BACKGROUND: Identifying the potential of livestock and forage plants of each region is a way to compensate the lack of forage, and efficient use of edible resources of the country. Milk Thistle is a medicinal plant which may be used as fodder for native livestock of Khuzestan Province. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research was to study  the effects of different levels of Milk Thistle on rumen fungi and whole rumen microorganisms (WRM) of Khuzestan buffalo, with diets containing grains with different degradation rate (barley and maize). METHODS: The impact of diets containing different levels of Milk Thistle (0, 100 and 200 g per kg DM) on rumen fungi and WRM of buffalo was measured by different techniques. RESULTS: Potential and rate of gas production from experimental diets by WRM were not significantly different. This parameters by buffalo rumen fungi were significantly differed and increased in diets containing Milk Thistle (p<0.05). Adding Milk Thistle in the barley-based diet increased dry matter and NDF digestibility numerically while in the corn-based diet dry matter and NDF digestibility was slightly reduced. In the SRFCM, NDF digestibility, in both basal diets in 9 days and during total period was affected by diets containing Milk Thistle and decreased NDF digestibility with increasing levels of Milk Thistle (p<0.05). Regardless of the type of basal diet, digestibility of NDF (p<0.05) and dry matter (p>0.05) for day 6, were increased with increasing the amount of Milk Thistle. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the use of Milk Thistle did not have negative effect on microorganisms and digestion of nutrients by them. Therefore, results suggest that Milk Thistle could be used up to 20 percentage in buffalo diet without any negative effect on digestion and fermentation characteristics by total microorganisms and fungi.

Forty five, 21-day-old balady chick were used in this experiment. Chicks were divided into three equal groups. The 1st group used as control. The 2nd and 3rd groups were supplemented with lead (Pb) acetate (1500 ppm) in drinking water but the latter group received ration containing 20% barley. Blood samples were collected from the wing vein after 1, 2 and 3 weeks. RBCs count Hb concentration and PCV were significantly decreased in group II during the experimental period. RBCs indices showed a significant decrease in MCH and MCHC in group II after 2 and 3 week of experiment. Leukogram showed heteropenia and moncytopenia. Total protein values showed significant decrease in group II due to decrease in serum albumin level after 2 and 3 week of experiment. Significant increase in activity of liver enzymes AST & ALT and serum uric acid were observed in group II after 3 weeks of experiment. Measurement of serum level of malondialhyde (MDA) revealed a significant increase in group II after 2 weeks of experiment while the total antioxidant capacity (TAO) showed significant decrease in group II after 2 and 3 weeks of experiment. Results of the lead residues in the experimental groups revealed that lead residue in muscle, liver and kidney were rise in group II compared with groups I and III.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of barley and barley bran contaminated with Fusarium spp on growth performance and feed efficiency of fattening and growing pigs. In experiment 1, total 48 fattening Landrace pigs were used in a fattening trial for 71 days. Pigs weighing around 75 kg were allocated into different substitution groups containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% of barley contaminated Fusarium spp. In experiment 2, total 16 growing Landrace pigs were used in a growing trial for 45 days. Pigs weighing around 29.4 kg were allocated into different substitution groups containing 0, 5, 10 and 20% of barley bran contaminated Fusarium spp. Mycotoxin concentrations of barley and barley bran contaminated with 30% Fusarium spp were 0.452 and 1.049 ppm for deoxynivalenol, 8.125 and 17.646 ppm for nivalenol and 0.023 and 0.029 ppm for zearalenone, respectively. In experiment 1, no differences were found in weight gain and feed intake between control group (0%) and 10 or 20% substitution groups, but in 30% substitution group, weight gain and feed intake were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than those in control group. After slaughtering, the extended haemorrhage of the fundus region in stomach was observed in 20 or 30% substitution groups. In experiment 2, weight gain and feed intake were not significantly different among treatment groups. After slaughtering of experimental pigs, the extended haemorrhage of the fundus region in stomach was observed in pigs fed diet with 20% substitution group. These results suggest that the feeding of diet with contaminated highly levels of Fusarium spp was negative effect on growth and feed efficiency in growing and fattening pig.

In the process of monogastric animal feeding, including pigs, the special role is played by the quality of coarse grain crops as they compose 70-75% of swine ration structure. Determination of fodder productive effect on fattening swine was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. The basis of the analyzed fodder was formed by fodder grain of extra fine grade. Research results showed the following: inclusion of extra fine grade barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) (chosen in accordance with the standard of the Republic of Belarus) into all-in-one mixed fodders SK-26 and SK-31 for fattening swine made it possible to obtain higher productive capacity of the experimental animals in comparison with the identical mixed fodders containing barley and wheat of other grades (chosen in accordance with All-Union State Standard 28672-90); in the experimental groups the average daily weight gain in course of the fattening period was on 34 grams higher, and the average selling weight of 1 head - on 4,1 kg than in the control group. Swine which were fed with the presented mixed fodders with grain extra fine grade showed fewer deviations from the rated value of metabolism (blood serum protein and its fractions, calcium, phosphorus, acid capacity) in comparison with the control groups