Zilpaterol hydrochloride on performance and sperm quality of lambs fed wet brewers grain

Dietary chemical composition, plasma metabolites and hormones in range goats

University of Florida

North Florida Research and Education Center

Marianna, FL 32446, USA

(Received January 16, 2008; accepted September 01, 2008)

Myer, R.O., Brendemuhl, J.H. and Bucklin, R.A. 2008. Effect of season on growth performance of finishing pigs fed low-protein, amino acid supplemented diets. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 1-8.

A two year study was conducted to evaluate the effects of diet (low-protein diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids (aa) vs. high-protein, non aa supplemented control diets) and season/rearing environment (hot, humid summer vs. cool fall/winter) on growth performance and carcass lean content of finishing pigs (52 to 110 kg). For each year, two trials, each with 84 pigs, were conducted. Outside daily high and low temperatures (C) and RH (%), respectively, averaged 26, 21 and 81; 26, 20 and 83; 14, 7 and 80; and 10, 3 and 77 for yr 1 and 2 summer and yr 1 and 2 fall/winter, respectively. Diets were maize and soybean meal based (3.3 mcal ME/kg). The low-protein (LP) diets were four percentage units lower in crude protein (CP) than the corresponding control diets; crystalline lysine, threonine, tryptophan and methionine were added to the LP diets to meet the pigs’ requirements (NRC, 1998). For each trial, split sex Finisher I (52 to 82 kg), and Finisher II (82 to 110 kg), diets were fed. Each dietary treatment was fed to six pens of seven pigs for each trial. Water sprinklers were used during warm weather (>25C). Floor space was 0.7m2 per pig. Pigs reared during the summer grew 9% slower than pigs reared during the fall/winter (0.88 vs. 0.97 kg/d, P<0.001); average daily feed intake (ADF) and feed conversion efficiency (F/G) were also affected by season (P<0.001). Pigs fed the LP + aa diets averaged 3% lower ADG than pigs fed the control diets (0.91 vs. 0.94 kg; P<0.01); ADqF and F/G were not affected (P>0.10). The decrease in ADG was more pronounced during the summer vs. fall/winter (6% vs. 1%; season x diet, P = 0.02). The decrease noted occurred only during Finisher II (0.91 vs. 0.84 kg/d; P<0.001; FI, 0.97 vs. 0.98). Estimated carcass lean was not affected by diet or season (mean = 51% fat free). The feeding of a LP + aa diet used appears to be of no particular benefit on improving pig growth performance from 52 to 110 kg under hot and humid conditions.

Key words: Pigs, protein, heat stress, amino acids, season.

Field of Animal Reproductive Physiology

School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

Central University of Technology

Free State, Private Bag X20539

Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

(Received April 11, 2007; accepted May 30, 2008)

Umesiobi, D.O. 2008. Measures of servicing capacity of boars and their effects on subsequent fertility in artificially inseminated gilts. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 9-12.

Keywords: Servicing capacity, sexual behaviour, sperm viability, boar, gilt fertility.

Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

University of Ondokuz Mayis

55139-Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey

(Received September 14, 2007; accepted June 06, 2008)

Atasever, S. and Erdem, H. 2008. An investigation on the determination of mastitis risk levels and milk production traits in Holstein cows. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 13-16.

This investigation was conducted to determine mastitis risk levels and milk production traits of Holstein cows (169) raised in farms (24) enrolled to Cattle Breeders Assocation (CBA) of Samsun, Turkey, on 70±14, 140±14 and 210±14 days in milk in 4 parities and 4 seasons. Somatic cell count (SCC), electrical conductivity (EC) and catalase (CAT) were used as mastitis risk markers. High correlations were found (P<0.01) among mastitis markers and also milk yield parameters, except for EC and daily milk yield (dMY). The results of the study shown that mastitis risk levels and milk production losses increase with advancing parity and lactation stage and also in winter and spring calving seasons.

Key words: Mastitis risk, somatic cell count, milk yield, Holstein.

J.I. Aguilera-Soto^1*, R.G. Ramirez², C.F. Arechiga¹, F. Mendez-Llorente¹, M.A. Lopez-Carlos¹, J.M. Silva-Ramos¹, R.M. Rincon-Delgado¹, F.M. Duran-Roldan¹

¹Unidad Académica de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia

Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas

Carretera Panamericana Zacatecas Fresnillo

Km 31.5, El Cordovel Enrique Estrada, Zacatecas, 98500, México

²Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

Ave. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria

San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, 66450, México

(Received January 18, 2008; accepted May 23, 2008)

Abstract

Aguilera-Soto, J.I., Ramirez, R.G., Arechiga, C.F., Mendez-Llorente, F., Lopez-Carlos, M.A., Silva-Ramos, J.M., Rincón-Delgado, R.M. and Duran-Roldan, F.M. 2008. Zilpaterol hydrochloride on performance and sperm quality of lambs fed wet brewers grain. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 17-21.

Forty Rambouillet x Pelibuey male lambs were grouped as light-weight (LW; n = 20; 28±1.2 kg BW) and heavy-weight (HW; n = 20; 40.5±1.6 kg BW) to be fed a finishing diet containing 60% wet brewers grain with or without 6 mg kg-1 DM of β-adrenergic agonist zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH). On d 60 of the feeding trial, ZH was removed and semen collection was measured by electroejaculation. Further, on d 63 animals were slaughtered for carcass and meat quality evaluation. On d 15 of the feeding trial, lambs fed ZH gained significantly (about 25%) more weight. However, at the end of feeding trial (60 d period), ADG, DMI and feed efficiency were unaffected by ZH consumption. Sperm motility was significantly reduced by ZH only in HW lambs; but, sperm concentration was not affected. Conversely, storage loss at 96 h, cooking loss and drip loss were significantly higher and water holding capacity was significantly lower in animals fed ZH. It appears that ZH addition to diet of lambs had not caused positive performance effects during long period of feeding, however, it affected the reproductive performance of rams.

Keywords: Rambouillet x Pelibuey lambs, wet brewers grain, zilpaterol hydrochloride, performance, sperm quality, carcass characteristics.

Li Wang^1,3, Xiaobing Wu^1*, Duo Xu¹, Renping Wang², Chaolin Wang²

¹College of Life Science

Anhui Province Key Laboratory for Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resource

Anhui Normal University

Wuhu 241000, P.R. China

²Anhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator Reproduction

Xuanzhou 242034, P.R. China

³Department of Preventive Medicine

Bengbu Medical College

Bengbu 23300, P.R. China

(Received November 6, 2007; accepted June 10, 2008)

Abstract

Wang, L., Wu, X., Xu, D., Wang, R. and Wang, C. 2008. Development of testis and spermatogenesis in alligator sinensis. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 23-28.

The histological structure and ultrastructure of the testis in Chinese alligator, Alligator sinensis were studied with light and transmission electron microscopy, which provided theoretical basis for studying the mechanism of fertilization and its artificial breeding. Seasonal changes in the seminiferous epithelium of A. sinensis were investigated morphologically. The spermatogenetic cycle of A. sinensis showed a discontinuous type starting following the end of hibernation and ending in May. The germ cell development strategies were close to that of anamniotes rather than amniotes in development of testis, which have suggested that a third germ cell development strategy exists within an amniotic.

Keywords: Alligator sinensis, testis, seminiferous epithelium, spermatogenesis, development.

Z. Ulutas¹, A. Sahin¹, M. Saatci²

¹Gaziosmanpasa University

Faculty of Agriculture

Department of Animal Science

Tokat 60240, Turkey

²Kafkas University

Faculty of Veterinary

Department of Animal Science

Kars, Turkey

(Received September 27, 2007; accepted May 2, 2008)

Abstract

Ulutas, Z., Sahin, A. and Saatci, M. 2008. Genetic parameters of milk yield in Jersey cows. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 29-32.

To predict genetic parameters of milk yield and assess the genetic improvement in Jersey cows reared at Karaköy State Farm in Black sea region a total of 1275 records from 460 cows were used. Year, season and lactation number were added in the model as fixed effects for the preliminary analyses. The highest h2 (0.37) was estimated for milk yield. As a reflection of the environmental influences, both Vc (14.93) and C2 (< 0.001) had low values for the studied herd. Genetic correlation between the lactation length and calving interval was strong (0.90). Permanent environmental effect due to cow (PEEC) did not show any sharp movement among the years (0.17 to -0.48). It is concluded that most of the influence on milk was genetic and very limited environmental.

Keywords : Breeding value, genetic trend, milk yield, Jersey.

M.R. Al-Masri*, M. Mardini

Department of Agriculture

Atomic Energy Commission

P.O. Box 6091, Damascus, Syria

(Received December 7, 2007; accepted July 3, 2008)

Abstract

Al-Masri, M.R. and Mrdini, M. 2008. Nutritional and anti-nutritional components in Sesbania aculeata and Kochia indica at different harvest times. J. Appl Anim. Res., 34: 33-37.

Tannins level as total phenols (TP), condensed tannins (CT), hydrolysable tannins (HT), phytic acid (PA), cell-wall constituents [neutral-detergent fiber (NDF), acid-detergent fiber (ADF)], total nitrogen and nitrogen forms [buffer soluble nitrogen (BS-N) and non-protein nitrogen (BS-NPN)] were determined in leaves and stalks of Sesbania aculeata and Kochia indica harvested 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after planting. The NDF, ADF, TP and HT concentrations significantly increased and BS-N, BS-NPN and total nitrogen concentrations significantly decreased at the late harvest stage of both S. aculeata and K. indica. Phytic acid and CT concentrations significantly increased with age of S. aculeata. The CT concentrations in K. indica were notably low (0.05 g/kg DM) during the maturity stages. In both plant species, NDF and ADF concentrations were positively correlated with TP and HT but negatively correlated with BS-N, BS-NPN and total nitrogen. NDF and ADF concentrations were positively correlated with CT and PA for S. aculeata but negatively correlated with PA for K. indica. Harvested plants at early maturity stage after 90 days of planting were judged to be nutritionally better for ruminants.

Key words: Sesbania aculeate, Kochia indica, antinutritional factors, tannins, harvest time, ruminants.

Suat Sahinler^1*, Serap Goncu Karakok²

¹Biometry and Genetics Unit, Department of Animal Science

Agriculture Faculty, University of Mustafa Kemal

31034, Hatay, Turkey

²Animal Breeding Unit, Department of Animal Science

Agriculture Faculty, University of Çukurova

01000, Adana, Turkey

(Received November 6, 2007; accepted June 15, 2008)

Abstract

Sahinler, S. and Karakok, S.G. 2008. Bootstrap and jackknife parameter estimation of the models fitting to lactation milk yield (2x305) on calving age. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 39-44.

To predict lactation milk yield as dependent upon calving age 5 of the best-known mathematical models ased on least squares, bootstrap and jackknife regression were fitted to data and several criteria based on the analysis were used to compare models. The second order, Ali and Schaffer and Wood models were determined better than other models, first one being the best in view of R2, AIC and BIC and the best fitting method was the bootstrap.

Keywords: Bootstrap, jackknife, milk yield, calving age.

J. Salinas-Chavira^1*, V.I. Guerrero¹, C.A. Robles¹, M.F. Montaño-Gómez²,

O.D. Montañez-Valdez³

¹Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia

Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas

Km 5 Carretera Cd. Victoria a Cd. Mante, Cd. Victoria, Tam. 87000, Mexico

²Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias

Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. Obregón y Julian Carrillo

Col. Nueva, Mexicali, B.C. 21100, México

³Centro Universitario del Sur

Universidad de Guadalajara

Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco, México

(Received December 7, 2007; accepted June 18, 2007)

Abstract

Salinas-Chavira, J., Guerrero, V.I., Robles, C.A., Montaño-Gómez, M.F. and Montañez-Valdez, O.D. 2008. Effect of tallow and rice polishings in feedlot rations on growth and carcass characteristics of lambs. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 45-48.

Effect of tallow (Ta) level in rations with rice polishings (RP) on growth and carcass characteristics was studied on twenty one intact males (22.76±3.11kg, Dorper x Pelibuey) housed in individual pens and assigned at random to 3 treatments viz. 0, 2.5 or 5% tallow (ta) replacing equal quantities of sorghum grain and 18% rice polish (RP). Lambs were fed for 60 d on diets formulated to contain 14% CP and 2.6 Mcal/kg ME. No differences (P>0.05) were observed among treatments for daily dry matter intake, daily weight gain, feed efficiency, subcutaneous fat and Longissimus dorsi area. It is concluded that rations for feedlot lambs with 18% of rice polishings may include 5% of tallow, without negative effects on growth or carcass of lambs.

Key words: Rice byproduct, growth performance, carcass characteristics, fat, lambs.

V. Pedini1^*, C. Dall’Aglio¹, F. Mercati¹, L. Pascucci¹, P. Scocco²

¹Department of Biopathological Sciences and Hygiene of Animal and Food Production

Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy

²Department of Environmental Sciences

Via Circonvallazione 93-95, 62024 Matelica (MC), Italy

(Received April 15, 2008; accepted August 21, 2008)

Pedini, V., Dall’Aglio, C., Mercati, F., Pascucci, L. and Scocco, P. 2008. Glycoconjugates in sheep buccal glands investigated by conventional and lectin histochemistry. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 49-54.

Sheep buccal glands consist of mucous acini capped by demilunes. Information on the chemical structure of their secretory glycoconjugates were obtained by means of a battery of peroxidase conjugated lectins with affinity for specific terminal and/or internal sugars. Neuraminidase procedures followed by lectin staining were also used to visualize the carbohydrate sequence. Stored secretions in mucous acinar cells contained glycoconjugates with N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid linked to αN-acetylgalactosamine and galactosyl (β1→3) N-acetylgalactosamine. Demilunar cells displayed fucose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine and α,Nacetylgalactosamine residues. Cells lining duct system showed a very strong staining at the apical surface and in the cytoplasm with UEA I, LTA and ConA.

Keywords: Sheep, lectin histochemistry, buccal glands, glycoconjugates.

Tülay Çimrin¹, Murat Demirel²

Animal Science Department, Agricultural Faculty

Yüzüncü Yil University

65080 Van-Turkey

(Received September 20, 2007; accepted June 16, 2008)

Abstract

Çimrin, T. and Demirel, M. 2008. Effect of dietary phytase and some antioxidants on the fattening performance of broilers. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 55-59.

To study the effects of phytase, vitamin E and organic selenium suplementation in broiler fed with low phosphorus on fattening performance and carcass characteristics, 396 one-day old Ross 308 broiler genotype chicks were divided in six groups with three subgroups in each group. The chicks were fed on isocaloric and isonitrogenic concentrated diets for 42 days. Groups were fed with diet which had adequate available phosphorus (PC: Positive control); inadequate available phosphorus (NC: Negative control); NC+phytase (NC+P); NC+P+ vitamin E (NC+P+vitE); NC+P+organic selenium (NC+P+Se) and NC+P+vitE+Se, respectively. NC diet adversely affected (P<0.05) body weight, daily live weight gain (DLWG) and feed intake, death rates, thigh, breast wing, back weighs and dressing percentage of chicks, which were improved with addition of phytase in diets (especialy NC+P). In conclusion, the addition phytase and phytase+selenium to the diets having low phosphorus increased fattening performance and decreased mortality.

Key words: Broiler, fattening performance, phytase, selenium, vitamin E.

T.C. Loh^1*, T.M. Lee¹, H.L. Foo^2,3, F.L. Law¹, M.A. Rajion⁴

¹Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

²Department of Bioprocess Technology

Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences

³Institute Bioscience

⁴Department of Preclinical

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

(Received October 1, 2007; accepted July 7, 2008)

Abstract

Loh, T.C., Lee, T.M., Foo, H.L., Law, F.L. and Rajion, M.A. 2008. Growth performance and fecal microflora of rats offered metabolites from lactic acid bacteria. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 61-64.

The objectives of this experiment were to study the effect of metabolites produced from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the growth performance, Enterobacteriaceae and LAB counts in the faeces, faecal pH and plasma cholesterol. A total of 30 female postweaning rats were randomly assigned to five groups of diet: basal diet + 100% drinking water (DW), basal diet + 90% DW + 10% UL4 metabolite, basal diet + 80% DW + 20% UL4 metabolite, basal diet + 90% DW+ 10% RW18 metabolite and basal diet + 80% DW + 20% RW18 metabolite for a period of four weeks. The metabolites affected only Enterobacteriaceae counts and faecal pH, which were lower than the control groups. In conclusion, addition of lactic acid bacterial metabolites in the drinking water had only antibacterial effect in rats.

Keywords: Rat, LAB organic acids, LAB, Enterobacteriaceae, total plasma cholesterol concentration.

M.T. Dipu, P. Singh*, A.K. Verma, U.R. Mehra

Animal Nutrition Division

Indian Veterinary Research Institute

Izatnagar-243 122, India

(Received February 14, 2008; accepted August 03, 2008)

Abstract

Dipu , M. T., Singh, P., Verma , A. K. and Mehra, U. R. 2008. Metabolism of purine derivatives and microbial nitrogen supply in sheep fed different protein supplements. J. Appl Anim. Res., 34: 65-70.

To study the use of purine nitrogen index (PNI) as an indicator of nitrogen utilization efficiency in sheep fed on deoiled groundnut cake (gr I), deoiled mustard cake (gr II), deoiled soybean meal (gr III) or cotton seed cake (gr IV), eight adult Muzaffarnagari sheep were fed maintenance diets comprised of wheat straw and concentrate mixture (50:50) into two sets of 4x4 Latin Square Design. The purine derivatives (PD) excretion, microbial nitrogen (MN) supply, purine nitrogen index (PNI), concentration of plasma allantoin, PD and tubular load of total PD were higher (P<0.05) in group III compared to group II. The PNI responded to dietary treatments and the effect was more pronounced at 6 h post feeding. The relationship between PNI in the spot samples collected 6 h post feeding and the daily nitrogen balance (P<0.05) was the highest (R2=0.73). Thus, it may be deduced that the PNI could be used as an indicator for assessing efficiency of dietary nitrogen utilization. The collection of spot urine samples at 6 h post feeding represented better PNI of total daily urine collection, so it could be used effectively under farm conditions.

Key words: Sheep, oil cakes, nutrient utilization, purine nitrogen index, microbial nitrogen supply.

Z.L. Tan^1*, S.X. Tang¹, Y.P. Liao¹, C.S. Zhou¹, H.L. Jiang¹, Z.H. Sun¹, G.O. Tayo², W.J. Xiao³,

F.H. Chen⁴

¹The Key Laboratory of Subtropical Agricultural Ecology

Institute of Subtropical Agriculture

Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, P.R. China

²Babcock University

Ikeja Lagos 21244, Nigeria

³Institute of Natural Product

Hunan Agricultural University

Changsha 410128, P. R. China

⁴Hunan Provincial Institute of Animal Feed and Medicine

Changsha 410002, P. R. China

(Received October 15, 2007; accepted May 27, 2008)

Abstract

Tan, Z.L., Tang, S.X., Liao, Y.P., Zhou, C.S., Jiang, H.L., Sun, Z.H., Tayo, G.O., Xiao, W.J. and Chen, F.H. 2008. Effect of dietary supply of cysteamine on sites of digestion, small intestinal amino acid disappearance in growing goats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 71-76.

Four Liuyang Black growing goats were used to examine the effect of dietary supply of cysteamine (CS) on feed intake, site and extent of digestion and apparent intestinal amino acid (AA) digestibility in a 4×4 Latin square design. The goats were weighed initially at 11.8 kg (SD 1.6), fitted with the permanent ruminal, duodenal and ileal fistulae and fed ad libitum in individual pens. Four treatments consisted of a basal diet only (control) and dietary supply of CS at levels of 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg dry matter, respectively, to the basal diet. The experimental period lasted for 14 d for each treatment. Dietary supply of CS had no effect (P>0.05) on intake of nutrients. Ruminal digestion of ADF and NDF decreased (P=0.01) on higher level of CS supplementation. The small intestinal digestibilities of alanine, methionine, threonine and valine decreased (P<0.05) with the inclusion of CS in the diets. The results imply that CS supplementation did not improve the digestibility and absorption of nutrients in the gastro-intestinal tract of goats.

Key words: Cysteamine, site and extent of digestion, amino acid digestibility, goat.

Turgay Sengül^1*, Mehmet Çetin¹, Bünyamin Sögüt² , Sabri Yurtseven¹

¹Dept. of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

Harran University

Ôanl2urfa-Turkey

²Dept. of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

Yüzüncü Y2l University

Van-Turkey

(Received November 19, 2007; accepted June 6, 2008)

Abstract

Ôengül, T., Çet2n, M., Sö—üt, B. and Yurtseven, S. 2008. Effects of dietary vitamin E levels on egg production traits, fertility and hatching rate in laying partridges. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 77-80.

To determine the effects of different levels of supplemental vitamin E on egg production traits, fertility and hatching rate of laying partridges (Alectoris chukar), total 180 partridges were assigned at random to 4 different treatment groups. The treatment lasted 147 d (March-August) in a window closed and natural ventilated environment. Basal diet was supplemented with vitamin E 30, 45, 60 and 75 mg kg-1 in groups 1 to 4, respectively. Supplemental vitamin E doses improved feed intake, fertility rate and hatching rate.

Key words: Partridge, vitamin E, sexual maturity, egg production, fertility rate.

Arturo S. Juárez-Reyes^1*, Gumaro Nevarez-Carrasco¹, María A. Cerrillo-Soto¹, Manuel Murillo-Ortiz¹, Jean-Marie Luginbuhl², Hugo Bernal-Barragán³, Roque G. Ramírez⁴

¹Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia

Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango

Carretera Durango-Mezquital, Km 11.5 Durango, Dgo. 34280, Mexico

²College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

³Facultad de Agronomía

⁴Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

Monterrery, NL 66450 México

(Received January 16, 2008; accepted May 25, 2008)

Abstract

Juárez-Reyes, A.S., Nevarez-Carrasco, G., Cerrillo-Soto, M.A., Murillo-Ortiz, M., Luginbuhl, J-M., Bernal- Barragán, H. and Ramírez, R.G. 2008. Dietary chemical composition, plasma metabolites and hormones in range goats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 81-86.

The objective of this study was to determine the monthly chemical composition of the diet consumed by range goats and plasma concentrations of glucose, urea, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), luteinizing hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH), insulin and progesterone (P4) during lactation (January-June). Three esophageally-cannulated female goats and twelve intact female goats (38±1.7 kg BW) were used to obtain extrusa and blood samples, respectively. Body weight decreased (P<0.05) by 12.5% during the period from January to May, whereas, in June goats lost 250 g d-1. There was a fall in nutrient density during May and June. With the exception of progesterone (0.1-0.6 ng ml-1), LH (7.1-11.0), GH (22.8-30) and insulin (0.6-1.8) increased (P<0.05) as lactation period progressed. It is concluded that plasma metabolite concentrations suggested that an energy supplementation schedule might be necessary during the early lactation period of goats. In addition, if harsh climatic conditions appear at the end of lactation, an increment of 70% in their energy maintenance requirements might be considered to avoid weight losses and to improve body condition of goats prior to breeding season.

Key words: Chemical composition, diet, blood metabolites, lactation, plasma hormones, range goats.

A. Oryan^1*, D. Mehrabani², S.M. Owji³, M.H. Motazedian⁴, Gh. Hatam⁴, Q. Asgari⁴

¹Department of Pathobiology

School of Veterinary Medicine

Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

²Gastroenterohepatology Research Center

Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Shiraz, Iran

³Department of Pathology

School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Shiraz, Iran

⁴Department of Parasitology and Mycology

School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Shiraz, Iran

(Received May 02, 2007; accepted April 30, 2008)

Abstract

Oryan, A., Mehrabani, D., Owji, S.M., Motazedian, M.H., Hatam, Gh. and Asgari, Q. 2008. Morphologic changes due to cutaneous leishmaniosis in BALB/c mice experimentally infected with Leishmania major. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 87-92.

BALB/c mice were injected subcutaneously in hind footpad with 106 promastigotes of Leishmania major. At various times, two mice each were euthenised and their skin, popliteal lymph nodes, spleen, liver and femoral bone marrow were removed and processed for histopathological and ultrastructural evaluation and for Specific PCR to confirm the presence of L. major infection. Diffuse infiltration by histiocytes, lymphocytes and plasma cells of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues of the infected skin was found along with small granulomas containing macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Follicular hyperplasia and sinus histiocytosis consisting of lymphocytes and plasma cells were evident in the lymph nodes and spleen. Sinusoid dilatation of liver and infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells were demonstrated in the portal spaces of the liver. The amastigote form of the protozoa was clearly visible in the intracytoplasmic vacuoles of the femoral bone marrow macrophages. The PCR performed on tissues revealed infection by L. major. The results showed that, the femoral bone marrow was the tissue of choice for identification of amastigote form of L. major in experimentally infected BALB/c mice.

Key words: BALB/c mouse, L. major, cutaneous leishmaniosis, histopathology, electron microscopy.

Hana M. Gashlan

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science

King Abdulaziz University

P.O.Box 1534, Jeddah 21441, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

(Received March 03, 2008; accepted July 27, 2008)

Abstract

Gashlan, H.M. 2008. Biochemical studies of patulin on liver function in male Albino mice. J. Apple. Anim. Res., 34: 93-96.

To study the effect of patulin, male mice were administered patulin orally once daily (0.1mg/kg bw). Patulin showed a significant increase in ALT and AST after 3 weeks. Also patulin showed highly significant increase in plasma level of ALP and LDH after 2 and 3 weeks, while LPO and total antioxidants showed highly significant increase for 2 week only and non significant in first and third weeks compared to the control. Histopathological changes coincided with biochemical changes observed in these experiments. The results of this study suggested that patulin affects liver function and the effect depended on time of exposure.

Keywords: Patulin, liver function, mice.

L. Avendaño-Reyes^1£, F.D. Alvarez-Valenzuela¹, A. Correa-Calderón¹, J.G. Fadel², P.H. Robinson³

¹Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas

Universidad Autónoma de Baja California

Blvd. Delta s/n, Ejido Nuevo León, Baja California, México, 21705

²Animal Sciences Department

³Cooperative Extension

University of California

Davis, CA 95616, USA

(Received December 21, 2007; accepted May 13, 2008)

Abstract

Avendaño-Reyes, L., Alvarez-Valenzuela, F.D., Correa-Calderón, A., Fadel, J.G. and Robinson, P.H. 2008. Is soaking cows during dry period an effective management tool to reduce heat stress and improve pospartum productivity? J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 97-100.

In order to determine the effect of a cooling system on prepartum physiological parameters and postpartum productivity, forty multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to one of two treatments 60 days prior to their expected calving date: cooled (soaking for 2 min twice daily) and non-cooled. The highest ambient temperatureregistered during the study was 49.5C and the average daily temperature humidity index was higher than 72. Cooled cows showed a trend (P=0.08) to reduce their respiration rate, however, rectal temperature, body condition score and body weight were not affected at all (P>0.05). Postpartum milk yield, milk fat and milk energy output did not show significant differences, nor reproduction parameters postpartum (P>0.05). Thus soaking Holstein cows during the prepartum period had no advantage on postpartum productivity under hot and dry conditions.

Keywords: Dairy cattle, milk production, heat stress, cooling system, reproduction.

E. Kul, H. Erdem*

Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture

University of Ondokuz Mayis

55139-Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey

(Received December 26, 2007; accepted May 12, 2008)

Abstract

Kul, E. and Erdem, H. 2008. Relationships between somatic cell count and udder traits in Jersey cows J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 101-104.

To determine the relationships between some udder traits and somatic cell count (SCC), 107 Jersey cows raised at Karakoy State Farm, Samsun, Turkey, were used. Milk samples and udder measures were taken from cows at 70±14, 140±14 and 210±14 days in milk. SCC was determined by direct microscopic somatic cell counting (DMSCC). SCC values increased with advancing lactation. Significant correlations (P<0.05, P<0.01) were estimated between udder traits, udder scores with SCC, overall or at different lactation stages. Thus, it was concluded that front udder attachment and udder depth can be effectively used for reducing SCC.

Key words: Somatic cell count, udder traits, Jersey.