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Copyright of Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Transportation before slaughtering causes bad effects on chicken welfare and health, but little is known about the effect of probiotic dietary fed in broiler chickens having transport stress. So, this study was designed to detect the effects of two doses of a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) on some stress indicators, antioxidant activity and fear response of broiler chickens exposed to transportation stress. Two hundred and ten broiler chicks were distributed among 21 floor pens (10 chicks in each pen), each pen was exposed to one of three diet treatments containing a probiotic at 0 (control), 0.25 (0.25X), and 0.5 (0.5X) g/kg. At 35 days old, birds were exposed to transportation and then blood samples were collected for measuring stress and antioxidant markers. The serum corticosterone and cholesterol levels were decreased in probiotic fed birds in comparison with controls (P < 0.05). Compared to control broiler chickens, 0.5X birds had higher levels of catalase and serum superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05). In addition, the 0.5X birds spent less time in the tonic immobility test (P = 0.0427). The results suggest that the probiotic supplement may prove to be an important management tool for the broiler industry to diminish the negative effects of transport stress, potentially safeguarding the welfare and health of broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pair housing versus individual and group housing on behavioural patterns of female buffalo calves (n = 18; 15.0±3.0 days of age) were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments of group housing with (C1=one calf/pen, C2=two calves/pen, or C3= three calves/pen) supplying a total pen space allowance of 1.82 m2 /calf, regardless of pen size. Behaviour was recorded by direct observation throughout the day from 10:00 to 14:00 clock, during a single day each week for 12 weeks using scan sampling every 15 min within 4 hours’ observation sessions. Calves housed in C2 group showed more (P ≤ 0.05) eating and drinking, chewing/ruminating, object manipulation and self grooming, lying activities, and less (P < 0.05) inactivity and standing when compared to calves housed in C1 and C3 groups. In conclusion, raising buffalo calves in paired housing system provided calves more opportunity to express their comfort, grooming, and feeding activities compared to individual and group housing system, however further investigation is still required to study the effect of paired housing system on the performance and physiological indicators in buffalo calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder on the performance, carcass traits and behavior of native Fayoumi broiler. A total number of 120 one month old commercial male Fayoumi broilers with nearly similar weights were randomly distributed into three experimental groups each 40 birds in 4 replicates (10 bird/replicate). Birds in the first group were fed on standard basal diet without any addition (control T1) while, Fayoumi broilers in the second and the third groups fed on the same basal diet supplemented with 0.5 and 0.75% turmeric powder (T2&T3). Growth performance parameters, carcass traits, and behavioral parameters were assessed. The results showed that, there was a significant increased in body weight gain, feeding, drinking and sitting behavior, total protein, globulin, calcium, phosphorus and dressing percentage while, significant decrease in FCR, walking and standing behavior. Addition of turmeric powder in the second and third treatment had no significant effect on albumin level, relative weights of liver, gizzard, heart and spleen over six weeks of experimental period. Results of the current study concluded that using turmeric (curcuma longa) powder supplement in Fayoumi broiler diets improved growth performance and ingestive behavior, in addition, total serum protein, globulin, calcium, phosphorus and dressing percentage were increased significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to assess the role of nano-zinc oxide in mitigating the deleterious effects of heat stress in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) by evaluating parameters such as aggressive behavior (biting frequency and chasing duration), hematological indicators, and stress-related biochemical markers. A total of 96 catfish were divided into four distinct groups (24 fish/group): The first group (CON) served as the control group, receiving a diet free of nano-zinc oxide. The second group (HS) was exposed to heat stress at 35 °C ± 1 °C. The third group (ZN) was fed a diet containing nano-zinc oxide at 30 mg/kg of the diet, and the fourth group (ZHN) was exposed to heat stress (35 °C ± 1 °C) and fed a diet containing nano-zinc oxide at 30 mg/kg of the diet. The results clarified that the aggressive behavior and cortisol levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the HS group compared to the CON and ZHN groups. Additionally, the level of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the HS group compared to the CON and ZHN groups. Meanwhile, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in red blood cells, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, white blood cells, alkaline phosphatase, and lymphocytes, was observed in fish belonging to the HS group, while the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, neutrophils, and monocytes showed a significant increase (P < 0.05). Supplementation with nano-zinc oxide significantly recovered most hematological and biochemical parameters. In conclusion, nano-zinc oxide contributed significantly to the regulation of the negative impacts of heat stress on fish by reducing aggressive behavior and cortisol levels. Additionally, it improved the levels of AChE and certain hematological and biochemical parameters., (© 2024. The Author(s).)