BACKGROUND: The use of additives, such as medicinal plants, may result in improved digestion and fermentation and consequently, animal production. OBJECTIVES: The present experiment was conducted to determine the most appropriate amount of Ziziphora cliniopodiodes plant to be utilized in lamb diet and its effect on digestibility, fermentation, growth performance, blood, and quality of carcass and meat. METHODS: Different amounts of Ziziphora cliniopodiodes (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1 %) were added to diet of lambs. The best diet was selected based on gas production method and fed to male lambs with an average weight of 41 ± 2 kg in a completely randomized design with three treatments and six replications. The selected diets for feeding lambs included: control diet (Ziziphora cliniopodiodes) and control diet supplemented with 0.2 or 0.4 % Ziziphora cliniopodiodes. Feed intake, digestibility of nutrients, fattening performance, blood and rumen fermentation parameters, protozoan population, and certain meat quality indexes were measured. At the end of the experiment, the carcass traits were studied. RESULTS: The obtained results herein revealed that the potential of gas production, partitioning factor, truly degradable organic matter, dry matter intake, apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen, and protozoa population were not affected by the experimental diets. There was a significant difference among the experimental diets for daily weight gain, the total weight gain of lambs, and microbial biomass production. The highest records belonged to the diet containing 0.2 % Ziziphora cliniopodiodes. Antioxidant characteristics, colorimetric indices, and pH of meat were not affected by the applied treatments. CONCLUSIONS: In general, according to livestock experiments, the best amount of Ziziphora cliniopodiodes to be employed was 0.2 %, which improved certain fermentative and performance traits.

BACKGROUND: Phosphorous is an essential nutrient for poultry. Receiving too much phosphorous by livestock and excretion of excess phosphorus, can lead to environmental pollution. OBJECTIVES: Determining the ileal and total tract digestibility of phosphorus and calcium in di-calcium phosphates produced in Iran. METHODS: A total of 720 day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into 8 treatments with 6 replicates of 15 birds in each. In control treatment phosphoric acid was used as a source of phosphorus. The other dietary treatments included one of the seven domestic samples of di-calcium phosphates (A to G). Chromium oxide was used as a marker in the diets. On day 21, after collecting of feces, all birds were slaughtered via neck dislocation. Then, the last one-third of ileum was removed. The contents of the intestine were collected for each replicate and after drying were sent to the laboratory to determine the chromium oxide, phosphorus, and calcium amounts. Percentage of ileal and total tract digestibility of phosphorus and calcium for each sample were calculated separately. RESULTS: The effect of type of di-calcium phosphate samples in feed on ileal and total tract digestibility of calcium and phosphorus was highly significant (p < /em> < 0.001). Ileal digestibility in control was 69.8 percentage, while the lowest was observed in the E and F samples, and the highest value was related to sample A. Digestibility for phosphorus in control diet was 53.4 percentage throughout gastrointestinal tract. The lowest amounts of total tract digestibility of phosphorus were observed in treatments E and F, respectively, while the highest total tract digestibility was related to treatment A with 47.9 per cent. CONCLUSIONS: It could be concluded that ileal digestibility is more accurate in evaluating phosphorus bioavailability and sample A had the highest biological value, while the lowest was related to the samples E and F.

BACKGROUND: The correct usage of  wastes in animal nutrition causes  decrease in environmental pollution. Apple pomace as an energetic matter and source of digestible fibers for ruminants is a proper alternative for forage. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of diets containing dried apple pomace on digestibility, rumination, microbial fermentation and blood glucose and urea of Arabi sheep. METHODS: In the first step, 0, 10, 20 and 30% dried apple pomace replaced with alfalfa were used in the experimental diets. According to the result, gas production and digestibility of diet containing 30% dried apple pomace was higher than the other diets (p<0.05). Therefore, in the second step, 8 Arabi sheep were fed with diet without apple pomace (control) and diet containing 30% apple pomace for 45 days. RESULTS: The result showed that nutrient digestibility (dry matter, organic matter, NDF and ADF) were not significantly affected by the diets (p>0.05), but rumination activity of diet containing apple pomace decreased (p<0.05). Blood metabolites (glucose and urea) showed no significant differences between experimental diets, but blood glucose was higher in control treatment. Rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration was 14.48 and 17.49 mg/dl (p>0.05), and pH was 6.30 and 6.16 for control and apple pomace treatment, respectively (p<0.05). The rumen protozoa numbers increased with apple pomace (p<0.05). Diet containing apple pomace increased gas production potential and digestibility of wheat straw by rumen microorganism and bacteria (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that alfalfa replaced with 30% dried apple pomace in Arabi sheep’s diet can improve digestive activity of rumen microbes and nutrient fermentation and digestibility.

BACKGROUND: Excessive use of antibiotic growth promoters leaded in the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and by consuming animal products, humans are at risk of receiving their residual. Therefore, instead of using antibiotics as growth promoters, some alternatives must be identified and introduced to animal breeders. Objectives: The purpose of this research was to study the effect of anise seed on performance, digestibility, and infectious microbes in the intestine of suckling calves. Methods: Twenty four female Holstein calves with average weight of39.8±3.8kg from the fourth day after birth to two weeks after weaning were examined in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of anise powder on dry matter intake, weight gain, age and weight of weaning, feed conversion ratio, apparent digestibility of dry matter, NDF and ADF, and intestinal infectious and harmful bacteria. The diets were: 1- Control, 2- 0.25% and 3- 0.5% anise/DM of diets. Results: Dry matter intake of calves did not affected by diets (p>0.05). At 70 days old the final weight of calves that consumed diets containing 0.25% and 0.5% of anise was significantly more than control diets. There was no significant difference between diets for the mean of total weight gain in whole period of experiment. The digestibility of NDF and ADF after weaning for diets contain anise was significantly more than control diet (p<0.05). Feed conversion ratio did not affected before weaning, but after weaning significantly improved compared with the control group for diet contain 0.25% and 0.5% anise (p<0.05). The age and weight of weaning were not affected by treatments. The Ammonia and pH of rumen fluid showed increase for anise diets compared with the control group (p>0.05). The adding of anise to the diets resulted in significantly decrease of E.coli of intestine of calves. Conclusions: Therefore, use of anise seed as a medicinal herb additive improved the performance of calves. Also, with the decline of E.coli population had beneficial effect on animal health and the environment. So it may be taking into account as good alternative for antibiotics.

BACKGROUND: Following the ban on the use of growth stimulant antibiotics in many countries, interest has arisen in finding  a suitable alternative for antibiotics in poultry production. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementation of two levels of nano-copper (0 and 100 mg/kg) and two levels of mannan oligosaccharide (0 or 1 g/kg) as natural growth stimulants on digestibility of nutrients and performance in broiler chicks. METHODS: At the end of the second week of breeding, 160 Cobb-500 broiler chicks were assigned in four treatment groups. For each treatment, four replicates (10 chicks per replicate) were considered. Experiment was conducted as a 2×2 factorial model in a completely randomized design. Results: No significant differences in digestibility of nutrients and growth performance between birds that ate the supplements with control group were observed (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mannan oligosaccharides and nano-copper on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in broiler chicks had no significant effect. At the doses used, concomitant supplementation of copper and mannan oligosaccharide did not have a positive effect on traits that were studied in broilers.

The purpose of this research was to study changes in the salivary proteome of healthy pigs in stressful situations to identify any potential new salivary biomarker of stress. Three groups of animals were subjected to 3 stress models: snaring restraint followed by simulated sampling of vena cava blood; brief transport by road; and restriction of movement in a digestibility cage. Saliva was obtained from each animal before and 15 and 30 min after the induction of stress. The samples from the animals that showed the greatest increase in salivary cortisol concentration were pooled and run on 2-dimensional gels. Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 was used for spot detection and mass spectrometry for spot identification. Statistical analyses showed that 2 proteins had significant differences in expression before and after the induction of stress. These proteins were identified as odorant-binding protein and fragments of albumin. Further studies will be necessary to confirm the value of using these proteins as salivary biomarkers of stress in pigs.

Objective: To determine the effects of raw meat–based diets with and without inulin or yeast cell-wall (YCW) extract on macronutrient digestibility, blood cell counts, serum metabolite concentrations, and fecal fermentative end-product concentrations in healthy adult dogs. Animals: 6 healthy adult spayed female dogs (mean ± SD age, 5.5 ± 0.5 years; mean body weight, 8.5 ± 0.5 kg). Procedures: Dogs were fed each of the following 6 diets for 21 days, the order of which was randomly assigned in a Latin square design: beef control, beef and 1.4% inulin, beef and 1.4% YCW extract, chicken control, chicken and 1.4% inulin, and chicken and 1.4% YCW extract. Each diet trial consisted of a phase for diet adaptation (days 0 to 14) and a phase for measurement of urine and fecal output and content (days 15 to 20). On day 21, food was withheld for blood sample collection. Afterward, the next diet trial began immediately. Results: All dogs maintained desirable fecal quality characteristics and produced low fecal volume. All diets were highly digestible (protein digestibility > 88%; fat digestibility > 97%). Differences in fermentative end-product concentrations among all diets were minor, but a significant increase in fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations was evident when dogs were fed beef-based diets with inulin and YCW extract. Fecal spermine concentrations were higher with diets containing inulin and YCW extract than with control diets. Blood cell counts and serum metabolite values were within reference limits after each trial. All diets resulted in maintenance of nitrogen balance. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results suggested the raw meat–based diets evaluated were highly digestible in dogs. The increase in fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations achieved when inulin and YCW extract were included may be beneficial to canine health.

Current medical management of dogs with Portosystemic shunt (PSS) includes dietary protein restriction. After establishment of baseline values, 32 dogs underwent portosystemic anastomosis to induce PSS. They were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments, and given 11 or 24% crude protein (CP); 20% of the protein was derived from branched chain or aromatic amino acids. The apparent digestibility of CP and of total digestible energy were not affected by PSS. The apparent digestibility of fat decreased from 92% to 85% in dogs with PSS (P < 0.01). Across all diets, the apparent dietary protein requirement (ADPR) was 2.07 g of CP/kg of body weight/d in clinically normal dogs and 2.11 g of CP/kg/d after PSS. Dietary amino acid composition had no effect on ADPR. The ADPR for dogs fed the 11% protein diets was 1.69 g of CP/kg/d in clinically normal dogs and 1.62 g of CP/kg/d after PSS, whereas the ADPR in dogs fed the 24% protein diets was 3.94 g of CP/kg/d before PSS and 3.31 g of CP/kg/d after PSS. Serum total protein, urea nitrogen, and albumin concentrations were lower in dogs with PSS fed the 11% protein diets, compared with those fed the 24% protein diets. We conclude that there is no difference in ADPR in dogs with PSS; however, the low protein intake of 1.62 g of CP/kg/d appeared inadequate to maintain normal protein stores. Dietary protein that provides at least 2.1 g of CP/kg/d is recommended for dogs with PSS.

Four balance trials were conducted in 3 groups of 5 calves each at 0, 4, 8, and 14 weeks after initial inoculation with Ostertagia ostertagi. Group-1 calves were inoculated with 100,000 third-stage larvae (L3) of O. ostertagi/wk for 14 weeks. Group-2 calves were inoculated with 10,000 L3/wk for 14 weeks, and group-3 calves were not inoculated. Effects of infection on apparent digestibilities of dry matter and nitrogen, and balances of nitrogen and water were evaluated. Neither clinically apparent (group 1) nor subclinical (group 2) O. ostertagi infections had observable effects on the apparent digestibility of dry matter. Subclinical infection also had no significant effects on nitrogen digestibility or nitrogen and water balance. Clinically apparent infection, however, decreased the apparent digestibilities of nitrogen significantly (P < 0.05) at 4, 8, and 14 weeks after inoculation, and decreased nitrogen balance at 4 and 8 weeks after inoculation. Group-1 calves also had lower water intake, fecal-water excretion, and apparent water balance, but higher urinary water output at 4, 8, and 14 weeks after inoculation.

The purpose of this project was to study the effect of superalimentation in lactating sows through permanent, surgically placed, gastric cannulas. A surgical technique was developed to install gastric cannulas into pregnant sows to allow superalimentation by introducing feed through the cannula. After induction of general anesthesia, a flexible, T-shaped cannula (22 mm outside diameter) was surgically placed in the dorsal portion of the greater curvature of the stomach and exteriorized through the tenth intercostal space approximately 30 cm left of the dorsal midline. Cannulas were installed on day 85 5 days of gestation. Anesthesia, surgical procedures, and the subsequent presence of the cannula did not affect the size ornumber of live pigs at birth. In addition, the prevalence of stillbirths and mummified fetuses was not significantly different than that of noncannulated sows. The gastric cannulas did not affect lactation performance, as litter size and weight were unaffected when compared with that in noncannulated controls. Postmortem examination of euthanatized sows revealed adhesions of the gastric wall to the abdominal wall, thus eliminating the possibility of leakage of the gastric contents into the peritoneum. Detrimental effects of the cannulas on gastric function or capacity were not detected, and cannulas could be maintained through multiple parities.