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A 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of silymarin-nanohydrogle (0, 500 free; 500 nano) and a mycotoxin (0; 2.2 mg/kg), silymarin contaminated diet on productive performance and certain serum biochemical parameters using 72 Japanese quail chicks in days 7–35 of age. Six experimental treatments consisting inclusion of 0 or 2.2 mg/kg aflatoxins in a basal diet fed to the birds receiving 0 or 500 mg/L silymarin in two free- or nanohydrogle forms via drinking water. Daily weight gain (DWG) and European production index (EPI) reduced by 6.7% and 13.6% while feed intake (FI) and FCR increased by 3.76% and 12% in the birds fed on the diet containing 2.2 mg/kg aflatoxin, respectively (p

A 2 × 6 factorial experiment was carried out to evaluate the single and combined effects of oral gavage of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils (SkEO; 0, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 mg/bird/day) and dietary acetic acid (AA; 0 and 20 mg/kg) on selected parameters using 252 Ross-308 14-day-old broiler chicks. Effects of 12 treatments were examined in seven replicates of three birds each. Administration of SkEO at 400, 500 and 600 mg/day reduced ADFI by 8.99, 8.09 and 10.12% compared with those gavaged with 200 mg, respectively. In the birds gavaged with 400 mg SkEO, serum concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased when compared with those who received 600 mg SkEO in Days 42 of age. Serum concentration of albumin (ALB) was greater by 8.38% in birds fed with AA-added diets than the control birds in Day 34 of age. Serum concentration of antioxidants increased in the birds receiving 400 mg of SkEO and fed with the non-acidified diet than those receiving 300 mg of SkEO and fed acidified diets. Gross kidney health improved by gavaging SkEO indicated by greater frequency of score zero (apparently healthy) and reduced fat percentage in the SkEO-fed birds. The kidney fat proportion in the birds gavaged SkEO at 300 to 500 mg were decreased when compared with control birds in Day 38 of age. In conclusion, SkEO can be fed to broiler chicken to improve kidney health at 200 to 400 mg/day with no adverse effect of performance.HIGHLIGHTS Direct administration of SkEO into crop through oral gavageing lowered feed intake and improved gross kidney health. Almost all productive performance indications were adversely affected in birds receiving AA-added diets. No interaction was found between the SkEO and acetic acid in main productive traits.

A 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding silymarin (0, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg) in aflatoxin contaminated diets (0 and 2.2 mg/kg) on selected performance, blood and liver parameters in broiler Japanese quails using 480 7-day-old mixed sex birds up to Day 35 of age. Feed intake, daily weight gain (DWG) and European production index (EPI) in Days 7–35 of age were reduced by 5.56, 5.97 and 10. 97%, respectively, and mortality was increased in the birds fed on diets containing 2.2 mg/kg aflatoxin (p

We conducted two trials to evaluate the methionine-sparing effects of choline (Chol) and betaine (Bet), and their effects on growth performance and blood antioxidative potential in heat-stressed broiler chickens fed methionine (Met)-deficient diets. We used 360 1-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) in a completely randomized study with 5 replicate pens of 12 birds each. After Day 21, we raised the temperature to 35±3°C using an automated air-forced heater for 12 hours/day from 8 am to 8 pm to expose the birds to heat stress. In Trial 1, the treatments comprised a negative control (control-; 1200 mg/kg Met-deficient), a positive control (control+; recommended level of Met), 280Chol (control- plus 280 mg/kg Chol), 560Chol (control- plus 560 mg/kg Chol), 320Bet (control- plus 320 mg/kg Bet), and 640Bet (control- plus 640 mg/kg Bet); and in Trial 2, the treatments comprised a negative control (control-), a positive control (control+), 140Chol+160Bet (control- plus 140 mg/kg Chol and 160 mg/kg Bet), 280Chol+160Bet (controlplus 280 mg/kg Chol and 160 mg/kg Bet), 140Chol+320Bet (control- plus 140 mg/kg Chol and 320 mg/kg Bet), and 280Chol+320Bet (control- plus 280 mg/kg Chol and 320 mg/kg Bet). Compared with the other treatments, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved in the 280Chol and control+ groups in Trials 1 and 2 (P

An experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary supplementation of a corn- or a wheat-based diet with two sources of exogenous xylanase (fungal or bacterial originated) on productive performance, ileal nutrients digestibility, nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) and digestive organs morphometry in broiler chickens. Broilers were fed with one of the six dietary treatments consisting of two basal diets (based on corn or wheat) each with or without xylanase (from bacterial or fungal origin) supplementation. Compared with corn-based diet, feeding birds with the wheat-based diet improved weight gain and feed intake by 4.71 and 4.81%, respectively, and ileal digestibility of dry matter and crude protein were greater in birds fed wheat-based diets compared with the birds grown on corn-based during Days 1–21 of age (p

A 35-day experiment was carried out to study the effects of acidified and alkalinized diets on zootechnical indices, tibial calcium and phosphorous retention, bone mineralization and liver enzymes activity using 250 Ross 308 male broiler chicks. Five treatments consisting of a control diet (CD), CD acidified using 10, 20 and 30 g/kg citric acid (CA) and CD alkalinized with Ca (OH)2 (8.9 g/kg in growth period and 8.6 g/kg in finisher period) were examined in 5 replicates of 10 birds each from day 7 up to day 42 of age. Inclusion of 30 g/kg CA significantly increased body weight, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed efficiency, tibia ash, tibia Ca content, at day 42 of age (P

Three hundred and twenty Ross 308 male broiler chicks were used to examine effects of in-yolk-sac (IYS) administration of carvacrol on cholesterol resorption from yolk and physiological adaptive responses of broiler chicks subjected to post-hatch fasting periods of up to 72 h. Effects of the four experimental treatments, namely non-handled control (NHCON), sham injection control (SICON), polysorbate-80 injection (POLS), and carvacrol injection (CARV), were examined in 5 replicates of 10 birds each. Liver proportional weight was greater in carvacrol-injected chicks compared with other birds 24 h post-hatch (P −1 when chicks were removed from the hatcher baskets, and decreased in all birds after being subjected to a 72 h post-hatch fasting. However, the slope of decrease in serum concentration of glucose was slower in carvacrol-injected birds than in the other birds, and they had a greater plasma glucose level compared with NHCON and SICON birds after 72 h post-hatch fasting. Lower plasma cholesterol levels were observed in carvacrol-treated chicks compared with those subjected to the other treatments at 72 h post-hatch (P P −1) compared with other birds (P P&thinsp

1. The present experiment was designed to examine arginine (Arg)-sparing effects of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on production performance, intestinal morphology and certain blood parameters in broiler chickens. 2. A total of 300 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments in a completely randomised design during 1-15 and 15-35 d rearing periods. Experimental treatments consisted of a basal diet with a reduction in Arg content (CON-; starter: 12.1 g/kg and grower: 11.3 g/kg Arg), a CON- diet supplemented with synthetic Arg equal to the required Arg level (CON+; starter: 13.80 g/kg; grower: 12.37 g/kg) and CON- diet supplemented with three levels of GAA (GAA0.6; GAA1.2; and GAA1.8; g/kg). 3. Supplemental GAA at 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg reduced the adverse effects of the CON- diet on weight gain and feed conversion ratio in the starter period, equal to the effect of CON+ diet. During the entire rearing period, such an effect was only seen for broilers fed CON- diet supplemented with 1.2 and 1.8 g/kg GAA (P 0.05). Proportional weights of liver and abdominal fat were decreased in birds fed diets containing supplemental Arg and 1.8 g/kg GAA compared to the CON- broilers (P 0.05). Jejunal villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio were increased in broilers receiving the CON- diet (P 0.05). Serum concentration of nitric oxide increased when the CON- diet was supplemented with either Arg or 1.8 g/kg GAA (P 0.05). 4. Dietary inclusion of GAA had an Arg-sparing effect, whereby 1.2 and 1.8 g/kg of supplemental GAA resulted in greater growth performance during the starter and entire rearing periods, respectively. Supplementation with 1.8 g/kg GAA had significant effects on some carcass and physiological parameters.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on productive performance, intestinal morphometric features, blood parameters and energy utilisation in broiler chickens. A total of 390 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were assigned to six dietary treatments based on a factorial arrangement (2×3) across 1–15 and 15–35-d periods. Experimental treatments consisted of two basal diets with standard (STD; starter: 12·56 MJ/kg and grower: 12·97 MJ/kg) and reduction (LME; starter: 11·93 MJ/kg and grower: 12·33 MJ/kg) of apparent metabolisable energy (AME) requirement of broiler chickens each supplemented with 0, 0·6 and 1·2 g/kg GAA. Supplemental 1·2 g/kg GAA decreased the negative effects of feed energy reduction on weight gain across starter, growing and the entire production phases (PPp) and total heat production increased in birds fed LME diets containing 1·2 g/kg GAA (Pp and weight gain of broilers (r 0·493; P=0·0055), whereas this relationship was not seen with AME. Jejunal villus height and crypt depth were lower in birds fed LME diets (PPp. The NEp could be preferred over the AME to assess response of broiler chickens to dietary GAA supplementation.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feed form and xylanase supplementation on the growth performance, energetic efficiencies, energy partitioning, and nitrogen (N) balance of Ross 308 male broilers fed wheat-based diets. The experiment was conducted as a 2 × 2 × 5 factorial arrangement with 2 levels of feed forms (mash or pellets) and xylanase (0 or 500 mg/kg), and five feeding levels (ad libitum, 85%, 70%, 55%, and 40% of ad libitum intake). Each of the 20 dietary treatments was fed to 5 replicate pens (5 birds/pen) from 22 to 42 days of age. A significant interaction between feed form and xylanase on was observed for average daily feed intake and heat production (p < 0.01). Pelleting and dietary supplementation with xylanase increased average daily gain and feed conversion ratio but decreased (p < 0.05) average daily feed intake. Broilers fed xylanase-supplemented diet ingested and pelleted diet retained more than in those fed the mash form or the diet without xylanase. Xylanase and pellets decreased (p < 0.01) heat production and metabolizable energy intake (MEI), but increased retained energy (p < 0.05). The birds fed xylanase also needed less MEI per gram of N retained than those fed the diets without enzyme (p < 0.01). Estimation of both metabolizable and net energy requirements for maintenance as a function of BW0.75 showed that requirements for broilers fed pelleted diet and xylanase-supplemented diet were lower than in those fed mash form or the diet without xylanase (p < 0.01). The higher energetic efficiencies for retention were estimated in the birds offered pelleted and xylanase-supplemented diets compared with the values determined for those fed the diet with mash form or the diet without xylanase (p < 0.05). The efficiency of energy utilization for protein for birds fed xylanase-supplemented diets was higher (p < 0.01) than those fed diets without xylanase, and fat deposition for broilers fed the pelleted diet was greater than those fed the mash diet (p < 0.01). Because MEI for maintenance requirements represents a large portion of the MEI, the results from this experiment could be considered in calculation of energy requirements for finishing broilers fed wheat-based diets.

Summary Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary citric acid (CA) on productive performance, gut morphometry, and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, 200 7-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were used to examine the effects of 0, 10, 20, and 30 g/kg CA up to day 42 of age in 5 replicates of 10 birds each. In Experiment 2, 90 7-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were used to investigate the effects of 0, 30, and 60 g of CA per kg of diet in 3 replicate of 10 birds each up to day 42 of age. In both experiments, inclusion of 30 g/kg of CA increased proventriculus, gizzard, and ileum weight percentage and villus length, crypt depth, and goblet cell number in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum compared to control birds. Ileal digestibility of crude protein (CP), apparent metabolizable energy (AME), and total phosphorus (tP) were improved. In Experiment 2, administration of CA at 60 g/kg of the diet significantly reduced ileal digestibility of CP, AME, and tP at 30 d of age (P

Four hundred and eighty mixed-sex broiler chicks aged 3 hrs after hatching were allotted according to a completely random design in a 6 × 2 × 2 factorial schedule into 2 groups of 12 replications of 20 chicks each. The main experimental factors were fasting for 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hrs after chick placement, calcium gluconate (Ca-glu) injection (0 and 0.6 mL) and sex (male and female). Independent of sex, live body weight (BW) of chicks decreased linearly (Y=43.36-0.109BW0h, r2=0.876) as neonatal fasting extended. Injection of 0.6 mL Ca-glu at 3 hrs post hatching did not affect weight loss of chicks. Yolk residuals (YR) utilized linearly (Y=5.75-0.062YR, r2=0.956) by 0.062 g/hr in neonate fasted chicks showing no effect for Ca-glu injection. Neonatal fasting periods longer than 12 hrs increased liver weight (P). The mean absolute and proportional (% of BW0h) breast and leg weight were reduced linearly as neonatal fasting extended (P). Serum glucose concentration in both sexes increased up to 6 hrs fasting, then reduced linearly to 150 mg/dL after 48 hrs feed withdrawal. The Ca-glu treatment influenced serum glucose level for a short period up to 6 hrs of fasting. Serum Ca concentration sharply increased up to three-fold in the birds received Ca-glu injection resulting in acute hypercalcemia, then decreased to the initial level after 24 hrs feed withdrawal. The mean serum level for creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, HDL, albumins and total proteins significantly increased during the fasting periods of 6 to 48 hrs and significantly elevated in the birds received 0.6 mL Ca-glu injection compared with the non treated chicks. It was concluded that subcutaneous administration of 0.6 mL Ca-glu in the chick's neck did not suitably support the increased metabolic demands for glucose and calcium in feed deprived neonate chicks.

Citric acid (CA) is commonly used in poultry diets to promote growth by acidifying the gastrointestinal contents, improving nutrient digestibility, and reducing pathogen loads; therefore, this study was conducted to demonstrate the effects of 0, 30 and 60 g of CA per kilogramme of diet on productive performance, selected blood metabolites, immune response and certain gut-related variables in broiler chickens using 150, 7-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks in five replicates of 10 birds each per diet. Growth performance, daily feed intake and tibia phosphorous (P) retention were significantly improved by the diets containing 30 g kg−1 of CA (P < 0.01) but were suppressed as CA increased to 60 g kg−1. Dietary CA increased proventriculus, gizzard and ileum percentage and villus length, crypt depth and goblet cell number in duodenum, jejunum and ileum as well as ileal digestibility of crude protein, apparent metabolisable energy and total phosphorus while it decreased the pH of contents in the gut segments concerned (P < 0.01). Diets containing 60 g kg−1 of CA significantly reduced plasma P and Fe levels as well as cholesterol level and Alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.05) while increasing the aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities (P < 0.01) in the blood serum of the birds at day 42 of age. The percentage of bursa and thymus was greater in the birds fed on diets containing 60 and 30 g kg−1 of CA, respectively (P < 0.01). It was concluded that inclusion of 60 g kg−1 of CA in the diet resulted in a severe reduction in performance, nutrient digestion and absorption and liver dysfunctions in broiler chickens, a phenomenon we call as acidic stress.

A 3 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted to examine the effect of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) on performance and occurrence of carcass defects in broiler chickens raised in stocking densities of 14, 16, and 18 birds/m2. A total number of 720 Ross 308 broiler chicks that were 1 d old were reared up to 49 d of age. Corn- and soybean meal (SBM)–based starter and grower diets were supplemented with 0, 1.5, and 2 g/kg Aromabiotic and provided to the birds ad libitum. Inclusion of 2 g/kg Aromabiotic in the diet significantly improved weight gain of the birds during 1 to 21 d of age compared with control birds (P

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary substitution of fish meal (FM) with poultry by-product meal (PBM) at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% using 360, 1-day-old Arian broiler chicken. The birds were randomly allocated to 30 pens (at density of 0.08 m2/bird) in an open system partially controlled house. The chicks were raised under a photo regimen of 23:1h light to darkness up to 42 days. The five dietary treatments were offered to six replicates of 12 chicks each. Data on productive performance, serum concentrations of urea and uric acid and pH, moisture and nitrogen content of litter were collected at different ages. The mean weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly decreased in the birds fed on diets containing more than 50% PBM compared to the control birds during days 1–21 of age (P < 0.01). Replacement of FM at different levels with PBM significantly affected either serum urea or uric acid concentrations (P < 0.05). The serum urea and uric acid concen...

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary replacment of fish meal (FM) with poultry by-product meal (PBM) at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% using 360 one day-old Arian broiler chicken. The mean weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly decreased in the birds fed on diets containing greater levels of PBM as compared to the control birds during 1 to 21 days of age (P

Phytogenic feed additives, also called as phytobiotics or botanicals, are plant-derived compounds added into diets to enhance the productivity of poultry. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of administration of Satureja khuzestanicaessential oils (SKEO) through drinking water on immune performance of broiler chicken using 720 one-day-old Arian chicks. The birds were raised under standard production practices up to 42 days of age. The birds continuously received drinking water treated with Tween 80 (Cont+; 500 ppm) or SKEO at 0 (Cont-), 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm. The mean hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) antibody titer was not significantly different among the treatments at 15, 21, 28 and 35 days of age (P>0.05). No significant differences were pointed out for relative weight of spleen, bursa and thymus at 21 days. Thymus weight reduced for the birds that received treated water but a difference was only significant for 400 ppm SKEO. The mean hetrophyle lymphocyte ratio was not significantly differing among the treatments. It is concluded that supplementation of broiler chicken drinking water with S.khuzestanica essential oils has no favorite impact on immune response of heat stressed broiler chicken. Key words: Satureja khuzestanica, immune system, broiler chicken.

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects on the physiological responses of slow-feathering (K) and rapid-feathering (k(+)) genes in neonate broiler chicks subjected to posthatch fasting (PHF). In the first experiment, 300 Ross 308 chicks were denied access to feed and water for 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 h posthatch. In the second experiment, 625 Ross 308 chicks were subjected to PHF for 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. In experiment 1, the weight loss rate increased over 56 h PHF and did not differ between fast- and slow-feathering chicks up to 28 h posthatch but was greater (P0.05) in fast-feathering birds from 28 to 56 h posthatch. The fast-feathering genotypes demonstrated greater serum K levels following 7, 21, and 56 h (P0.05) and serum uric acid (UA) levels after 7, 21, 28, 49, and 56 h PHF (P0.01). In experiment 2, weight loss increased linearly with no difference between fast- and slow-feathering chicks through 36 h PHF but increased in fast-feathering birds when PHF continued for 48 h. Neonatal fasting periods of 12 to 48 h decreased breast and thigh percentage (P0.01), with no difference between feathering genotypes. The fast-feathering genotypes showed greater serum HDL levels at 24 h (P0.05) and greater serum UA concentration following 12, 36, and 48 h PHF (P0.05). The mean frequency of jumping (P0.01) and active wakefulness (P0.01) was increased as PHF continued from 12 to 48 h across genotypes. At 48 h, the fast-feathering chicks showed greater frequency of escape attempts from the test field (P0.01). It was concluded that slow-feathering chicks are more capable of withstanding PHF periods lasting more than 28 h. This is important to consider when day-old chicks are transported for extended periods without access to feed.

Background : Children's diarrhea is one of the major health problems worldwide, especially in developing countries, accounting for nearly 4-5 million deaths per year.Campylobacter jejuni is a common human bacterial pathogen, which plays at least the same leading role to Salmonella and Shigella as the causative agent of infectious diarrhea. Regarding limited studies on different epidemiologic aspects of this bacterium in Iran, this research carried out to determine infectious enteritis caused by Campylobacter Jejuni in children with diarrhea in Khorramabad city. Materials and Methods: In this study the descriptive survey of the diarrhea caused by Campylobacter jejuni in children less than 12 years of age in Khorramabad city was conducted between September 2004 and September 2005. Stool specimens were collected from patients referred to medical laboratory of Shahid Madani children’s hospital and the correspondent laboratories with clinical symptoms of acute diarrhea. The specimens were transferred to microbiological laboratory of the veterinary faculty of Lorestan university in an attempt to isolate and identify Campylobacter jejuni species. Results:One hundred-thirty out of the total 321 collected specimens (40.5%) were concerned to the female and 191 specimens (59.5%) to the male patients. Campylobacter jejuni species were isolated from 19 (5.92%) of the total collected specimens from which 11(3.43%) and 8 (2.49%) were associated to the female and the male children, respectively. Maximum of the positive cases were reported in the children aged less than 1 year (1.87%) and 1-3 years old (1.87%) that difference based on age groups was significant. Conclusion: According to the findings of the present investigation, the prevalence rate of Campylobacter enteritis in children less than 12 in Khorramabad in 2007 was 5.92 % which is same as the findings of similar studies in Zahedan (6%), Tehran (5%), Sari (4.8%) and Shiraz (5%).

This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of slow/rapid feathering sex-linked gene on carcass weight (CW) and yield (CY) as well as carcass main parts in an experimental colored broiler flock employing to evaluate the response to selection for breast and thighs weight with imposing restriction against low value portions of carcass over three generations. Random samples of the birds were slaughtered to evaluate the carcass traits at 42 days of age. Cut up yield was determined by partitioning each carcass to breast, thighs as high value parts and wings, neck, rack and saddle as low value portions (LVP). Live body weight (BW; 42d) and legs yield (LY) as a proportion of carcass weight (as % CW) were significantly greater for k+k+/k+W genotypes compared to K-/KW bearing birds (P < 0.05). Intersex t test comparisons revealed significant superiority of the k+k+ genotype over K- in male birds for LY (as % CW) and LY (as % BW) (P < 0.05). Interfamily analysis for eight larger half-sib families revealed infrequent superiority of K-/KW bearing birds over their sibs with the alternate genotype for breast yield (BrY; as % CW), legs weight (LW) and LY (as % CW) in two families. Interfamily and interfemales analysis for seven larger half-sib families showed highly significant superiority for k+W birds in LW (as % CW), BW and LVW in two families (P < 0.01). Considering feathering rate as a fixed effect (KW vs. k+W) to analyze the females data revealed significantly greater means for fast feathered females (k+W) for BW, CW, breast weight, LW and LVW than the alternate genotype (P < 0.05). It is concluded that in the today straight-run broiler flocks with numerous influencing factors of margin effects, and with increasing demands for uniformity of carcass market where sexable day-old chicks are not of interest, to launch the fast feathering gene (k+) could be of positive economic consequences in broiler production.

Maize-soybean meal diets with 0, 100, 200 and 300 g/kg double zero rapeseed meal ('00' RSM) with and without an enzyme mixture (xylanase, pectinase, cellulase) at a level of 1.6 g/kg were evaluated with 624 day-old broiler chicks for 5 weeks. The birds were randomly allocated to eight dietary treatments with three replicates of 26 birds each. Average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake (FI) were recorded weekly and ileal viscosity, organ weights, serum enzyme activity, hormonal profile and hematological parameters were measured at the end of week 5. Average daily gain during the weekly periods was significantly influenced by the dietary level of '00'RSM (p

An experimental flock consisted of five broiler strains was used to evaluate the response to selection for breast and thighs weight with imposing restriction against low value portions of carcass over three generations. The linear models fitted for mean breast yield (BY), legs yield (LY), low value portions yield (LVPY), against generation showed an average improvement of 0.5%, 0.05%, and -0.2% per generation, respectively. The initial mean values for these traits were 21.6%, 22.8% and 29.1%, respectively. Genetic group showed significant influence on all the traits. Carcass weight (CW), breast weight (BW), legs weight (LW) and low value portions weight (LVPW) were significantly influenced by gender. Rate of feathering exhibited a significant impact on CW, BW, BY, and LW. Based on pooled data, the heritability estimate for CW, BW, LW and LVPW was 0.14, 0.16, 0.17 and 0.17, respectively. The estimate for corresponding yield traits was 0.11, 0.39, 0.10 and 0.31. Genetic correlations between absolute weight of carcass and cut-up parts were generally high (>0.85). However, the yield traits showed low correlations ranging from -0.05 to 0.22 with carcass weight. Imposing restriction for low value portions of carcass was found to be effective but merely through improvement in breast weight and yield. Negative influence of such a policy on thighs yield might be minimized using higher relative economic values for thighs weight in index construction process. Considering BY and LVPY instead of BW and LVPW in selection programs to create and improve particular lines could be more efficient based on their genetic characteristics and irrespective of constant lower variability in BY and LVPW.

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of surface spraying of antimicrobial solutions, oil and application of both on performance of broiler chicken under heat stress and reared on leaves and ground corn cobs as two alternative bedding materials. Six hundred seventy five day-old straighten Arian broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 45 pens (at density of 0.09 m 2 / bird) in an open sided partially-controlled shed. Three bedding materials viz. wood shavings (WS), ground corn cobs (GCC) (1.5 cm in length) and leaves were subjected to surface spraying of oil (0.4 L/m 2 animal food grade sunflower oil), anti microbial solutions (3%) and mix treatment of both. Data on performance traits, incidence of breast and food pad lesions and litter characteristics were gathered and analysed in an appropriate factorial arrangements. Body weight at 56 d, feed intake up to 14 d, litter moisture at 28 d, litter pH at 14 d and litter temperature at 14 and 56 d were significantly influenced by litter type (p

Low fertility and hatchability rate is a hindrance in chicken-quail hybridization. An investigation was undertaken to increase fertility and consequently hatchability of quail eggs inseminated with chicken semen through increasing quantity of semen used and modifying the insemination schedule. Pooled fresh and non-diluted semen from two males each pertaining to three breeds (Chandigar Dark Cornish, Red Cornish and White Plymouth Rock) inseminated into Japanese quails twice a week. From 400 eggs set, seven hybrids (1.74 per cent) hatched on the nineteenth days of incubation. The hybrids obtained weighed 5.3-7.6g with an average of 6.42 at hatch (1.28g heavier than quail chicks from the same hatch) and 23.5g at 7 days of age (10g heavier than quail chicks). Further examination of non hatched eggs showed 25.29 per cent fertility with 17.74, 1.82, 2.20 and 1.25 per cent very early dead (preincubation and 0-2 days), early dead (3-5 days), death at 6-14 days and death at 15-19 days, respectively. The remarkable achievement of the present study was considerably greater fertility per cent of the eggs obtained from quails inseminated with chicken semen. Higher fertility rate could be attributed to insemination method as 150μL neat semen inseminated to each quail hen twice a week and insemination postponed by 12 hours for any bird with an advanced egg in oviduct.

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects on mortality, production performance, water intake (WI), and organ weight of Satureja khuzistanica essential oil (SkEO) using 720 1-day-old Arian broiler chicks in a 42-day trial. Experimental treatments were addition of 0 (control(-)), 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg/L SkEO or 500 mg/L polysorbate 80 (control(+)) into drinking water. The birds were kept under natural ambient temperatures 4 to 6 °C above standard recommendation from days 22 to 42 of age. Addition of SkEO into drinking water at 200 and 500 mg/L decreased weight gain (P 0.05) of the birds from days 29 to 35 of age with no differences in feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to control groups (P 0.05). Supplementation of drinking water with 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg/L SkEO resulted in a 0.47, 4.40, 8.60, and 12.93% decrease in WI, respectively, from days 1 to 42 of age. The calculated European broiler index was greater for the birds received 400 mg/L of SkEO in their drinking water compared with that of the other birds (P 0.05). Pancreas percentage was increased for the birds received 200 to 500 mg/L SkEO at days 21 and 42 of age compared with that of the control(-) birds (P 0.05). The gall bladder weight was 17.56, 40.50, 12.16, and 38.73% greater for the birds received 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg/L SkEO compared with that of the control(-) birds, respectively. The results showed that an addition of 400 mg/L SkEO into drinking water for heat-stressed broiler chickens improves economic efficiency possibly by promoting digestion process, creating miniscule improvement in FCR and lowered mortality rate.