C. Leyva and M. Mellado (Mexico)

¹University of KwaZulu-Natal

Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

²Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

PO Box 57811, Nairobi, Kenya

(Received January 16, 2008, accepted October 24, 2008)

Ouda, J.O. and Nsahlai, I.V. 2009. Relevance and potential use of in vitro gas production measurements to evaluate varying ratios of roughages and protein sources for ruminants. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 9-16.

This study explored the relevance and potential of measurements obtainable from in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT) in predicting nutritive value of ruminant rations comprised of poor quality roughages (RG) and different protein sources (PS). The RG were grass hay (GH) and maize stover (MS). The PS were Lucerne hay (LH), Sericea lespedeza hay (LPZ) and sunflower oil cake (SFC). RG:PS ratios used were 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60 20:80 and 0:100 on DM basis. Evaluation measurements included degradability (Deg), microbial yield (MIC) gas production (GP), time taken to half total GP (T½), Deg/total GP ratio (PF) and Deg/(half total GP x T½) ratio (DEF). The Deg increased linearly as LH (P<0.003) or SFC (P<0.03) increased in GH rations while a quadratic increase was obtained in MS rations. Increasing LPZ caused a linear decrease in Deg in both GH and MS rations. The PS differed (P<0.001) in GP in GH rations but protein source ratio (PSR) had no effect. In MS rations, the PS, PSR and PS x PSR interaction affected (P<0.001) GP. There was a linear decrease (P<0.02 to 0.002) in T½ as LH or SFC ratios increased in both GH and MS rations while increasing LPZ ratio tended to cause a quadratic decrease (P=0.17). The MIC and PF showed no clear trend among all the PS and PSR. The DEF was consistent and increased linearly (P<0.002 to 0.001) as the ratios of LH or SFC increased, while increasing LPZ ratio caused a quadratic increase. It is concluded that the confounding results obtainable in Deg, GP, MIC and PF can be resolved by including DEF and/or T½ among the evaluation measurements in order to improve the accuracy of predicting the nutritive value.

Key words: Gas production, roughages, protein source rations, nutritive value prediction, ruminants.

¤brahim Y2ld2r2m*, Kenan Çiftçi, Melike Ceylan

Department of Agricultural Economics

Faculty of Agriculture

University of Yuzuncu Y2l

Van, Turkey

(Received January 30, 2008; accepted August 10, 2008)

Y2ld2r2m, ¤., Çiftçi, K. and Ceylan, M. 2009. Comparison of profitability of cross and native breed cattle fattening farms in Turkey. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 17-20.

To compare cross and native-breed fattening farms focusing on the profitability, data of 2006 production period were collected from 44 crossbreed and 14 native-breed fattening farms. The daily live weight gain per cross-breed cattle (909.4 g ) was higher than that of native-breed cattle (558.2 g.). The profitability rate was +21.3% for cross-breed fattening farms maintaining >26 cattle. It was negative for cross breeding farms maintaining less cattle or the native breed farms due to low daily live weight gain, high production costs, feed intake inefficiency and low sales prices. The total production elasticity of input of cross-breed cattle fattening farms was 1.034, which means there existed an increasing return to scale.

Key words: Cattle, fattening, profitability.

M. Soner Balcio—lu^1#, Kadir Kizilkaya², Kemal Karaba—¹, Sezai Alkan¹, H. ¤brahim Yolcu¹, Emine Ôahin¹

¹Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

Akdeniz University

Antalya-Turkey

²Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

Adnan Menderes University

Aydin-Turkey

(Received April 3, 2008; accepted August 6, 2008)

Balcio—lu, M.S., Kizilkaya, K., Karaba—, K., Alkan, S., Yolcu, H.¤. and Ôahin, E. 2009. Comparison of growth characteristics of chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) raised in captivity. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 21-24.

This study was carried out to estimate growth curve of chukar partridges and to compare the parameter estimates based on Gompertz, Bertalanffy and Logistic models. The growth curve functions were fitted to the observed data individually by using non-linear regression procedure with Marquart algorithm of SAS, NLIN procedure. Gompertz model (with highest determination coefficient and the lowest residual variance) was found to be the best to determine the growth pattern. Sex had significant effect on the estimates of parameter A and weight and age at inflection point within each model.

Keywords: Growth curve, Gompertz model, Bertalanffy model, Logistic model, chukar partridge.

^aDepartment of Veterinary Science

University Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro

Torreon, México

^bDepartment of Nutrition

University Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro

Saltillo, México

(Received May 22, 2008; accepted November 24, 2008)

Leyva, C. and Mellado, M. 2009. Reproductive performance of cows induced into lactation and subjected to ovsynch or heatsynch protocols for estrous synchronization. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 25-28.

A total of 58 Holstein cows from a commercial dairy herd that had been unable to get pregnant after repeated services were induced into lactation. Cows were assigned to two estrous synchronization protocols: ovsynch (n= 20; GnRH 7 d before and 48 h after PGF2α, with fixed artificial insemination (AI) at 24 h after the second GnRH injection), and heatsynch (n= 38; GnRH + PGF2α 7 d later + estradiol cypionate (ECP) 24 h after PGF2α and AI 48 h after ECP). Pregnancy was diagnosed by palpation at 40 d after AI. All cows in both groups exhibited estrous, but due to the high occurrence of cystic follicles (30 and 13% for ovsynch and heatsynch, respectively), only 13 and 33 cows in the ovsynch and heatsynch group, respectively, were inseminated. Conception rates at 40 d post-insemination did not differ between groups. Cows with intense estrous did not differ between groups. It was concluded that timed artificial insemination in cows induced to lactation and free of cystic follicles produced acceptable conception rates at first AI in those unable to conceive in its previous lactation.

Key words: Timed artificial insemination, estradiol cypionate, reproduction, estrous.

¹College of Animal Science and Technology

Northwest A & F University

Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture

Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China

²Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology

Xuzhou Normal University

Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China

³Sanbei goat-breeding farm,

Sanbei country of E’Toukeqi County

Inner Mongolia, 016100, P.R. China

(Received June 16, 2008; accepted December 10, 2008)

Lan, X.Y., Pan, C.Y., Zhang, C.L., Hu, S.R., Liu, S.Q., Zhang, Y.B., Lei, C.Z. and Chen, H. 2009. Relationships between polymorphisms of IGFBP-3 gene and cashmere traits in Cashmere goats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 29-32.

To analyze associations of polymorphisms of IGFBP-3 gene with cashmere traits in Inner Mongolia white Cashmere (IMWC) goat, significant statistical results are found in cashmere yields between individuals with H1H1 and H2H2 genotypes (P<0.05). The individuals with genotype H1H1 had higher cashmere yield than that of genotype H2H2 in three-year-old (P<0.05), but trend was reversed in five-year-old (P<0.05). Therefore, this study provided possible support for influence of IGFBP-3 gene on cashmere yield which might be at least partially dependent on age and circulating levels of PRL in Inner Mongolia white Cashmere goats.

Keywords: Goat, IGFBP-3 gene, polymorphism, relationship, cashmere traits.

L. Avendaño-Reyes^*1, J.W. Fuquay*, R.B. Moore^*2, Z. Liu**, B.L. Clark^***3, C. Vierhout^#

*Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences

**Department of Mathematics and Statistics

***College of Veterinary Medicine

Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762, USA

^#Dairy Records Management Systems

Raleigh 27603-3435, USA

(Received June 26, 2008; accepted November 10, 2008)

Avendaño-Reyes, L., Fuquay, J.W., Moore, R.B., Liu, Z., Clark, B.L. and Vierhout, C. 2009. Relationship between accumulated heat stress prepartum, body condition and postpartum performance in dairy cattle. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 33-38.

To estimate the relationship between heat stress during the last 60 d prepartum, body condition score and certain productive traits in the subsequent lactation of Holstein cows, 564 multiparous and 290 primiparous cows from four dairy herds in Mississippi state were used. Maximum temperature-humidity index (MTHI) was calculated to quantify the degree of heat stress and was included in multiple regression models. Animals were scored for body condition at dry off, at calving and at 60 d postpartum. In multiparous cows, prepartum MTHI (MPTHI) had a negative effect on milk production at 200 d postpartum. One point of decrease in BCS from calving to 60 d postpartum in multiparous cows was associated with 246 kg more milk during the first 100 d of lactation. One point of increase in BCS from calving to 60 d postpartum was associated with 1.85 kg of less milk at peak of milk production. There was no effect of MPTHI on postpartum production performance in primiparous cows. Heat stress prepartum, considering ambient temperature and relative humidity, reduced milk production.

Key words: Milk production, body condition score, heat stress, temperature-humidity index.

Department of Animal Science

College of Agriculture

Atatürk University

Erzurum, Turkey

(Received January 16, 2008; accepted August 1, 2008)

Güler, O. and Yanar, M. 2009. Factors influencing the shape of lactation curve and persistency of Holstein Friesian cows in high altitude of Eastern Turkey. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 39-44.

Data on 371 lactation records pertaining to Holstein Friesian cows reared in high altitude and harsh climatic conditions of Eastern Turkey were analyzed to study the effects of different non-genetic factors on the shape of lactation curve and persistency measures. Calving season affected significantly (P<0.01) a, b, c as well as Tomax, PII/PI and CV from measures of persistency, while days in milk (DIM) at peak yield, peak yield (Ymax) and S were not influenced by calving season. Calving year also affected (P<0.05) DIM at peak yield and a, b, c, S, PII/PI and CV (P<0.01). The significant and positive phenotypic correlation of peak yield with 305 DIM yield suggested that Ymax could be used as a selection criterion to improve milk yield of Holstein Friesian cows reared in high altitude of Eastern Turkey.

Keywords: Lactation curve, gamma function, persistency, non-genetic factors.

A.A. Saki¹, M. Abbasinezhad, S. Ghazi, M.M. Tabatabai, M. Goodarzi, A. Ahmadi, K. Zaboli, O. Karami, Z. Zamani, H. Mahmoudi

Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

Bu-Ali Sina University

Hamedan, Iran

(Received July 2, 2007; accepted November 6, 2008)

Saki, A.A., Abbasinezhad, M., Ghazi, S., Tabatabai, M.M., Goodarzi, M., Ahmadi, A., Zaboli, K., Karami, O., Zamani, Z. and Mahmoudi, H. 2009. Protein pattern and urease activity of two types of soybean meal on protein digestibility and chicken performance. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 45-48.

The experiment was conducted on extracted (ES) and mechanical soybean meal (MS) in broiler chicken feeding. Three hundred fifty two day old Lohman chickens were placed in four treatments by 4 replicates with 22 chickens in each. Treatments included: 25 or 35% of ES or MS. Higher fiber, fat and gross energy content were obtained in MS than ES. Protein patterns observed by SDS-PAGE showed differences that indicated the specific proteins in ES compared with MS. AME, AMEn, TME and TMEn were reduced (p<0.05) in MS compared to ES. Feed intake was increased (p<0.05) in starter period (21 d) by ES treatments in comparison to MS treatments. Body weight was (P<0.05) higher in 25% ES in comparison to 25 and 35% MS in grower period (42 d). Feed conversion ratio was improved by 25% of ES compared with 35% of ES treatment (P<0.05) in 21 d. Urease activity (UA) in ES was lower than in MS. It is concluded that ES, as compared to MS, improved broiler performance.

Key words: Protein pattern, urease activity, soybean meal, chicken performance.

J. Ai¹, A.A. Nekooeian², M.A. Takhshid¹, N. Mostafizi¹, D. Mehrabani^3*

¹Department of Tissue Engineering

Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

²Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

³Gastroenerohepathology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

(Received June 19, 2008; accepted September 1, 2008)

Ai, J., Nekooeian, A.A., Takhshid, M.A., Mostafizi, N. and Mehrabani, D. 2009. Effect of aqueous extract of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) stigma on serum levels of gonadotropins and folliculogenesis in adult rats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 49-52.

To examine the effects of aqueous extract of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) stigma on serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), leutinizing hormone (LH), progesterone and estrogen as well as folliculogenesis, 45 adult Wistar rats were equally divided into three groups. Group one received oral normal saline (5 ml/ day) as a vehicle and groups two and three the extract of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) stigma at 20 and 80 mg/kg/day, respectively, for 30 d. Administration of 80 mg/kg/day aqueous extract of saffron stigma resulted in higher serum level of FSH, LH, progesterone and estrogen and increased numbers of primary, secondary and tertiary follicles as well as corpora lutea. Thus the aqueous extract of saffron can improve fertility, which may be attributed to crocetin and/or flavonoids contents of the extract.

Key words: Saffron stigma, aqueous extract, gonadotropins, folliculogenesis, rat.

¹Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas. Cd. Victoria,

Tamaulipas. 87001. México

²Ganadería

⁴Estadística

Colegio de Postgraduados. Montecillo

Edo. De México. 56230. México,

³Department of Large Animal Clinical Science,

College of Veterinary Medicine,

Michigan State University,

East Lansing MI, 48824, USA

³Instituto de Investigación de Zonas Desérticas

Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí SLP

78377, México

(Received June 3, 2008; accepted November 3, 2008)

Hernández, R., González, S.S., Pinos-Rodríguez, J.M., Ortega, M.E., Hernández, A., Bueno, G. and Cobos, M. 2009. Effect of a yeast culture on nitrogen balance and digestion in lambs fed early and mature orchard grass. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 53-56.

To evaluate the effect of feeding a yeast culture (0 or 5 g/d per sheep) on digestion and N balance in lambs fed orchard grass hay cut at 5 or 16-wk of re-growth, 4 male Criollo lambs (45 ± 4 kg) fitted with ruminal cannulae in a 4x4 Latin square with a factorial 2x2 arrangement of treatments were used. Addition of a yeast culture did not affect (P>0.05) intake, rumen pH and ammonia N, N balance and total tract digestion of nutrients. Ruminal total protozoa changed only according to orchard grass maturity (P<0.05); however, treatments did not affect total and cellulolytic bacteria, rumen pH and rumen ammonia N concentration.It is concluded that addition of a yeast culture to lambs fed early and mature orchard grass did alter ruminal protozoa without affecting feed intake, total tract digestion and N balance.

Key words: Yeast culture, orchard grass, digestion, rumen fermentation, N balance.

Biochemistry Department

Faculty of Science

King Abdulaziz University

Jeddah, 21551-42805, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

(Received August 26, 2008; accepted January 9, 2009)

El-Sawi, N.M. and Al-Seeni, M.N. 2009. Assessment of flavonoids as rutin for detoxification of T-2 toxin. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 57-60.

To assess the efficacy of rutin, a flavonoid, for detoxifying T-2 toxin, 30 male albino rats were divided in 3 equal groups. Group 1 served as control. Rats in groups 2 and 3 were given 0.1 mg/kg bw T-2 toxin and those of group 3 were given 50 mg/kg rutin additionally. Toxin in liver tissue increased TBARs, SOD, GST, total lipids and decreased total thiol and catalase. Similarly there was increased lipid peroxide and decrease in total thiol, GST, hemoglobin and hematocrit value. All these were improved in group 3. The result suggest that rutin may be used as anti oxidant for T-2 toxin in liver of rat.

Key words: Mycotoxin T-2 toxin, trichothecene, rutin, antioxidants, serum, liver, hemoglobin.

Sang-Hyun Han¹, Sung-Soo Lee¹, In-Cheol Cho¹, Moon-You Oh², Hong-Shik Oh^3*

¹National Institute of Subtropical Agriculture

Rural Development Administration

Jeju, Jeju 690-150, Republic of Korea

²Department of Life Science

College of Natural Sciences

³Department of Science Education

College of Education

Cheju National University

Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea

(Received August 21, 2008; accepted December 30, 2008)

Han, S-H., Lee, S-S., Cho, I-C., Oh, M-Y. and Oh, H-S. 2009. Species identification and sex determination of Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) by duplex PCR. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 61-66.

This study was focused on species identification and sex determination of Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) by duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using two primer sets of sex determining region Y (SRY) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome B (CYTB) genes. The CYTB sequences showed 99.5% similarities in identity with Chinese water deer. The length of water deer SRY gene was 687- bp for 228-amino acids which is 3-bp shorter than those reported from other cervids. Males had two bands: a common CYTB and additional SRY. This study further suggested that duplex PCR test could be a rapid and precise method for sex determination using SRY gene and for species identification as well as for internal positive control in PCR reaction utilizing mitochondrial CYTB gene.

Keywords: Duplex PCR, CYTB, SRY, Sex, water deer.

R.S. Kataria*, P. Kathiravan, S.S. Bulandi, N.K. Yadav, P.K. Dubey, B.P. Mishra

Buffalo Genomics Lab, DNA Fingerprinting Unit,

National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources,

Karnal-132 001, India

(Received August 20, 2008; accepted January 10, 2009)

Kataria, R.S., Kathiravan, P., Bulandi, S.S., Yadav, N.K., Dubey, P.K. and Mishra, B.P. 2009. Assessment of genetic diversity, mutation drift equilibrium and mitochondrial D-Loop variation in Toda buffalo – the endangered breed of South India. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 67-72.

The Toda buffalo of South India was evaluated for its genetic variability and mutation drift equilibrium using a set of 25 bovine specific heterologous microsatellite markers. A total of 105 alleles were detected across 25 loci with mean effective number of alleles being 2.661. The mean observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.570 and 0.598, respectively. The test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) revealed significant deviations in many of the investigated loci. There were highly significant deviations from mutation drift equilibrium while the qualitative test of mode shift did not reveal any genetic bottleneck in the recent past. The mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequence analysis of 165 bp region in three buffalo breeds viz. Toda, Assamese and Murrah revealed a total of 12 haplotypes, of which five were unique and remaining seven were found to be shared among different breeds. The phylogenetic analysis indicated clustering of all the riverine buffalo haplotypes together in a single clade including Toda and Assamese while the swamp buffaloes formed a separate cluster.

Key words: Toda, microsatellite, mt-DNA variation, phylogeny.

Davood Mehrabani¹, Bahman Sadeghi¹, Mohammad Javad Ashraf², Hamid Reza Abbasi¹, Masoud Amini¹, Nader Tanideh³, Babak Sabet¹, Hanna Javan¹, Mohammad Vasei², Seyed Vahid Hosseini^1*

¹Gastroenterohepatology Research Center

Department of Colorectal Surgery

²Department of Pathology

³Comparative Medicine Research Center

Department of Pharmacology

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Shiraz, Iran

(Received June 26, 2008; accepted October 31, 2008)

Mehrabani, D., Sadeghi, B., Ashraf, M.J., Abbasi, H.R., Amini, M., Tanideh, N., Sabet, B., Javan, H., Vasei, M. and Hosseini, S.V. 2009. Comparison of simple closure and polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) patch methods for repair of rectovaginal fistula in dog. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 73-76.

To compare simple closure and polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) patch methods in rectovaginal fistula repair in dog as an animal model, 16 mixed–bred female dogs weighing 20-35 kg were enrolled. Under general anesthesia in lithotomy position, an iatrogenic rectovagina fistula was created 4 cm anterior to anal verge and 8 weeks after confirmation of fistula tract formation, the dogs were randomly divided into 3 groups. In group 1, with perineal approach, fistulectomy was performed and a 2x2 cm piece of PTFE patch was fixed in rectal side of the fistula; in group 2, after fistulectomy, the rectal side of the fistula was repaired with vicryl 3-0 interrupted stitches and in group 3, the catheter was removed from the fistulous tract and the fistula was left in place without any surgical repair to let spontaneous repair. In group 1, healing was grossly complete and there were epithelialization and granulation tissue formation at the fistula site in 3 out of 4 cases with prominent fibrous tissue formation. In group 2 with simple surgical repair, 1 out of 4 cases showed epithelialization with less fibrous tissue formation and in group 3, none of the cases demonstrated epithelialization and repair. As PTFE patch graft had no significant morbidity and was easy to perform, it can be recommended for repair of rectovaginal fistulae.

Key words: Polytetraflouroethylene, rectovaginal fistula, dog.

M. Romero¹, J.M. Pinos-Rodríguez^2*, J.G. Herrera¹, J.C. García², A.Z.M. Salem³, R. Bárcena¹, G. Alvarez²

¹Programa de Ganadería

Colegio de Postgraduados

Montecillo, México

²Instituto de Investigación de Zonas Desérticas

Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Altair 200

Fracc. del Llano. 78377. San Luis Potosí. S.L.P. México

³Department of Animal Production

Faculty of Agriculture (El-Shatby)

Alexandria University, Egypt

(Received July 12, 2008; accepted November 20, 2008)

Romero, M., Pinos-Rodríguez, J.M., Herrera, J.G., García, J.C., Salem, A.Z.M., Bárcena, R. and Alvarez, G. 2009. Influence of zilpaterol and mineral-yeast mixture on ruminal fermentation and growth performance in finishing steers. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 77-81.

To evaluate the effects of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) and a mineral-yeast (MY) mixture two experiments were conducted on finishing steers. Four treatments were: 1) control; 2) MY (chromium, selenium and zinc yeast); 3) ZH; 4) YM+ZH. 125 and 800 g/ton of Zilmax© (ZH) and Bioplex© (MY), respectively, were supplemented to the total mixed ration (TMR). Four beef steers (420±32 kg) fitted with ruminal cannulae and 20 BrahamanxSwiss beef steers (375±6 kg BW) divided in four equal groups were used in the two experiments, respectively. Ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids, ammonia N and DM degradability were not affected (P > 0.05) by treatments. After 40 d of feeding ZH alone or with MY improved average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion (F:G). Dressing percentage (hot and cold) were higher (P < 0.05) in supplements fed steers and the highest values were observed with MY+ZH. Our results suggested a beneficial synergetic effect of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) and mineral-yeast (MY) mixture on growth, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of finishing steers.

Key words: Zilpaterol, mineral-yeast, growth, ruminal fermentation, steers, carcass characteristics, total mixed ration.

K.J. Khaledi^1,5*, J.M. Panandam^1,2, A.A. Maheran³, S.S. Siraj⁴

¹Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

²Institute of Tropical Agriculture

³Department of Agriculture Technology

Faculty of Agriculture

⁴Department of Biology

Faculty of Science

Universiti Putra Malaysia

43400, UPM Serdang

Malaysia

⁵Department of Agriculture

Islamic Azad University Shahr-e-Ray

Tehran, Iran

(Received March 13, 2008; accepted August 30, 2008)

Khaledi, K.J., Panandam, J.M., Maheran, A.A. and Siraj, S.S. 2009. Reliable and fast molecular sexing in Bos indicus cattle using amelogenin gene primers. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 83-85.

To investigate reliability of amelogenin gene primer pair for exon 5, SE47/SE48 for sex differentiation in Bos indicus three male and three female Brakmas (B. indicus) cattle were tested. The SE 47/48 primer pair generated PCR products of fragment length 280 bp for the females (AMELX) and fragments of 280 bp (AMELX) and 213 bp (AMELY) for the males. Thus the SE47/48 primer pair is not only reliable for sex differentiation in B. indicus but may also be used to differentiate the B. indicus and B. taurus males.

Keywords: Bos indicus, amelogenin, sex differentiation.

Ayd2n Ipek*, Ali Karabulut, Umran Sahan, Onder Canbolat, Bilgehan Yilmaz-Dikmen¹

Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

University of Uludag

16059, Gorukle, Bursa, Turkey

¹Department of Animal Husbandry and Health

Keles Vocational School

University of Uludag

Keles, Bursa, Turkey

(Received January 17, 2008; accepted November 20, 2008)

Ipek, A., Karabulut, A., Sahan, U., Canbolat, O. and Yilmaz-Dikmen, B. 2009. Effect of different diets on the behaviour of slow-growing broiler genotype. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 87-90.

A total of 420 male day–old-chicks of a slow-growing genetic line (Hubbard ISA Red JA) were used as the trial material. The treatment groups were: Dilute-AL (energy and protein diluted diet fed ad libitum), Dilute-R (restricted energy and protein diluted diet), High-AL (high energy and protein diet fed ad libitum) and High-R (restricted high energy and protein diet). Restricted birds showed a greater percentage of time spot pecking, preening and in feather maintenance and less time resting than birds fed ad libitum but the differences were relatively small.

Key words: Free-range, diet, performance, behaviour.

A. Ozcan, N. Kaya, O. Atakisi, M. Karapehlivan, E. Atakisi, S. Cenesiz

Department of Biochemistry

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

University of Kafkas, 36040, Kars, Turkey

(Received March 5, 2008; accepted September 13, 2008)

Ozcan, A., Kaya, N., Atakisi, O., Karapehlivan, M., Atakisi, E. and Cenesiz, S. 2009. Effect of kefir on the oxidative stress due to lead in rats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 91-93.

To study the effect of kefir given to the rats, which have been developed oxidative stress through administration of lead, 36 rats were divided into 4 groups, the control group, the lead group, lead and kefir group and kefir group. After 6 weeks of treatment, blood levels of the glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin E, β-carotene and retinol were determined. The GSH level in the lead group was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that in the control group and the MDA level was higher (p<0.05). On supplementing kefir with or without lead, these levels became similar to control group. Vit E increased by kefir supplementation. Thus kefir may indeed prevent the oxidative damage induced by lead and strengthen antioxidant system.

Key words:  Lead, kefir, antioxidant system, rat.

Department of Anatomy

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Ataturk University

25700, Ilica-Erzurum, Turkey

(Received February 19, 2008; accepted August 27, 2008)

Ozdemir, D. 2008. Observations on the anatomy of the duodenum in the porcupine (Hystrix cristata). J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 95-96.

Keywords: Hystrix cristata, porcupine, duodenum, epithelium.