This study was conducted to compare digestibility of wheat straw (WS) by fungi and whole rumen microorganisms (WRM). Dry matter (DM), neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF and ADF) digestibility of WS were compared with in vitro digestion (IVD), gas production (GP) and specific rumen anaerobic fungi culture (SRAFC). Dry matter, NDF and ADF digestibility of WS by WRM of buffalo (60.80, 49.93 and 17.45%, respectively) were more than cattle (53.00, 38.63 and 10.62%, respectively) (P<0.05). Regardless the type of microorganisms, digestibility of DM (P>0.05), NDF and ADF by buffalo (51.03, 44.41 and 12.09%) was more than cattle (48.04, 36.34 and 8.76) (P<0.05). Potential of GP (B) by fungi and WRM in cattle was more than buffalo (P<0.05). Rate of GP (C) for WRM and fungi of cattle was less than buffalo (P<0.05). Regardless the type of microorganisms, C in buffalo was more than cattle (P<0.05) and was vice versa for B (P<0.05). Regardless the type of animal species, WRM had higher digestibility and B than fungi (P>0.05), but rate of GP of them was same. In SRAFC, DM digestibility of WS by fungi of buffalo at days 3 and 12 was more than cattle (P<0.05). The number of fungi in cattle rumen was more than buffalo (P<0.05). The potential of fungi and WRM of buffalo were more than cattle. Therefore, the results were shown the advantage and supremacy of buffalo in usage the low quality roughages. پرونده مقاله

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of diets containing different levels of milk thistle (0, 100 and 200 g/kg dry matter) and grains (barley and corn) with different rumen degradation rates on rumen bacteria and whole rumen microorganisms (WRM) of Khuzestan buffalo. The gas production (GP) technique, two steps digestion and specific bacteria culture medium methods were used for this purpose. The rumen fluid was taken from two fistulated buffaloes. The results of GP potential of experimental diets by WRM were not significantly different, however in both basal diets GP increased by increasing the level of milk thistle (P>0.05). The highest amount of GP in diet based on barley and corn was for diets containing 200 and 100 g milk thistle, respectively. Rate of GP by WRM was significantly different (P<0.05), so that in both basal diets at the level of 100 g milk thistle had the highest GP rates. Potential and rate of GP of diets by buffalo rumen bacteria was not significantly different (P>0.05). In two-steps digestion method using of different levels of milk thistle in diets (based on barley and corn) had no negative effect on the digestibility of nutrients by WRM (P>0.05). In barley-based diet adding milk thistle was numerically increased dry matter andneutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility compared with the control (P>0.05), while in the corn-based diet dry matter and NDF digestibility were reduced (P>0.05). The digestibility of dry matter by bacteria in corn-based diet was significantly reduced compared with the control (P<0.05). Nutrient digestibility of experimental diets by bacteria in the specific bacteria culture did not be affected by milk thistle in diets (P>0.05). Therefore, results provided here suggest that milk thistle could be used up to 20% of buffalo's diet without any negative effect on digestion and fermentation characteristics by WRM and bacteria. پرونده مقاله

This experiment was conducted to determine the reproductive performance of Arabian ewes treated with short and long-term progesterone devices in addition to low doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) during the anoestrus season. A total of 36 ewes were divided into three groups: in group I vaginal sponges (60 mg medroxy progesterone acetate; (MAP)) were applied and removed after 6 days; in group II, vaginal MAP sponges were removed 12 days following insertion, while group III served as control group. The first two groups were intramuscularly injected with of 300 IU eCG, following sponge removal. Parameters such as oestrus response rate, time to onset of oestrus, duration of oestrus, pregnancy, lambing and fecundity rates were evaluated. Blood samples were collected one day before sponge insertion and two days after sponge insertion and on day of oestrus. There were significant differences between the group I and II with control group regarding the plasma estradiol and progesterone levels. There were no significant differences in oestrus response, time to onset of oestrus, pregnancy, lambing and fecundity rates between groups I and II (P>0.05). However, differences were significant when these two treatment groups were compared with the control group. In group I, duration of oestrus was significantly higher than group II (P<0.05). In addition, other factors in group I was numerically greater than group II (P>0.05). It was concluded that short-term sponge treatment (6 days) had better performance when compared with the long-term sponge treatment (12 days) in Arabian ewes. پرونده مقاله