Search

The present study was conducted to study the hematological indices of Marecha dromedary camel at Camel Breeding and Research Station (CBRS) Rakh Mahni in semi-intensive management system (SIMS). About 40 animals were used in two groups viz: 1st group (G1) of twenty calves (10 ♂ and 10 ♀) and 2nd group (G2) of twenty adult animals (5 ♂ and 15 ♀). The animals were kept in semi-open pens throughout the trial and fed with concentrate, gram straw and available jungle grazing/browsing. Twice a day watering was provided. The animals were dewormed and vaccinated regularly after 3 months according to farm routine practices. Hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC) counts, white blood cells (WBC) counts, granulocyte, lymphocytes, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined. The Hb concentrations were found to be 14.15±0.12, 13.94±0.12 and 14.84±0.18, 14.07±0.10 g/dl for males and females of G1 and G2 respectively. The values of all parameters differed significantly among groups. There was sexual dimorphism for hematological values in all the parameters being higher in males. It was concluded that the achieved results could be used as a primary data baseline for future studies of this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different parental body weights on 3-weeks progeny growth performance in four close-bred flocks of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 432 adult (12 weeks-old) quails, comprising 108 males and 324 females were randomly divided into 108 experimental units in 1:3 male to female ratio. These experimental units were randomly assigned to 12 treatment groups having 4 close-bred flocks (imported, local-1, local-2 and local-3) × 3 female body weights (heavy 300-350g, medium 250-300g and small 200- 250g) with Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in factorial arrangements having 9 replicates in each treatment. The different parental body weight categories significantly (p<0.05) affected day-old, 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks progeny body weight in Japanese quails. The heavy male parents had apparently more pronounced effect on day-old and 1st week progeny body weight. The cumulative progeny body weight gain in quails of different close-flocks differed significantly (p<0.05) in all the parental groups. The interaction between parental body size and close-bred flocks was significant (p<0.05). Effect of different parental body size on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd week cumulative progeny body weight gain, feed intake, FCR and mortality rates were also significant (p<0.05). The interaction between parental body size and close-bred flocks was significant for these parameters. In conclusion, progeny secured from heavy male parent had higher hatch weight, body weight, weight gain and feed intake than those hatched from medium and small male parents, showing more pronounced effect of male parent on progeny growth performance and on almost all the other parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: body measurements; heritability; Nili Ravi buffalo; variance components EN body measurements heritability Nili Ravi buffalo variance components INTRODUCTION Morphological evaluation of different breeds of dairy cattle and buffaloes is still considered important from selection point of view. The same has been pointed out in a published book on buffaloes "Buffalo the Animal of Future" that the information on the body measurements of buffaloes in Pakistan is scanty (Khan, 2009). Tail length: The means reported for Nili Ravi buffaloes by Mehboob (1996) as 104.65±16.26 cm and for Iraqi buffaloes as 106.0 ± 0.9 cm (Avadesian et al., 2017) are similar to current study mean. [Extracted from the article]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the hatching performance (average egg size, moisture loss, fertility, hatchability and hatch of fertile eggs) in Arbor Acre broiler breeder strain eggs during four production phases (pre-peak, 25-28; peak, 29-36; post-peak, 37-52 and terminal, 53-56th weeks of age), categorized into three egg weights (small, medium and large; changed in each production phase), maintained at three different storage periods (1, 4 and 7- days) and replicated 6 times. A total of 93312 fertile eggs (pre-peak: 11664, peak: 23328, post-peak: 46656 and terminal: 11664) in 4 production phases were subjected to hatching in a commercial hatchery. The data were analyzed using ANOVA technique under randomized complete block design in a 4×3×3 factorial arrangement and means were compared using DMR Test. Results showed significant (p≤0.05) differences for average egg size and fertility percent in large egg weight category alone as well as its interaction with all three storage periods. Significantly (p≤0.05) higher moisture loss was observed in large and small egg categories and highest in seven days storage alone and its interaction with all egg weight categories during post-peak. Regarding hatching traits, significantly (P≤0.05) highest hatchability percent and hatch of fertile percent were observed in large egg weight category alone and in interaction between egg weight categories and storage periods during pre-peak and peak, while during post-peak and terminal phases medium egg weight category showed higher hatchability and hatch of fertile percent. Significantly (p≤0.05) higher hatchability and hatch of fertile percent were observed in one and four day storage period. It is concluded from the present study that large egg weight category coupled with 1 or 4 day storage period had maximum fertility, hatchability and hatch of fertile percent in Arbor Acre broiler breeder strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate some egg quality traits in four close-bred flocks of adult Japanese quails responded by different body sizes maintained at Avian Research and Training Centre, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. A total of 432 adult (12 weeks-old) quails, comprising 108 males and 324 females were randomly divided into 108 experimental units, comprising one male and three females each. These experimental units were randomly assigned to 12 treatment groups having 4 close-bred flocks x 3 female body weights (heavy 300-350g, medium 250-300g and small 200-250g) with randomized complete block design in factorial arrangements having 9 replicates in each treatment. Egg weight (g), shell weight (g), shell thickness (mm), haugh unit, yolk index and blood and meat spots were studied. The significant (p<0.05) differences were noted in mean egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness and yolk index, whereas, haugh unit value was not significantly different in all the close-bred flocks of Japanese quails. With respect to body size categories, differences for egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness, yolk index and haugh unit value were significant (p<0.05). The interaction between flocks and body size was significant (p<0.05) in respect of all the above egg quality traits. The egg weight was higher in imported flock than local-1 and local-2 flocks and egg shell weight was higher in imported flock than in other local flocks. However, egg shell thickness and haugh unit were found to be higher in local-2 than local-1, 3 and imported flocks. The heavy weight quails had maximum egg weight, egg shell weight, shell thickness and yolk index followed by those in the medium and small size groups. Blood and meat spots were not observed during the course of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the carcass characteristics and organ development in four different varieties of native Aseel chicken. One day-old Aseel chicks (n=96) of 4 different varieties (24 each) were maintained under standard managemental conditions for a period of 15 weeks. The results showed that the Aseel male had higher live body weight, non-eviscerated weight and dressed weight, than female birds at 12 and 15 weeks of age. The results indicated that males had higher gizzard weight, breast width, and keel length at 12 weeks of age. Whereas, significant (p<0.05) differences were observed in these parameters at 15 weeks of age. Similarly significant (p<0.05) difference was also observed in abdominal fat percentage at 12 weeks of age. Based on the findings of this study it may be stated that Mushki variety of Aseel exhibited better carcass and organ development than other varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted at a commercial hatchery with the objective to evaluate the chick quality (average day-old chick weight, chick to egg ratio, A+ Chicks, A, US and B grade chicks) from fertile eggs of Hubbard broiler breeder strain during four production phases, categorized into 3 egg weights and 3 different storage periods maintained at. For this purpose, eggs during 4 production phases (pre-peak; 25-28, peak; 29-36, post-peak; 37-52 and terminal; 53-56th weeks of age) were categorized into three different weight categories (small, medium and large; subject to change in each production phase), stored for three different durations (1, 4 and 7-days) and replicated 6 times. A total of 93312 fertile eggs; pre-peak: 11664, peak: 23328, post-peak: 46656 and terminal: 11664 eggs in 4 production phases were collected. During each week of the experiment, a total number of 972 eggs per storage period from three egg weight categories replicated 6 times (each replicate containing 54 eggs) were incubated in a commercial hatchery. The data were analyzed by ANOVA technique under randomized complete block design in 4×3×3 factorial arrangement and means were compared by using DMR Test. The results of the present study showed that the egg weight categories and length of storage period significantly (p<0.05) influenced the average chick weight, chick to egg ratio, A+ chick's 'A' grade chick's US chick's and 'B' grade chicks percent. The highest average chick weight, chick to egg ratio, A+ chick's and 'A' grade chick's percent was observed in large egg weight category followed by those in medium and small ones in all the production phases, while, the highest 'US' and 'B' grade chick's percent was observed in small egg weight category in all production phases. Higher average chick weight, chick to egg ratio and US chick percent were observed in one and four day's storage than that of seven days storage in all the production phases. Higher A+ chick percent in one and four days storage was observed than that of seven days in peak and post-peak, while, higher 'A' grade chick percent was recorded in one and four days storage than that of seven days in pre-peak and peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted at a commercial hatchery with the objective to evaluate the effects of egg weight and storage period on embryonic mortality (early, mid and late) during incubation of fertile eggs from Cobb broiler breeder strain during 4 production phases(pre-peak; 25-28, peak; 29-36, post-peak; 37-52 and terminal; 53-56th weeks of age), categorized into 3 egg weights (small, medium and large subjected to change in each production phase) and maintained at 3 different storage periods (1, 4- and 7-days)and replicated 6 times. A total 93312 fertile eggs (pre-peak: 11664, peak: 23328, post-peak: 46656 and terminal: 11664) in 4 production phases were incubated in a commercial hatchery. The data were analyzed by ANOVA technique under randomized complete block design in 4x3x3 factorial arrangement and means were compared by using DMR Test. The results of the present study showed that the egg weight categories significantly (p<0.05) affected embryonic mortality in all the production phases. The highest early and late embryonic mortality was observed in small egg weight category followed by that of medium and large egg weight categories. Higher mid embryonic mortality was observed in small and large egg weight categories than in medium ones. Storage period was also significantly (p<0.05) affected embryonic mortality in all production phases. Higher early, mid and late -embryonic mortality was observed in seven days storage than those of four and one day storage. As for as interaction between egg weight categories and storage periods is concerned, the highest (p<0.05) early embryonic mortality was observed in seven days storage with small egg weight category in all production phases, while, the lowest was in one day storage with all the egg weight categories in all the production phases. It may be concluded from the present study that large egg weight category with 1 or 4 days storage period resulted in lower embryonic mortality leading to higher hatchability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]