بابک ماسوری

Algae, having a high level of antioxidants, can affect the antioxidant status and the health of birds. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of Algasan® on blood biochemical parameters and antioxidant status of Japanese quail. For this purpose, A total of 204 three-day-old female quail chickens were randomly allocated in a completely randomized design with four treatments and three repetitions and kept until the age of 38 days. Treatments included a control diet or with 1, 2, and 3 g/kg (A1, A2, and A3) Algasan®, respectively. At the age of 38 days, blood samples were collected of two quails from each replicate to assess blood parameters and antioxidant status. Data were analyzed by the GLM procedure of SAS software and means were compared by Tukey's test. The results showed that serum glucose concentration in the A3 treatment (410.63 mg/dL), was significantly different from its concentration in control treatments (359.17 mg/dL) and A1 treatment (38 351.0 mg/dL) (P<0.05). The amount of cholesterol in the control treatment (201.63 mg/dL) was higher than the A3 treatment (151.33 mg/dL) (P<0.05), but the amount of HDL in the control treatment (40.00 mg/dL) was lower than A3 treatment (58.25 mg/dL) (P<0.05). The levels of serum enzymes and plasma antioxidant enzymes, total antioxidant status and malondialdehyde were not affected. In general, the results exhibited that in the natural conditions of Japanese quail breeding, dietary Algasan® supplementation at the level of 0.3% improved some blood parameters, but did not change the antioxidant status of the plasma.

The liver is a major organ that processes mycotoxins, detoxifies them and protects the body against their toxic effects. AFB1 can cause unbalanced fat metabolism, increase lipid deposition in the liver, and suppress the activity of antioxidant enzymes and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Kambucha can have liver protective effects due to its antioxidant compounds, yeasts and acid-producing bacteria. 320 male Ross-308 broilers to evaluate the effect of Kambucha on reducing the degree of aflatoxin toxicity in 2 4 4 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design using 8 treatments, four replications and 10 broilers Used in each replication. The first factor was the amount of aflatoxin in the diet at two levels of zero and 2.5 mg/kg of diet and the second factor was kambucha at four levels of zero, 5, 10 and 15 ml per 100 ml of drinking water. Aflatoxin significantly reduced daily weight gain, feed intake and production efficiency index during the initial, growth, final and overall periods (P˂0.05). During the growth and final period of level 10, kambucha had more daily weight gain compared to other treatments. The use of levels 5, 10 and 15 of kambucha compared to level zero showed a significant decrease in feed consumption (P˂0.05). The use of kombucha, aflatoxins and their interaction had no significant effect on feed conversion ratio (P˃0.05). Kambucha had no significant effect on production efficiency index (P˃0.05). Aflatoxin caused a significant increase in liver weight and fat percentage in broilers (P˂0.05). Kambucha had no significant effect on liver weight and fat percentage (P˃0.05). Aflatoxin significantly increased aspartate-aminotransferase levels and decreased serum alkaline phosphatase (P˂0.05) but had no effect on alanine-aminotransferase levels. Although the use of 15 kambucha had the lowest level of alanine-aminotransferase, it was not significantly different from the level of zero. The use of aflatoxin in the diet significantly increased the level of glutathione-peroxidase and different levels of kambucha significantly reduced the level of serum glutathione-peroxidase (P˂0.05). According to the results, the use of Kambucha at levels of 5, 10 and ml per 100 ml of drinking water can be effective in reducing the negative effects of aflatoxin in the diet.

Lactic acidosis occurs as a result of hypoxia and rapid growth of broilers and can be considered as a physiological stress. In two experiments, the effect of extra nutritional levels of vitamin D3 and guanidinoacetic acid was investigated on performance, relative weight of organs, some physiological and behavioral parameters of broiler chicks under lactic acidosis stress.

In both experiments, 144 chickens of Ross 308 strain were used to study the effect of subcutaneous injection of vitamin D3 at 0 (negative and positive controls), 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 and 50,000 international unit and dietary levels of GAA at 0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3 g/kg in a randomized complete block design with 6 treatments, 4 replications and 6 birds per replication.

In the first experiment, liver fat concentrations in birds receiving 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 were 21.79% and 19.16% lower, respectively, compared to negative control and birds receiving 30,000 IU of vitamin D3 (p<0.05). In Experiment 2, the survival rate of birds receiving 1.8 and 3 g/kg GAA in the diet was greater than the birds receiving 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg GAA (p<0.05). Behavioral parameters of the birds were affected by vitamin D3 injection as well as GAA dietary levels (p<0.05).

The results show that subcutaneous injection of vitamin D3 at the level of 50,000 IU and adding GAA to diet at the level of 1.8 g/kg has positive effects on modulation of physiological stress caused by lactic acidosis in broilers.

 The present experiment aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin E and peppermint essential oil on body weight, yolk sac weight, serum antioxidant capacity, and blood biochemical parameters in broilers under transport stress at times one, four, and eight hrs. The first factor of additive (first group: positive control without additive, second group: negative control using olive oil, third group: vitamin E in the amount of 0.6 mg per chicken and the fourth group of feeding with peppermint essential oil in the amount of 0.5 mg per chick) and the second factor was the transfer time in three-time intervals of one, four and eight hours. The results showed that the use of vitamin E and peppermint essential oil did not have a significant effect on weight loss in chickens under transport stress. However, the use of vitamin E reduced the weight of the yolk sac compared to the positive control treatment (P<0.05). Transfer times of 1, 4 and 8 hours had no significant effect on body weight and yolk sac in broilers. The effect of vitamin E and peppermint essential oil on cholesterol, HDL, and LDL was not significant. Blood triglyceride levels showed a significant difference between treatments (P<0.05). The lowest serum triglyceride was observed in positive control chickens and peppermint. Serum triglyceride levels showed a significant difference between transfer times (P<0.05). The highest amount of triglyceride was observed in the first hour of transfer and the lowest amount of triglyceride was observed eight hours after transfer time. Serum glucose level was significantly affected by transfer time treatment (P<0.05). The highest blood glucose level was observed one hour after transfusion and the lowest at four hr. The effect of additive type on total serum protein content, malondialdehyde content, and antioxidant capacity was not significant. Vitamin E and peppermint essential oil had no significant effect on the activity of T3 and T4 hormones. According to the results of the present study, the use of vitamin E and peppermint essential oil had little effect on improving the antioxidant status and reducing the transport stress of chickens.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of anti-Escherichia coli bacteriophages on production performance, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters in broiler chickens. A total number of 168 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were used to exmaine the effects of 7 experimental treatments in 4 replicates of 10 birds each.  Experimental treatments include oral inoculation of 1 ml of bacteriophage TMU1, TMU2, and their mixtures, intramuscular injection of 1 ml of bacteriophage TMU1, intramuscular injection of 0.5 ml of bacteriophage TMU2, intramuscular injection of 0.5 ml of a mixture of bacteriophages TMU1 and TMU1. The control group received oral gavageing and injection of culture medium without bacteriophage. Serum calcium concentration were higher in the birds injected with TMU1 bacteriophage and mixed bacteriophages. Serum concentration of free fatty acids was greater in the birds recieving TMU1 bacteriophage than those injected with TMU2 bacteriophage. The mean concentration of high-density lipoproteins was elevated in in the birds injected with the mixture of bacteriophages compared with those fed with the same treatment. Hepatic aspartate aminotransferase activity was 23.90% lower in the chickens injected with TMU2 bacteriophage than control birds. It was concluded that oral inoculation and intramuscular injection of pathogenic anti-Escherichia coli bacteriophages into healthy birds exhibited no effect on growth performance and carcass components percentage. However, it may provides certain benefits towards birds health indicated by reduced liver enzymes activity.

To investigate the effect of different levels of Algasan pigment on the performance and meat quality of Ja[amease quail, 204 bird at day three of age, were randomly divided into four groups in three replications. Treatments included control diet (without pigment) or with 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% (A1, A2, and A3) Algasan, respectively. In addition to recording performance data, at day 38 of age, two male quail were randomly selected from each exprimental unit to evaluate meat quality. Data were analyzed by SAS software and means were compared by Duncan test. The effect of different levels of pigment in quail diets on mean body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and live weight were not significant. But the highest carcass weight was observed in A1 treatment (118.33 g), the highest carcass yield in A3 treatment (73.36%), the highest light density in A1 treatment (2.029, 1.268, and 2.249%), and the highest water holding capacity in A3 treatment (4.720) (P≤0.05). The lowest meat pH, drip loss, and cooking loss showed in control (6.342), A2 (13.055%), and A3 (19.985%) treatments, respectively (P≤0.05). In general, Algasan pigment might be effective in improving some parameters of the performance and quality of quail meat.

Enriching the fatty acid composition of poultry meat is an important issue. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Algasan pigment on the fatty acids profile of Japanese quail meat with four treatments, three replicates, and 17 chickens per replicate in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets include: 1- Basic diet (control), 2- Basic diet + 0.1% Algasan (A1), 3- Basic diet + 0.2% Algasan (A2), 4- Basic diet + 0.3 % Algasan (A3). At 38 days of age, two male quails were randomly selected from each replicate to determine the fatty acid profiles of the meat. The data were analyzed by SAS software and the mean squares of the parameters were compared by Tukey test. The results showed that the control treatment had the highest percentage of myristoleic acid (0.245), oleic acid (0.260), and trans linoleic acid (0.150), A1 treatment had the highest percentage of heptadecanoic acid (0.160), oleic acid (35.350) and total fatty acids with an unsaturated bond (43.035) and the lowest percentage of omega-6 fatty acids (30.060), A2 treatment had the highest echosamenoic acid (0.185), cis linoleic acid (30.185), omega-6 fatty acids (32.485) and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (33.100) and A3 treatment had the most trans linolenic acid (0.200) (P≤0.05). In general, the results of the present study show that Algasan pigment at the level of 0.1% of the diet can be effective in improving the fatty acids profile of quail meat.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Chromochloris zofingiensis and Spirulina platensis extract on productive performance, blood parameters and antioxidant status in broiler chicken. A total of 400 male broiler chickens (Ross 308 strain) were used in a completely randomized design with five treatments with four replicates and 20 chicks per each. The broilers were fed a standard diet supplemented with Chromochloris zofingiensis and Spirulina platensis extract (0, 0.2, and 0.4 percent) from 1 to 42 days. Results showed that adding of Spirulina platensis extract (0.4 percent) in broiler's diet significantly increased production index from 1 to 14 days old (P<0.05). Supplementing with Chromochloris zofingiensis extract (0.2 percent) resulted in significant increases in the production index from 29 to 42 days old (P<0.05). The highest content of production index was observed in group supplemented with Spirulina platensis (0.4 percent) from 1 to 21 days old (P<0.05). The highest content of breast meat was observed in group supplemented with Chromochloris zofingiensis extract (0.2 percent) (P<0.05). The serum concentration of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, urea and HDL were not influenced by dietary levels of Chromochloris zofingiensis and Spirulina platensis extract. Supplementation of Chromochloris zofingiensis extract significantly decreased the serum concentrations of LDL (P<0.05). Dietary levels of Chromochloris zofingiensis and Spirulina platensis extract showed no effect on serum malondialdehyde level. In conclusion, diet supplementation with Chromochloris zofingiensis (0.2%) and Spirulina platensis (0.4%) extract improved production index and carcass quality in broilers.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of different levels of milk thistle powder and vitamin E on liver healthy, serum parameters and production indices in laying hens. The 2×3 factorial experiment was managed in a randomized complete design with 72 Hy- Line (W36) laying hens in six treatments and four replicates of three birds each. The experimental period lasted for a total of six weeks. Treatments included different levels of milk thistle powder (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and vitamin E (recommended by NRC; 5 mg/kg and more than recommended by NRC; 80 mg/kg). The effect of different levels of milk thistle powder and vitamin E on production indices were not significant in the throughout the experimental period. The best feed conversion ratio was observed in hens fed with rations included 80 mg/kg of vitamin E in the sixth week of experiment (p < 0.05). Laying hens were fed with milk thistle powder (200 mg/kg) had the best feed conversion ratio compared with the control group in the fifth week of experiment (p < 0.05). The effect of different levels of milk thistle powder and vitamin E on egg quality and serum parameters were not significant. Dietary milk thistle powder (200 mg/kg), as compared with the control, decreased serum activity of alanine aminotransferase (p < 0.05). In conclusion, diet supplementation with milk thistle powder (100 and 200 mg/kg) and vitamin E (more than recommended by NRC) had no positive effects on production indices and egg quality in laying hens.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of black cumin powder on performance, yolk cholesterol content and egg oxidative stability in laying hens. A total of 96 Leghorn laying hens (Hy-Line W-36) of 25 weeks old were randomly distributed among eight cage replicates of three birds each. Experimental diets consisted of different levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 g/kg of diet) of dietary black cumin powder. The experimental period lasted for a total of 6 weeks. The results showed that the highest feed intake observed in hens were fed with rations included 15 g/kg of black cumin (P<0.05). Supplementation of black cumin had no significant effects on egg mass and feed conversion ratio. The effect of black cumin on shell quality indices were not significant. The highest egg yolk weight obtained from hens were fed the black cumin supplemented diet (15 g/kg of diet) (P<0.05). There were no significant difference in yolk cholesterol and malondialdehyde content between hens fed black cumin supplemented diets and hens fed the control diet. Therefore, it can be concluded that adding of black cumin (15 g/kg) to laying hens diet had positive effects on feed intake and egg yolk weight.

This study was carried out to examine the effect of supplementation of canola and fish oils (5% fish oil, 3% fish oil 2% canola oil, 2% fish oil 3% canola oil and 5% canola oil) and Satureja khuzistanica essential oils (SkEO) (0 and 400 mg/kg), into a basal diet on productive performance, meat cholesterol, lipid stability and certain blood lipid components in broiler chickens raised under normal and heat stress conditions during day 22 to 42 of age. The experiment was conducted in a 4×2×2 factorial expriment using 640 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks in a completely randomised blocks design with 5 replicates of 8 birds in each replication. Oil source significantly decreased FCR, serum LDL and cholesterol content in thigh and breast muscles at day 42 of age. Inclusion of 400 mg/kg SkEO in diet significantly increased daily weight gain and decreased cholesterol content and TBARS concentration in thigh and breast muscles in heat stressed chicks. Heat stress condition significantly decreased FCR and increased TBARS as well as cholesterol content in breast muscle and serum cholesterol concentration during day 22 to 42 of age. It was concluded that supplementation of 400 mg/kg SkEO and canola oil into diet could have a positive effect on productive performance and reduce the meat and serum cholesterol concentration in broiler chicken.

Ten female lambs of 7-month-old were divided into two equal groups and raised under a helminth-free conditions. Animals in group 1 were immunized two times by whole gut homogenate (WGH) of Haemonchus contortus emulsified in Freund’s adjuvant. In group 2 (control), animals were injected by phosphate buffered saline emulsified in the same adjuvant. Animals were challenged by 10000 third-stage larvae (L3) of Haemonchus contortus on day 33 after the first immunization and then humanely killed on day 42. Animals were tested for serum antibody and eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) throughout the study and nematodes in their abomasom were counted after necropsy. The results indicated that animals immunized with WGH showed a higher level of serum antibodies. A significant difference was observed in mean optical density of sera in ELISA between the two groups (P<0.05) and a 77 and 78% reduction in EPG and nematode counts at necropsy, respectively (P<0.05).