The current study was conducted to evaluate effects of sequential or wet feeding programs subsequent to and early meal feeding regime on performance, carcass characteristics and humoral immunity in broiler chicks. 192 Ross 308 chicks (seven-day old) were allocated to four treatments at four replicates (12 chicks per plot) based on a Completely Randomized Design. Treatments were included: control group (C) where birds had free access to feed throughout the experiment, meal fed groups (MF) where birds were meal fed from 7 to 14 d and subsequently meal fed by the control diet (MFC), meal fed a wet diet (MFW) or subjected to a sequential feeding program (MFS) until day 42. The results showed a statistical reduction of feed intake and increased feed conversion ratio during the meal feeding period (P<0.05). Consequently, meal fed chicks had a depressed body weight at 14 d, which was later, compensated (P<0.05). Following meal feeding, birds in the meal fed a wet diet (MFW) group exhibited the highest body weight, but the sequential fed group had significantly (P<0.05) lower feed intake, body weight andfeed conversion ratio(FCR) compared to the other groups. The highest relative weight of small intestine and the lowest abdominal fat pad percentage were observed in the MFS group (P<0.05). Birds' antibody responses to Newcastle, Influenza viruses and sheep red blood cell were not influenced by feeding regimes. It is concluded that feeding a wet diet following meal feeding programs can be effectively used in broiler chicken production. Manuscript profile

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of stocking density and incremental methionine levels on performance, immune response, carcass traits, and digestive organs of broiler chicks. A total of 390 day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to six dietary treatments and five replicates base on 3 × 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets included three levels of stocking density (12, 16 and 18 birds/m2) and two levels of methionine (100 and 120% requirement recommended for Ross 308) applied during 42 days of experiment. The results showed that 18 birds density decreased body weight and weight gain, feed intake and increased feed conversion ratio (P<0.05) in overall rearing period. The 120% methionine level tended to increase body weight at 42 day of age. Stocking density significantly (P<0.05) affected the relative weight of proventriculus, pancreas, gizzard and duodenum. The jejunum relative weight and ileum length of chicks received 120% methionine level significantly increased. Antibody titer against sheep red blood cells (SRBC), Influenza and Newcastle viruses, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and lymphoid organs except spleen were not affected by dietary treatments (P<0.05). As a conclusion, broiler performance of chicks adversely affected by stocking density and methionine levels had no considerable effect on their performance. Manuscript profile

هدف از این آزمایش بررسی تاثیر سطوح مختلف پودر آویشن باغی و نعناع بر بر عملکرد تولیدی و کیفیت تخم‌مرغ مرغ‌های بومی بود. آزمایش حاضر با تعداد 150 قطعه مرغ بومی در قالب طرح کاملا تصادفی با 5 تیمار و 5 تکرار و 6 قطعه مرغ بومی در هر تکرار صورت گرفت. تیمارهای آزمایش عبارتند از: تیمار (A): جیره پایه بدون افزودن آویشن باغی یا نعناع (تیمار شاهد)؛ تیمار (B): افزودن سطوح 1 درصد پودر آویشن باغی به جیره پایه؛ تیمار (C): افزودن 1 درصد پودر نعناع به جیره پایه؛ تیمار (D): افزودن 75/0 درصد پودر آویشن باغی به همراه 75/0 درصد پودر نعناع به جیره پایه؛ و تیمار (E): افزودن 5/0 درصد پودر آویشن باغی به همراه 5/0 درصد پودر نعناع به جیره پایه بود. نتایج آزمایش نشان داد درصد تولید تخم‌مرغ در دوره‌های 28-1، 56-28، 84-56 روزگی و کل دوره تولید 84-1 روزگی در تیمار پنج نسبت به تیمار شاهد افزایش یافت (05/0>p ). وزن تولید تخم‌مرغ در دوره‌های 28-1، 84-56 روزگی و کل دوره تولید 84-1روزگی تفاوتی معنی‌داری ایجاد نشد؛ با این وجود در دوره 56-28 روزگی پرندگانی که سطح 1 درصد نعناع دریافت کردند بالاتر بود (05/0>p ). وزن توده تخم‌مرغ در تمام دوره‌های تخمگذاری پژوهش در پرندگان دریافت کننده آویشن باغی و نعناع بالاتر از تیمار شاهد بود (05/0 > p). فراسنجه‌های صفات کیفی تخم‌مرغ در پرندگان دریافتی آویشن باغی و نعناع نسبت به تیمار شاهد معنی‌دار بود (05/0 > p). در کل نتایج این آزمایش نشان داد که استفاده از پودر آویشن باغی و نعناع در سطح 5/0 درصد جیره پایه مرغ‌های بومی باعث بهبود عملکرد تولیدی و کیفی تخم‌مرغ خواهد شد. Manuscript profile

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of feed color or feed form on feed preference, growth performance, and behavior indices of broilers. In experiment 1, 60 one-day-old broilers were dis-tributed in 3 vast floor pens whereby broilers of each pen were offered a non-colored feed as well as green, blue, and red colored diets. Broilers preferred to consume higher amounts of green or non-colored feed than those offered with blue and red diets (P<0.05) across the entire rearing period. In experiment 2, 240 one-day-old broilers were assigned to one of 4 treatments, comprising five replicates per treatment in a com-pletely randomized design. Dietary treatments included a control (non-colored diet) and diets with blue, green, or red colors. The most significant duration of tonic immobility was observed in broilers fed red feed, while the lowest duration was observed in birds fed blue diet (P<0.05). Feeding, preening, and aggres-sive behavior were higher in birds fed on green feed than those received a control diet (P<0.05). In experi-ment 3, 360 one- day-old chicks were allotted to 6 experimental treatments of a non-colored mash diet; non-colored pelleted feed; non-colored mash + non-colored pelleted diet; non-colored mash + blue color pel-leted feed; non-colored mash + green color pelleted feed; and non-colored mash + red color pelleted feed. Broilers fed non-colored pelleted feed had the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the starter, grow-ing, and entire rearing periods (P<0.05). Overall, broilers preferred to consume a colored diet. Feeding pel-leted feed improved the growth performance of broilers regardless of feed color. Manuscript profile