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Background: Selenium (Se) is a rare essential element that plays a vital role in the health and performance of animals. By interfering in the production of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase and methionine sulfoxide, Se plays a role in reducing the effects of oxidative stress and animal performance. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydroxy‐selenomethionine (OH‐SeMet) in the diet of broiler breeder and old broiler breeder roosters on productive performance, reproduction and sperm quality parameters. Methods: For this purpose, 260 broiler breeders of the Ross 308 strain were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications (13 hens and one rooster in each replication). Experimental treatments included: (1) a basal diet without OH‐SeMet (T1:control), (2) a broiler breeder diet without OH‐SeMet and a rooster diet containing 0.1 mg/kg OH‐SeMet (T2), (3) broiler breeder diet containing 0.1 mg/kg OH‐SeMet and rooster diet without OH‐SeMet (T3) and (4) broiler breeder and rooster diet contained 0.1 mg/kg OH‐SeMet (T4). Results: The results showed that T3 and T4 treatments improved egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control treatment (p < 0.05). The fertility and hatchability percentages of T4 and T2 treatments increased compared to T1 and T3 treatments (p < 0.05). The rate of embryonic losses in T1 was higher than in other treatments. However, grade one chickens were higher in T4 than in other treatments (p < 0.05). Total motility and viability of sperms were significantly higher in T2 and T4 treatments than in T1 and T3 treatments. The sperm abnormality percentage and sperm MDA concentration decreased in T2 and T4 treatments. Conclusions: Therefore, using OH‐SeMet may be a practical approach to help old broiler breeders' production and reproduction performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There have been some reports that supplementation of fat could alleviate the negative effects of heat stress on performance in broilers. However, information regarding compensation for the adverse effects of heat stress with diets differing in fatty acids source on immune system, bone strength and carcass quality of heat‐distressed broilers is limited. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of diets differing in fat source on performance, immune system, bone strength, and carcass quality of heat‐distressed broilers. Methods: In a completely randomized design with 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of the treatments, 320 24‐day‐old Ross 308 chickens, with average initial weight of 1220 ± 10 g were divided into eight treatments included sesame oil, tallow, sunflower oil and palm oil in either 22 or 32 degree of centigrade temperature. The broiler performance of each fat source‐treated group was not different in this experiment and decreased significantly in heat stress condition. Results: Heat stress showed a significant increase on fat, energy and ash content of thigh muscle. Tibia absolute length, width, ash and bone breaking strength were affected by fat source and increased when sesame and sunflower oil were used. Data analysis revealed that hot temperature decreased tibia weight, length, width, ash and bone breaking strength. Heat stress led to decrease of immune system parameters. Conclusion: Results suggest that there is no beneficial effect of broiler performance due to adding different sources of fat in broiler chicken diet under hot condition. Furthermore, the unsaturated fatty acids could improve the profile of fatty acids in thigh and enhance immune responses in broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determination ofin vitrobinding capacity of wheat bran, rice bran, and perlite for Mn, Zn, Cu, and Fe. For this reason, wheat bran and rice bran were chemically analysed for moisture, protein, ash, ether extract, total carbohydrate, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, crude fibre, cellulose, hemicelluloses, phytic acid, Non-Fiber Carbohydrate, total dietary fibre, soluble dietary fibre, insoluble dietary fibre, DF + lignin, and endogenous minerals. Mineral binding capacity of wheat bran, rice bran, and perlite for Mn, Zn, Fe, and Cu under sequential simulated physiological conditions of the stomach, small intestine, and colon was investigated and compared. Rice bran showed the highest mineral-binding capacity in small intestine for Mn, Zn, and Cu. Among the minerals, Mn exhibited the lowest percentage of binding under the simulated physiological conditions of the small intestine and the highest percentage of removing occurred in the stomach for all of the treatments. Cereal bran's had an affinity for Cu > Zn > Fe > Mn. The amounts of minerals bound varied among samples. Rice bran showed the highest and perlite had lowest mineral-binding capacity in small intestine for Mn, Zn, and Cu. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this experiment, relationships and correlations among some blood metabolites associated with energy and protein balance and their effects on pregnancy failure were investigated in lactating Holstein dairy cows. Blood and milk samples were collected from fifty-six lactating Holstein dairy cows based on their reproductive status (in 35-45 d post AI) and blood urea, milk urea, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and betahydroxy butyric acid were measured by enzymatic colorimetric and blood progesterone was measured by ELISA method. Cows at 56 to 63 day post Artificial Insemination, were divided in to two groups of Pregnant (PG; n=25) and Non-pregnant (NPG; n=31) by touché rectal pregnancy diagnosis. In NPG group, there were significant correlations among milk yield and some energy balance related metabolites (betahydroxy butyric acid and glucose) concentrations and correlations among milk yield and protein balance related metabolites (blood urea and milk urea) were significant in both NPG and PG groups. Furthermore, there were significant differences between means of monthly milk yield record, cholesterol, betahydroxy butyric acid and progesterone between two groups. In conclusion, although evidence exists for adverse effects of elevated circulating urea on fertility, pregnant cows were able to adapt to elevated circulating urea over several days. However fluctuating concentrations of metabolites in the early postpartum period may offer potential explanations for latent effects of early postpartum energy balance on subsequent fertility. Furthermore, in pregnant cows, the importance of progesterone and cholesterol as a precursor of ovarian steroidogenesis for pregnancy stability has been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experiment, relationships and correlations among some blood metabolites associated with energy and protein balance and their effects on pregnancy failure were investigated in lactating Holstein dairy cows. Blood and milk samples were collected from fifty-six lactating Holstein dairy cows based on their reproductive status (in 35-45 d post AI) and blood urea, milk urea, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and betahydroxy butyric acid were measured by enzymatic colorimetric and blood progesterone was measured by ELISA method. Cows at 56 to 63 day post Artificial Insemination, were divided in to two groups of Pregnant (PG; n=25) and Non-pregnant (NPG; n=31) by touché rectal pregnancy diagnosis. In NPG group, there were significant correlations among milk yield and some energy balance related metabolites (betahydroxy butyric acid and glucose) concentrations and correlations among milk yield and protein balance related metabolites (blood urea and milk urea) were significant in both NPG and PG groups. Furthermore, there were significant differences between means of monthly milk yield record, cholesterol, betahydroxy butyric acid and progesterone between two groups. In conclusion, although evidence exists for adverse effects of elevated circulating urea on fertility, pregnant cows were able to adapt to elevated circulating urea over several days. However fluctuating concentrations of metabolites in the early postpartum period may offer potential explanations for latent effects of early postpartum energy balance on subsequent fertility. Furthermore, in pregnant cows, the importance of progesterone and cholesterol as a precursor of ovarian steroidogenesis for pregnancy stability has been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different sizes of insoluble grit on growth performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens. A total of 200 broilers (Ross 308), 10 days old, were randomly allotted to five experimental equal groups with four replicates of 10 chickens (five male and five female) and fed with basal diet + ground wheat (without grit); basal diet + whole wheat (without grit) and basal diet contain 1.5% grit of diet with sizes of 2, 3 and 4 mm. Growth performance (evaluated through weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) was determined on day 24 and 42. Also, carcass traits (relative weights of carcass, breast, thigh, liver, heart, gizzard and intestine) and intestine length were assessed on day 42. Weight gains and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved in broilers added with grit 2 mm compared to the control group (p<0.05), whereas; carcass traits were not significantly altered. These data suggest that grit with size of 2 mm improve growth performance in broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of the probiotic 'Protexin', basil essential oil and the antibiotic growth promoter 'Avilamycin' were studied on the ileum microbial flora of broilers when these substances are used as broiler feed additives. A total of six hundred Arian broilers were divided into 6 treatment groups, with 4 replicates of 25 birds. Treatments have been performed with a plant essential oil at 3 levels (200, 400 and 600 ppm), the probiotic 'Protexin' (150 ppm), the antibiotic 'Avilamycin' (150 ppm) and a control group with no additives. Birds in different treatments received the same diets during the experimental period. The results showed that the probiotic treatment significantly decreased the total bacteria counts (P<0.05). Any of supplementation did not affect colony-forming units of lactobacilli (P>0.05). The lowest and highest lactic acid bacteria in ileum were obtained in the control group and in birds receiving 400 ppm basil essential oil, respectively. Moreover, addition of 600 ppm of basil essential oil into diet decreased the number of E. coli colonies as compared to other treatments (P< 0.05). It could be speculated that the basil essential oil and 'Protexin' could replace the antibiotics, which have been banned to use as growth promoter in animal feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of using different concentrations of ginger extract (Zingiber officinale) on performance and carcass characteristics of male broiler chickens. Three hundred one-day-old commercial male broilers (Cobb-500) were randomly allocated in 20 floor pens (15 chicks each). Animals of each pen were supplemented with five different concentrations of ginger and the experiment was performed in quadruplicate. The broilers were fed a wheat-soybean meal based diet containing different concentrations of ginger extract (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1%) supplemented to drinking water. Feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured during 1 to 10, 11 to 21, 22 to 42 and 1 to 42 days of age. At 42 days of age, two birds from each pen were selected and after weighing and slaughtered were dissected manually. Carcass yield, liver, abdominal fat and gut weight is expressed as percentage of live body weight. The results showed that there is no significant difference in the feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio between the different treatments except the feed conversion ratio of the period 1 to 10 days of age (p<0.05). Also, different supplemented concentrations of ginger extract to drinking water of broilers influenced the carcass yield (p<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to estimate the effect of microwave irradiation on fermentation pattern, metabolizable energy content and organic matter digestibility of tomato pomace using in vitro gas production technique. Tomato pomace samples were collected, pooled, ground and then exposed to 1000W microwave irradiation for 0, 2.5 and 5 minutes. The experimental samples were incubated in vitro with rumen liquor taken from three fistulated Iranian native cows at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h. Cumulative gas production volume at early incubation times was significantly decreased by microwave treating time (P<0.01). Microwave irradiation could not significantly affect gas production parameters. Significant effects were not found on metabolizable energy content (7.82 - 8.02 MJ/ Kg DM) and organic matter digestibility (51.87% - 53.15%) of microwave treated tomato pomace. The results showed that microwave irradiation may be a useful method to decrease ruminal gas production (including methane), without any negative effects on nutritional value of tomato pomace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports the benefit of increasing lysine and methionine density diet in broiler breeder performance. This study examined the effects of 4 lysine and methionine densities diets, namely, very high (VH), high (H), medium (M), and low (L) on broiler breeders that are 50 to 64 weeks of age. It notes that higher egg weight and production can be achieved by feeding VH diet. It concludes that increasing lysine and methionine densities maximizes the performance of broiler breeders.