nano zinc oxide and 25 gm zinc oxide/kg feed, respectively. The results showed a cessation of egg production and a loss of about 25-26% of the chicken's body weight, as well as a significant decrease in the weights of the liver, pancreas, ovary and oviduct at the end of the molting process in all molting treatments. Egg production increased significantly in the period of egg production post molting (13 weeks) in all molting treatments compared to the control treatment. It is concluded that the new method and the two methods of adding zinc oxide and nano zinc oxide to the feed are effective and merciful as it does not deprive the birds of eating the feed compared to the traditional California method.

In order to evaluate the effect of acetic acid on growing and laying performance of Japanese quail (JQ), 180 15-day-old JQ were divided into 4 groups. During the growing (15-42 days of age) and laying (43-84 days of age) periods, the groups fed the same basal diets supplemented with 0, 1.5, 3 and 6% of acetic acid. Each diet was fed to five replicates of 9 JQ (3 males:6 females) during the growing period. During the laying period, 128 birds were housed in 32 cages (4 birds per cage, 1 male and 3 females, 8 replicates per treatment). Birds were housed in wire cages (46L×43W×20H cm) in an open room. Acetic acid supplementation at 3% in the diets significantly increased the growth and laying rate and the Haugh unit score. The liver percentage significantly decreased with acetic acid at 6%. Acetic acid at 3% significantly increased hemoglobin concentrations at 6 weeks of age and increased weight of day old chicks hatched. Acetic acid affected the immune system as manifested by an excess of cellular reactions in the intestine as well as lymphoid hyperplasia in the spleen tissue. Degenerative changes in the covering epithelium of the intestinal villi were noted at the 6% concentration of acetic acid. Hepatocyte vacuolation and fatty changes were also observed at this concentration of treatment. In conclusion, 3% acetic acid may be used as a feed supplement for JQ during the growing and laying period to improve the productive performance.

The aim of this study was to improve knowledge on the effect of group size on productive performance and egg quality of hens raised in furnished cages equally designed. A total of 520, 15-week-old Lohmann Brown laying hens were divided into 2 groups to have a similar initial body weight (average 1392±16.3 g). The cages of S25 group (240 L x 78 W x 50 H cm, 749 cm 2 /hen) hosted a total of 200 hens, while those of S40 group (462 L x 65 W x 50 H, 751 cm 2 /hen) included 320 birds. Experimental data were recorded after an adaptation period of 5 weeks (20 to 36 weeks of age). Hens were submitted to 15 h of light/d. The average temperature inside the building was 24.6±2.5°C over the entire experimental period with higher values at 24, 26, 28 and 30 weeks of age. The relative humidity recorded inside the building was 55% at week 20 and 60% all through the experimental period. Hens raised from S40 group had lower percentage of egg production (84.91 vs 88.90%, P<0.01) and higher feed conversion ratio (2.70 vs 2.25, P<0.0001) than S25 group. The percentage of eggs laid out of the nest was higher in S25 than S40 group (0.26 vs 0.19%, P<0.01). As expected, the week of age affected almost all the parameters (feed intake, body weight, laying percentage, egg weight, yolk, shell and albumen indexes, shell thickness, Haugh unit). However, the effect of group size was particularly evident during the hot period.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Spirulina platensis in Nile tilapia diets on growth performance, blood hematological and biochemical parameters, immunological status, and intestinal histomorphometry. A total of 228 fish were randomly allocated into four groups with triplicates (19 fish per replicate). The first group was fed the control diet, which contained no Spirulina supplementation. The other three groups were fed diets containing graded levels of powdered Spirulina: 2.5%, 5.0%, and 10.0% in the second, third, and fourth group, respectively. S. platensis was added to the diets partially substituting the fish meal content. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. The results showed that dietary Spirulina supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the body weight and length, weight gain, specific growth rate, condition factor, and feed conversion efficiency. Moreover, Spirulina increased significantly (P < 0.05) the hemoglobin, PCV, RBCs, and WBCs count. Also, it increased the lymphocytes, eosinophils, IgM level, lysozyme activity, and phagocytic activity in the blood. Additionally, the Spirulina raised (P < 0.05) the serum albumin level but reduced (P < 0.05) the creatinine and urea levels. The addition of Spirulina increased (P < 0.05) the height and width of intestinal villi and the lymphocytes and goblet cells count in the intestine. The obtained results were increased by increasing the inclusion level of Spirulina, especially for body weight and length, weight gain, FCR, phagocytic activity, and intestinal parameters. In conclusion, supplementing S. platensis can improve the growth performance of fish. Moreover, it can stimulate the immunity of fish through increasing the level of immunological blood indicators (IgM, lysozyme, phagocytic activity, lymphocytes, and eosinophils) as well as the local intestinal immunity (lymphocytes and goblet cells). So, it can be recommended to use S. platensis in fish diets not only to improve the growth performance but also to enhance the immune status.