This experiment investigated the effects of different doses of Bacillus subtilis spore as a probiotic on the immune response, intestinal morphology and ileal dry matter digestibility in broiler chicks exposed to stress induced by corticosterone (CORT). Two hundred and eighty-eight one-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six treatments in a completely randomized factorial design with and without CORT injection and 3 levels (0, 0.8×106, and 1.6×106 cfu/g) of B. subtilis spore supplementation. At 7 to 9 days of age (for 3 days), the chicks received one of the subcutaneous injections of CORT or corn oil (as control) at 2 mg/kg BW twice a day. The same injections were repeated at 25 to 27 days of age. Corticosterone injection led to significant (p <0.05) changes in intestinal morphology including villus height, ratio of villus height to crypt depth, and dry matter digestibility (as measured by TiO2 marker). These same parameters, however, increased in the experimental chicks relative to the control as a result of probiotic supplementation. Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio increased (p <0.05) as a result of corticosterone injection but exhibited no significant effect of probiotic supplementation. While corticosterone injection decreased lymphocyte density in the medulla of the bursa of Fabricius, this adverse effect was reversed by probiotic supplementation, which was more effective at a 1.6 × 106 concentration than at 0.8 × 106. As a general conclusion, it may be claimed that administration of B. subtilis-based probiotic alleviates certain negative effects of the stress induced by the corticosterone injection. تفاصيل المقالة

The antioxidant effect of dietary Zataria multiflora boiss (ZMBE) extract supplementation on the susceptibility of chicken thigh muscle to lipid oxidation during frozen storage at -20 ˚C for 6 months was examined in this experiment. Three hundred thirty six day-old chicks were allocated to 7 dietary treatments with 4 replicates (12 birds each) in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments in this study were: T1) basal diet [control group, without Zataria multiflora boiss extract (ZMBE)], T2) and T3) [basal diet plus 0.5% and 1% of ZMBE for 42 days], T4) and T5) [basal diet plus 0.5% and 1% ZMBE in the last two weeks of rearing period] and T6) and T7) [basal diet plus 0.5% and 1% ZMBE in the last week of rearing period], respectively. The susceptibility of meat to lipid oxidation was determined by measuring the pH and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level of thigh muscle after 2, 4 and 6 months of storage, respectively. Results clearly demonstrated a major impact on the oxidative stability of broiler meat by ZMBE treatments when compared to control group (P<0.05). However, TBARS values of meat increased pH and moisture content decreased with increasing storage time (P<0.05). تفاصيل المقالة

The hypothesis of this experiment was that the various sources of dietary fat with different dietary ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to saturated fatty acids (SFAs) would alter the reproduction parameters of mature rams. Twelve mature rams were randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were: 1) ration with 4% soybean oil (SOY-OIL), 2) ration with 8% full fat soybean (FULL-FAT), 3) ration with 4% calcium salts of soybean oil (Ca-SALT) and 4) ration with 4% tallow (TALL). All diets were kept isoenergetic and isonitrogenous and formulated to be similar in Ca and P contents, while meeting or exceeding the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System software requirements for the rams used in this study. Diets were supplied to the rams during four months (from August to late December). Semen characteristics, scrotal circumference, and concentrations of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein(LDL), high-density lipoprotein(HDL), triglyceride and testosterone of plasma were measured at the end of the experimental period. Based on the results of this study, diets supplemented with Ca-SALT and TALL improved the health of plasma membrane, viability and sperm concentration (P<0.05). Rams supplemented with Ca-SALT had also greater volume of semen and total sperm count in ejaculate (P<0.05) which are two important factors determining the sperm quality. There was no beneficial effect for different treatments based on spermatozoa motility (P>0.05). Blood concentrations of cholesterol, LDL and HDL of rams supplemented with Ca-SALT were significantly higher than the other treatments. Concentrations of triglyceride, testosterone and scrotal circumference were not affected by the experimental treatments (P>0.05). As an overall conclusion, the results of this study have indicated the benefits for adding Ca-SALT to the diets of adult rams on their reproductive performance. تفاصيل المقالة