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Today, animal nutritionists and experts are looking for solutions to produce high quality animal products. In lamb meat, post-mortem biochemical changes, such as lipid oxidation, lead to off-odours and flavour development that have negative impact on the shelf life of these products. Therefore, the possibility to extend the shelf life of lamb meat is a primary objective of the meat industry. Some of plant compounds are excellent source of natural antioxidants that can improve the shelf life and quality of meat mainly by inhibiting fat oxidation and microbial growth. Saffron petal (SP) is one of the by-products of saffron, which is a plant source rich in flavonoid compounds and anthocyanins, and annually large amounts of it discard as a waste product. Also, the use of these residues in animal feed, cause the reduction of environmental pollution. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the effect of feeding of SP on performance, blood parameters and antioxidant status of blood and meat of Afshari fattening lambs.

Eighteen male Afshari lambs aged four to five months with an average initial weight of 17±2.5 kg in a completely randomized design were used. Experimental treatments were included: 1) control (basal diet without SP), 2) basal diet supplemented with 1.5% SP and 3) basal diet supplemented with 3% SP (DM basis). The experimental period was 84 days and lambs were slaughtered at the end of the experiment.

The results showed that the addition of SP to the diet had no effect on feed intake, daily weight gain and nutrient digestibility. The amount of plasma urea in lambs fed with both levels of SP and the concentration of plasma glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride in lambs fed with 3% of SP significantly decreased (P<0.05). In lambs fed with 3% SP, the total antioxidant capacity and activity of glutathione peroxidase enzyme in blood and longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle was increased and the amount of malondialdehyde in the blood and LL muscle was decreased (P<0.05). But the activity of superoxide dismutase in the blood was not affected.

Overall, the results of this research showed that adding 3% of SP to the diet of fattening lambs without affecting the performance, improved the antioxidant status of the blood and increased the shelf-life durability of meat.

A study on the curve of far percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio in test day milk records of Iranian dairy cows using quantile regression statistical techniqueAbstract While the physiological conditions of most animals are reflected in their body fluids, in dairy cows physiological conditions are reflected in milk combinations. When negative energy balance occur, production that caused body fat store destruction, goes in two major metabolic ways in liver and breast tissues. In breast tissues, free fatty acids increase fat to protein ratio and in liver, free fatty acid change metabolism leading to increase of ketone bodies. Lactation persistency in dairy cows is one of inheritable economic trait and important characteristic of the lactation curve. The change of this trait is under control of different factors such as animal genetics structure. The amount of cow production at the peak of milk production depends on the calving physical condition, genetics, the absence of infectious and metabolic diseases, and postpartum diet. Fat to protein ratio in early lactation is associated with performance during lactation. Fat to protein ratio is also correlated with some diseases such as retained placenta, displacement of abomasum, metritis, endometritis, mastitis and culling. Fat to protein ratio (FPR) in test day milk records is a good indicator for body fat metabolism and the level of negative energy balance, and that it could be used as a selection criterion to improve metabolic stability. Quantile regression has not been widely used for modeling of biologic characteristics of livestock and this research aimed to evaluate the shape of fat percentage, protein percentage and FPR in test day milk records of Iranian dairy cows using a polynomial quantile regression model. The data used in this study were provided by the Animal Breeding Centre, Iran. Initial data set were edited by Excel and Foxpro software. The traits under consideration were fat percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio (calculated based on the magnitude of the first two traits). All cows had value for all traits. Final data comprised a total of 784,532 test day records collected from 93,259 first-parity dairy cows (progeny of 2741 sires and 79843 dams) distributed in 660 herds over the country and calved between 2003 and 2013. In the data, test day fat percentage and protein percentage had a minimum of 1 and 1.5 and a maximum of 7 and 7, respectively. By SPSS software, some statistical characteristics of the traits were calculated, and by SAS software a quadratic polynomial quantile regression model (in the range of quantiles 5 to 95) was fitted to the data. Based upon the fitted model, linear and quadratic regression coefficients were estimated for the effect of day of lactation on each trait in different quantiles. In the model, traits and day of lactation were response and independent variables, respectively. Quadratic effect of day of lactation is considered due to nonlinear variation of the traits over the course of the lactation curve. Mean fat percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio over the lactation course were found to be 3.35%, 3.08% and 1.1, respectively. As expected, for each trait a nonlinear change was observed over the lactation period. The highest content fat to protein ratio occurs in the early period of lactation and the lowest was observed in the sixth and seventh months of lactation. In terms of absolute values, minimum (953.564) and maximum (1797.661) linear regression coefficient of days in milk were obtained in quantiles 5 and 95, respectively. The same trend was also observed for quadratic regression coefficient of days in milk. Linear and quadratic regression coefficients of fat and protein percentages ranged over different quantiles so that minimum and maximum absolute values were observed in quantiles 5 and 95, respectively. Quantile regression model is an appropriated statistical technique for evaluate the effects of an independent factor which differently affects the shape of a response variable. In this research, the effect of days in milk on three traits (fat and protein percentage, as well as fat to protein ratio) was modeled by quantile regression. The findings of the present research indicate that the curve shape of fat percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio are different for the quantiles suggesting that these differences are needed to be taken into account in nutrition management and cattle breeding scheme.Keywords: Dairy cow, Modeling, Quantile regression, Ratio of milk compositionA study on the curve of far percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio in test day milk records of Iranian dairy cows using quantile regression statistical techniqueA study on the curve of far percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio in test day milk records of Iranian dairy cows using quantile regression statistical techniqueA study on the curve of far percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio in test day milk records of Iranian dairy cows using quantile regression statistical techniqueA study on the curve of far percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio in test day milk records of Iranian dairy cows using quantile regression statistical techniqueA study on the curve of far percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio in test day milk records of Iranian dairy cows using quantile regression statistical techniqueA study on the curve of far percentage, protein percentage and fat to protein ratio in test day milk records of Iranian dairy cows using quantile regression statistical technique

The effect of using different levels of olive cake on production, milk composition and antioxidant atatus of dromedary camels, an experiment using 9 Turkmen dromedary camels with milk production of 5 ± 0.7 kg/day and average weight of 500 ± 30 kg a 3 three-week periods (14 days of adaptation and 7 days of sampling) was investigated in the form of a change over design with 3 treatments and 9 replications. The experimental treatments were included: 1- control group, 2- treatment containing 15 percent olive cake and 3- treatment containing 30 percent olive cake. Feed intake and milk production were not affected by experimental treatments. Milk fat percent a nd yield and milk protein percent (2.5, 0.11 kg and 2.66, respectively) decreased due to use of olive cake in the diet (P<0.05). There was no difference in the concentration of most of fatty acids and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the milk of camels fed experimental diets, but concentration of palmitic acid in camels that consumed 30 percent olive cake was lower than control group (P<0.05). According to the results of this research, the use of olive cake (in the level of 30 percent of ration DM) in camel feeding, may have positive effects on increasing the nutritional value of dairy products especially in arid and semi-arid areas.

The aim of the present study was to estimate the impact of somatic cell count on daily milk yield of Iranian dairy cows using quantile regression statistical technique. A total of 784,532 test day records belonging to 93,259 first-parity cows distributed in 660 herds and calved during 2003-2013 were used. The studied trait was test day milk yield and the model was defined as a quantile regression. All of the estimated regression coefficients were negative, which indicated a decrease in the amount of daily milk production when milk somatic cell counts increased, so that, in the spite of lactation stage, on the basis of absolute value, the lowest and highest regression coefficients observed at ninety-fifth percentile and fifth, respectively. Considering lactation stage in the seventh stage of fifth percentile, the highest decrease was 238 g milk reduction per day, for increase of 100 thousand somatic cells per ml/L of milk, and in the 95th percentile of the fourth stage, the lowest decrease was 64 grams milk reduction per day, for increase 100 thousand somatic cells per ml/L of milk. The results revealed that in high quantiles of daily milk yield, the impact of SCC on milk production decreases indicating that high-producing cows are less influenced in terms of loss of milk production as SCC increases. The difference in the amount of somatic cell count on the amount of milk production in cows with different production potential should be considered in the genetic evaluation of herds.

The aim of this research was estimation of genetic parameters for the fat: protein trait (FPR) in daily milk test records of Iranian dairy cow. From a total of 295,820 monthly daily milk test records, 29,582 first-parity cows in 622 herds were used which were calved from 1997 to 2012. The trait was analyzed using a covariance function. Orthogonal Legendre polynomials with a 3th order were implemented to take account of genetic and environmental aspects of milk production over the course of lactation. The data were analyzed with the help of DXMRR software. Maximum phenotypic and genetic correlations (0.209 and 0.988) was obtained between the ninth and tenth month Maximum permanent environment correlation (0.938) was observed between the seventh and eighth months. The lowest (0.029) and highest (0.064) heritability’s were obtained for the third and first months of the lactation, respectively. Low heritability magnitudes showed that there is a low genetic variation for FPR trait which is suggesting much more effects of environmental factors.

Fertility traits and their improvement is the hot topics in animal studies; because these traits effect directly on profitability of livestock industry. Since ovulation rate is an important trait breeding strategies along with applying nutritional and managerial strategies must be used. Identifying and choosing the effective regulatory genes and biomarkers are the basic steps in applying molecular breeding strategies such as genomic selection and/ or marker assisted selection. It should be noted, one of the major challenges in reproductive traits is the large number of regulatory gene, which control these traits. Therefore, selection of the most effective and the best ones requires bioinformatics analysis. In this study, we hypothesized that genes, which have same transcription factor binding site, regulate by same transcription factors, express in same time and act in the same physiological processes. Therefore, transcription factor binding site on identified marker genes associated with ovulation rate was used to introduce new marker genes and then, protein-protein interaction network was applied to select the most regulatory ones and explore candidate molecular mechanisms, which control this trait.

In the present study, known marker genes associated with ovulation rate in cattle were searched from NCBI database. To extract promoter region of these genes, we used the link of gene to promoter of Genomatix, which is an on-line software. Link of Frameworker of Genomatix, was performed to achieve transcription factors that have binding site on promoters of the known markers. New marker genes associated with mentioned trait were investigated by searching genes throughout the genome, which have the same pattern of transcription factor binding sites on their promoter regions. To done this step, ModelInspector link of Genomatix software was used. These genes probably are potential effector genes for ovulation, because their expression regulate by same transcription factors, which regulate expression of ovulation’s genes. In order to confirm the interaction of potential marker and transcription factors, we fitted protein-protein interaction network on the last results of Genomatix by STRING database. Potential marker genes and transcription factors, which validated their interactions by STRING, were used to survey the most important cellular algorithm, which control ovulation rate. In this step, we applied comparative GO database.

Seven identified genes were found from NCBI database that associated with ovulation rate. Promoter regions of these genes was taken by Genomatix. Frameworker searched Data mining of transcription factors binding and their patterns. The results indicated the transcription factors, which regulate the expression of these genes, could induce the expression of 51 other genes in genome. These genes introduced as the potential marker genes that could control ovulation rate. Because these genes and identified genes have the same transcription factor binding sites on their promoter regions and expression by same transcription factors. Protein–protein interaction network, which is constructed between potential marker genes associated with ovulation rete and their transcription factors showed that two transcription factors (E2F1 and TFDP1) were more important in regulation of genes in ovulation rate. These two transcription factors had the most interactions with the targets. E2F1 affect the different stages of ovarian growth, follicle growth and regulate ovulation. TFDP1 play the important role in the cell cycle, growth and puberty of follicles. This transcription factor has poor activity, but it participate in formation another transcription factor complex with E2Fs families. This complex is more effective in expression of target genes of E2F. Our results indicated, two target genes (CAV1 and RANBP1) had the most interactions with transcription factors. In other words, the expression of these genes are regulate by more number of transcription factors, rather other target genes. CAV1 express in bovine granulosa cells, mature follicles and ovarian epithelial cells and it explore regulate vital processes in ovulation such as differentiation of granulosa cells and luteinization. Furthermore, gonadotropin hormones induce differentiation of granulosa cells by increasing of CAV1 expression. RANBP1 control cell cycle, transcription processes in ovum and cumulus cells. Our analysis reveals tyrosine kinase activity, JAK-STAT cascade, response to transforming growth factor beta, cell migration, JNK cascade and response to estrogen were the most important molecular mechanisms, which regulate ovulation. Tyrosine kinase activity and JAK-STAT cascade are two regulatory candidate pathways in cell differentiation and proliferation. They also induce first stage of follicle growth and associate with number of activated follicles. They effect on oogenesis by inducing progesterone secretion. Some inhibitors of JAK/STAT signaling pathway negative effect on progesterone secretion and ovulation process. Pathway of transforming growth factor beta was also bold in this study. This pathway has close relation with differentiation and maturation of ovum, induction of gonadotropins and regulate the selection of dominant follicle. This family protein regulate gonadotropin secretion by effect on anterior pituitary. Cell migration and JNK cascade are conserved processes between vertebrata in ovulation processes. Studies have shown these pathways were up-regulated during ovulation and they control other processes such as cytokines production, inflammatory response and apoptosis occurring during ovulation.

In conclusion, this study offers a vital basis for understanding potential marker genes and cellular algorithm, which control ovulation rate by fitting protein-protein interaction of ovulation related genes. Our data suggested E2F1 and TFDP1 as the most important transcription factors, and CAV1 and RANBP1 as the major target genes in ovulation. This network induce some biological pathways, which effect the activation of primary follicles, follicle secretion and cell migration. These findings have important implications for enhancement ovulation rate by genomic selection and/or marker assisted selection. This analysis could implications for complex traits, which control by many genes, to detect the novel and important ones.

In the present study, the chemical composition and nutritional value of quinoa crop residues were determined using insitu and invitro gas production techniques in comparison with alfalfa hay. After harvesting, whole quinoa plants were dried at environmental temperature, the seeds were separated, and the crop residues were used for the experiment. The results showed that the content of gross energy, dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber and lignin of quinoa was higher than alfalfa hay (P<0.05). Crude protein concentration of quinoa (12.29%) was lower than alfalfa hay (14.32%). The main part of the tannin in quinoa was hydrolysable. Although the degradation rate and post-ruminal digestibility of quinoa and alfalfa hay were similar, ruminal, and total tract digestibility of quinoa were lower than alfalfa hay (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in gas production rate (c) between quinoa and alfalfa hay, however, it’s gas production potential (b) was lower than alfalfa hay (P<0.05). Organic matter digestibility, metabolizable energy and net energy of lactation in quinoa crop residues were also lower than alfalfa hay (P<0.05). Based on the results of this study, quinoa crop residues have suitable nutritional potential for replacing part of the forage to meet part of the nutritional requirements of ruminant feeds. However, invivo studies are recommended to determine it’s appropriate level in the diet.

Introduction:

 Sesame with the scientific name ‘Sesamum Indicum’ belongs to the Pedaliaceae family. Sesame seeds have high oil content (42-56%) and crude protein (20-25%), as well as a source of minerals, especially calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron. The main fatty acids in sesame include: linoleic acid (40.4 to 47.9%), oleic acid (35.9 to 42.3%), palmitic acid (7.9% to 12%) and stearic acid (6.1 to 4.8 %). Historically, the purpose of agricultural research has been focused on increasing production efficiency so that less emphasis has been on improving the profile of food products. Therefore, scientists and producers are interested in research and agricultural activities that can improve the nutritional profile of food products. Changes in animal nutrition can significantly increase the concentration of bioactive components (such as conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acids) in animal products. The most effective strategy is to supplement ruminants with different oils or oils rich in linoleic acid or linolenic acid.

Materials and Methods :

In this study, 21 lambs with average initial weight of 30 ±3 kg were used. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments including 0, 6 and 12% replacement of sesame meal with soybean meal with 7 replicates for 75 days (14 days adaptation). Experimental diets were adjusted using the SRNS transcription software (NRC 2007). Feed was given daily at 8 am and 4 pm. After slaughter of animals, samples of Longissimus dorsi muscle (ribs 12 and 13) were removed from the left carcass and after packaging to measure fatty acids in Freezer-20 ◦C was maintained. The fatty acid composition of sesame meal and muscle were measured. The internal marker was used to determine apparent digestibility of nutrients.

Results and Discussion :

Replacing sesame meal (SM) with soybean meal had no effect on nutrient digestibility and performance (p> 0.05). The effects of added dietary fat on performance of ruminants are reported to be varied. Such variability could be associated with differences between experiments in terms of composition of the basal diet (i.e., energy density and level of grain), level of fat inclusion, fat type and composition (i.e. contents of free and saturated fatty acids), and whether diets were formulated to be isoenergetic. The fact that the rations with fat supplements were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous may explain the absence of significant differences in animal performance. SM supplementation affected the composition of FA in meat of lamb. The SM addition decreased SFA (p < 0.01), SFA: PUFA (p < 0.01) and AI (p < 0.01) while increased MUFA (p < 0.001), PUFA (p < 0.001), CLA and DFA (p < 0.001). Palmitic acid (C16:0) reduced in SM treatment. Since C16 fatty acid has been introduced as a hypercholesterolemic FA, its reduction in meat and adipose tissue is beneficial to human health. Also, stearic acid (C18:0) (p < 0.05) decreased. Endogenous synthesis of MUFA in adipose tissues involves a reduction of C16:0 and C18:0 FA catalyzed by the ∆9 –desaturase activity. It is reported that ∆9 –desaturase expression is influenced by polyphenolic compounds (46). Also, the increase in cis-9 C18:1 proportion in meat of lambs fed SM diets can be explained by the high dietary cis-9 C18:1 level in SM groups, probably combined with slow ruminal biohydrogenation. Oleic acid (cis-9 C18:1) with stearic acids (C18:0) and palmitic (C16:0) to be the most abundant. Palmitic acid increases while oleic acid decreases blood cholesterol, and stearic acid has no effect. The cis-9 C18:1 reduce human LDL-cholesterol and increase HDL-cholesterol concentrations in blood, which result in lower risk of coronary problems. CLA nutrition has been shown to have anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic effects, as well as positive effects on serum lipids.

Conclusion :

The results of this study indicated that meat FA composition of lambs can be improved from a human health perspective by inclusion of SM, as a rich source of PUFA. Addition of SM up to 12 % in lambs diet, increased the proportion of CLA, MUFA, PUFA, MUFA: SFA and PUFA:SFA ratio and decreased SFA and AI in meat. However, further investigation is needed to optimize the level of SM incorporation in animal diet.

foods functional and their natural products include a wide range of foods that have the potential to improve health and prevent disease due to bioactive components. Sesame (Sesame indicum) belongs to the Pedaliaceae family and is one of the oldest oilseeds that was first cultivated in Africa and then in India. Sesame contains a significant amount of physiological active ligands (up to 1.5%), Includes lipid-soluble lignans such as cisamine and cisamulin, furfuran, episysamine, and cisaminol glycosides and water-soluble lignans such as triglycoside and monoglucoside.Sisamin lignans in sesame oil has many antioxidant properties.In addition to lignans, sesame seeds also contain tocopherols, mainly gamma tocopherols as antioxidants.Polyphenols are a group of secondary plant metabolites that act as neutralizing free radicals, LDL cholesterol oxidation inhibitors, and DNA breakdowns.Research has also shown that the phenolic content of black sesame is higher than that of white sesame.Sesame seeds are effective in reducing blood lipid and improve lipid profile due to dietary fiber, linoleic acid and lignans. During the defatting of sesame seeds by mechanical method (cold pressed) partially defatted sesame meal is produced, which during the recent years the production of these by products in the country increased.Sesame meal, due to its high protein content, can be a good protein source for replacing other edible protein sources, including cottonseed meal and soybean meal in livestock feeding.The meals used in this experiment contain 39% protein and 24% fat, and can be used especially for replacing with soybean meal insheep feed.Few studies have evaluated the effect of using sesame meal on sheep nutrition.Therefore, the inclusion of sesame meal in sheep feed will in part help producers reduce the impact of the global increase in feed costs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sesame meal on performance, blood factors and improve antioxidant activity in fattening lambs.Therefore, the inclusion of sesame meal in sheep feed will in part help producers reduce the impact of the global increase in feed costs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sesame meal on performance, blood factors and improve antioxidant activity in fattening lambs.

Twenty-one male lambs with an initial body weight of 30 ± 3 kgwere used in a completely randomized design for an 60-day feeding experiment with a 15-day adaptation period. Experimental treatments included: 1-control diet based (without Sesame meal), 2-diet with 6 % Sesame meal, 3-diet with 12 % Sesame meal.The experimental diets were set using SRNS software (NRC2007). The feed was completely mixed and was given to livestock twice a day at 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Lambs were weighed on the first day and then every two weeks.In the last week of the experiment, after morning meal (2 hours later), some rumen fluid was removed by the pump and filtered, and then the pH and ammonia nitrogen were measured.At the end of the experimental period, lambs were slaughtered. Sampling of longissimusmusclewas performed between 12th and 13th ribs from the left halves of each carcass. Samples of muscle were dissected and ground to homogeneity for determination of antioxidant Factors.Also blood samples of each animal were centrifuged and stored in the freezer to measure blood and antioxidant parameters. blood parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, albumin, total protein, HDL, LDL, ASAT, ALAT, creatinine) in plasma by using Pars test laboratory kits (Gesan Chem 200 , Italy)Measured. Plasma MDA was measured by the method of Palasser et al. (1996). MDA muscle was measured according to Steering and Chisman (1990). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured by FRAP method provided by Bensi et al. (1996).Measurement of fatty acids of sesame meal was done by Fulch et al. (1957). Chemical composition including dry matter, crude protein, crude fat and ash was measured by AOAC method (1990) and cell wall with van soest method (1991).

The results of this experiment showed that the use of sesame meal had no effect on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio, and rumen parameters were not affected by experimental diets.In the present study, plasma glucose concentration did not change between the two treatments supplemented with sesame meal compared to the control treatment. Unchanged blood glucose between diets containing sesame and control diets indicates that sesame has no negative effects on insulin receptors, glucogenesis, glycolysis and glucose oxidation process. In this experiment, HDL level was increased in the experimental treatments, which was significant in the 6% sesame meal treatment compared to the control treatment. Oleic Acid in Sesame Oil Increases High Density Lipoprotein HDL. In human medicine, increasing HDL is a desirable goal in human health because HDL has a negative relationship with heart disease Sesame meal had no effect on serum protein components. In the present study, there was no significant difference between the three experimental treatments in AST and ALT activity. The trans-amination process involves the intermolecular transfer of the amine group from an amino acid donor to a keto acid receptor without the formation of ammonia intermediates. Transaminase plays an important role in mediating metabolism when it provides a means for the synthesis and degradation of amino acids in living cells. The two aminotrans above ALT, AST, occur in almost all animals and humans, but their activity varies considerably in different tissues. The highest AST activity was in the heart while the highest ALT activity was in the liver. Hepatocellular injury results in elevated serum levels of both enzymes (AST and ALT), but overall ALT is more specific in liver injury than AST. Liver function evaluation can be performed by estimating ALT, AST, and ALP activities that are originally present at higher concentrations in the cytoplasm. These enzymes leak into the bloodstream to the extent of liver damage. An increase in the level of serum marker enzymes is one of the most sensitive indicators of liver injury. Sesame meal acts as an important mediator of enzymatic resistance in fat-rich diets that results in obesity and diabetes through its ability to reduce the enhanced activity of ALT, AST and ALP enzymes at the cellular level. Use of sesame meal at 12% level resulted in an increase in total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde reduction in muscle. Overall, high intake of natural antioxidants transfers these molecules to tissues, thereby increasing the total antioxidant capacity. Photochemical compounds such as polyphenols (flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, phytoestrogens) are glucosinolates and carotenoids. Despite the potential importance of lignans in reducing the risk of disease and cancer, little is known about the metabolic fate of these compounds.

Finally, the use of sesame meal in livestock feeding is a way to reduce feed costs. In addition, the transfer of beneficial ingredients to animal products, while helping the livestock's health, can be used as aenriched food in human nutrition.

In this study, the nutritional value of four camel rangeland plants, including Alhaghi Sp (AS), Haloxylon persicum (HP), Seidlitzia rosmarinous (SR)  and Tamarix Gallica (TG) in different phenological growth stages including vegetating, flowering and seeding were evaluated. Rangeland specieswere randomly sampled and their chemical composition were measured. Rumen digestibility of dry matter was assessed using a fistulated camel. The results showed that the amount of crude protein of AS and SR was higher than that of other species, Also, the lowest levels of natural detergent fibers, acid detergent fibers and tannins were observed in SR (P <0/05). Slowly degradable fraction, degradation rate and effective degradability of SR was significantly higher than other species (P <0/05). Results of this study showed that SR was better than other rangeland species due to its high crude protein content and lower acid detergent fiber and phenolic compounds, so it was used instead of alfalfa at three levels of zero, 50 and %100 in camel’s diet. Feeding SR did not affect milk yield and its components including fat, lactose and total solids. Dry matter intake of dairy camels decreased with increasing of SR in diet, but milk protein and urea nitrogen increased (P <0/05). The results of this study indicated that replacement of alfalfa hay with SR in feeding dairy camels while maintaining camel production performance, reduc the cost of feeding camel and made it more economical to rear this valuable livestock.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bentonite, kaolin and activated carbon on the absorption of Cu, Fe and Mn by in vitro and in vivo methods in Baluchi lambs. In vitro experiment, the binders effect on the minerals absorption was investigated in a completely randomized design with factor arrangement with standard solutions of Cu, Fe and Mn with concentrations of 7, 20 and 30 mg/l, respectively, four levels of binders (no binders, 10, 20 and 40 g/l) and three pHs 5.5, 6.4 and 7.5 and incubation for 60 min. In vivo experiment, bentonite, kaolin and activated carbon including 0, 10 and 20 g/kg DM were added to diet of 36 fattening lambs (6-7 months) for 90d in a completely randomized design. Feed intake, weight gain and blood and wool concentration of Cu, Fe and Mn were measured on 0, 45 and 90d. In vitro experiment, activated carbon had the highest and kaolin had the lowest mineral absorption by increasing binders levels and pH (P<0.05). In vivo experiment, the effect of treatments on feed intake, body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and blood and wool concentration of Fe were not significant.The concentration of Cu and Mn in the blood and wool in lambs fed with binder were lower than control treatment (P<0.05). In general, the use of binders, especially activated carbon at low concentrations, causes less absorption of minerals. In vitro methods can be used to select binders instead of animal experiments.

This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects of roasting and extruding heat processes on chemical composition, nitrogenous fractions, urease activity, metabolic protein, properties of degradability, and the ruminal- intestinal digestibility of dry matter and crude protein of raw and processed soybeans.

This study was carried out at the Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Iran. During the extrusion process, soybeans were affected for 20-30 seconds at 150-160°C in the extruder by heat and pressure and finally were dried and cooled. In the process of roasting, the soybean for 15 minutes at temperature of 145°C was heated and for 45 minutes holding tank for heat storage remained. Seeds were dried and cooled by air flow, dry and cold. Approximate analysis of samples including dry matter, crude protein, crude fat and ash was determined by AOAC. The urease activity of raw and processed soybean was determined based on ISO-3896. Degradability parameters of the samples were measured after incubation for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 hours in the rumen of two fistulated Brown Swiss cows. Also, ruminal and post ruminal digestibility were determined with the incubation of samples for 12 hours in the rumen by Daisy system. The DM and CP degradation data were fitted by exponential equation: P=a+b (1-e–ct). Effective degradability (ED) were calculated using of equation ED = a + {(cb)/(c + k)} and taking into consideration passing rate (k) 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08 per hour.

The findings of the present research revealed that roasting and extruding heat processes lead to increase of dry matter through decreasing water content and that it had no significant effect on other chemical composition. The findings showed that the process of roasting and extruding caused the amount of actual protein of the soybean to increase and was not effective on the amount of insoluble nitrogen in neutral detergent of the soybean. The non-protein nitrogen and nitrogen dissolved in the buffer soybean under the influence of roasting and extruding decreased. The amount of acid detergent insoluble nitrogen soybean decreased which might be due to the removal of some of the shells in the processing soybean has taken place or influence of roasting and extruding decreased. The urease inhibitor of the soybean became inactive by the process of roasting and extruding. Consequently, it caused intestinal protein digestibility to increase and affected by thermal process, the amount of metabolic protein of the soybean increased significantly, too. The process of roasting and extruding reduced the rapid part degradation of dry matter of the soybean (6.27 and 4.57 percent, respectively). Also, process of roasting and extruding caused the slow part of degradation to increase (of 63.75 to 74.73 and 63.25 to 85.82 percent, respectively). In addition, the rate constants degradation of dry matter of the soybean in rumen decreased (of 6.66 to 4.21 and 6.09 to 4.74 percent) under the influence of roasting and extruding. The process of roasting and extruding reduced the rapid part degradation of crude protein (38.4 and 68.4 percent, respectively) and the slow part of degradation to increase (17.3 and 26.1 percent, respectively), the rate constants degradation of crude protein of the soybean decreased (ranged from 7.61 to 3.79). Also, thermal processes reduced effective degradability of dry matter and crude protein of the soybean. Roasting and extruded with the reduction of the amount of ruminal disappearance and the increase of the post ruminal digestibility of dry matter and crude protein of soybean cased the degradability process of the soybean to be improved so that it transferred the place of the digestion of protein from the rumen to the small intestines and cased the amount of digestible of dry matter and crude protein in the intestine to increases. The increase of digestibility in the total digestive system shows that the reduction of ruminal digestion of soybean affected by the processes of roasting and extruding has been compensated by the increase of post ruminal digestibility.

The experiment results indicated that thermal processes of roasting and extrusion were an appropriate strategy for reduction the ruminal degradability of the soybean and the supply of passing protein needed by high milk producing dairy cows.

Longevity expressed as the distance between birth and culling is an economically important trait of dairy cattle for increasing the profitability of dairy management. The aim of the present study is to determine the factors affecting longevity in dairy cows of the farms of Razavi economic organization (RazaviKhorassan, Iran). The dataset consisted of milk production, longevity and health records belonging to 11481 Holstein cows from six herds, culled during 1985 to 2015. Culling reasons were further classified in six groups including reproductive problems, metabolic and digestive disorders, injury and the problems related to dairy cattle welfare, infectious diseases, low and non-economic production and other factors. Farm number one and four (Kenebist) had the lowest and highest longevity with 75.96 and 86.12 months, respectively. From 1985 to 2015, by increasing milk production, the mean of longevity has been decreased. Reproductive problems, metabolic and digestive disorders and infectious diseases were the main reasons of culling with the percentages of 28.49, 24.79 and 22.45 respectively. Results demonstrate again this fact that the dairy cattle management (in this study herd effect) and the high levels of milk production (because of its negative correlation with longevity) are the important factors affecting longevity and should consider them in our breeding programs for dairy cattle lifetime. Key words: Longevity, Reproductive disorders, Days In Milk, Involuntary cull.

Methane eructated from ruminants is considered to be one of the most important contributors to global warming, imposing an environmental burden that cannot be ignored. Meanwhile, it represents a loss of 2% to 15% of the gross energy intake (Johnson and Johnson 1995). Animal nutritionists have been studying manipulation of the rumen microbial ecosystem to reduce methane emission without the adverse effects on rumen function. There is a need to identify feed additives to modify ruminal fermentation characteristics and increase the efficiency of feed utilization, thereby inhibiting the ruminal methanogenesis. In recent years, essential oils (Benchaar 2007), plant secondary metabolites such as condensed tannins and saponins (Pen et al., 2006; Bhatta etal, 2009) and dietary lipids (Dohme et al., 2001) have arisen as attractive rumen modifiers to improve rumen microbial metabolism as well as inhibit methane production in ruminants. Particularly, Woodward et al. (2006) showed a positive effect of fish oil (FO) on reducing CH4 emissions in a short-term study, whereas no reduction was observed for a longer-term study. The positive effects of tannin-rich plant extracts on methane emission and methanogens population in vitro as well as in vivo have been examined (Patra et al., 2006; Patra and Saxena, 2010; Becker et al., 2014). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pomegranate by-products (pomegranate oil and peel) on the in vitro rumen fermentation with respect to methane emissions. Basic substrate was contained of 600 g/kg forage and 400 g/kg concentrate. Pomegranate oil was administered in doses of 2, 4, and 6% of substrate DM in the first trial and in the second trial powder peel pomegranate was added in doses of 2.5, 5, and 7.5% of substrate DM. Syringes were inoculated with 40 ml of a rumen fluid–buffer mix (10 ml rumen fluid and 30 ml buffer) and were incubated at 39°C. The gas production was measured at different incubation times and total gas production, CO2, hydrogen, and methane production were determined after 24h of incubation. Data were analyzed by GLM procedure of SAS (2001) software. The results of the first experiment showed that the addition of pomegranate oil to substrate did not affect total gas production, digestibility parameters (b and c), metabolizable energy (ME) and organic materails dry (OMD). Methane production was decreased by addition of 6% of pomegranate oil (P< 0.05), but not by lower levels of oil. Lipids significantly decreased CH4 emission in the short-term study (−27%), but this effect was not observed after 11 wk of lipid supplementation. On the other hand, several in vitro trials have shown that FO reduced CH4 methanogenesis (Fievez et al. 2003; Patra and Yu 2013). Saturated medium chain fatty acids, C10-C14, also lead to methane reduction. At ruminal temperature, an increasing chain length of medium chain fatty acids seems to reduce their efficiency in inhibiting methanogens and methane formation due to lower solubility (Bucher et al. 2008; Patra 2012). Beauchemin et al. (2008) reviewed the practical application of lipids to reduce methanogenesis. Oil supplementation to diet decreased methane emission by 80% in vitro (Fievez et al. 2003) and about 25% in vivo (Machmu¨ller et al. 2000). The toxic effects of certain oils on rumen protozoa contributed to reduce methane production (Machmu¨ller et al., 1998). The addition of canola oil at 0%, 3.5% or 7% to the diets of sheep reduced the number of rumen protozoa by 88–97% (Machmu¨ller et al. 1998). The detrimental impact of unsaturated fatty acids has also been reported (Henderson1973). Machmulleur et al. (1998) observed coconut oil as more effective inhibitor followed by rapeseed, sunflower seed, and linseed oil. Coconut oil comprises medium chain fatty acids. Dong et al. (1997) compared canola oil to coconut oil and demonstrated coconut oil as more effective methane inhibitor. Coconut oil controlled rumen methanogens by changing the metabolic activity and composition (Machmu¨ller et al., 2003). The inclusion of sunflower oil to the diet of cattle resulted in 22% decrease of methane emissions (McGinn et al., 2004). In the second experiment, adding of 5 and 7.5% of pomegranate peel to substrate DM reduced (P <0.05) total gas production after 24, 72, and 96 h of incubation. Metabolizable energy, b fraction, and OMD digestibility reduced by pomegranate peel powder. Because these parameters dependent the total gas production. Methane production was reduced by adding pomegranate peel to diet, but no difference was observed between methane produced by diet contained different doses of pomegranate peel. However, a direct effect of condensed tannins on rumen methanogens cannot totally be excluded (Field et al. 1989). Furthermore, tannins decrease the degradation of nutrients in the rumen, which then may be degraded in the hindgut. This could have contributed to a lower methane emission, because hindgut fermentation differs from ruminal fermentation by resulting in a lower methane production per unit of fermented nutrients (Fievez, et al. 1999). A meta-analysis of in vivo experiments with tannins by Jayanegara et al. (2012) reported a relatively close relationship between dietary tannin concentration and CH4 production per unit of digestible OM. According to Goel and Makkar (2012), the antimethanogenic effect of tannins depends on the dietary concentration and is positively related to the number of hydroxyl groups in their structure. These authors concluded that hydrolyzable tannins tend to act by directly inhibiting rumen methanogens, whereas the effect of condensed tannins on CH4 production is more through inhibition of fiber digestion. They also pointed out that more animal research is needed with these compounds to establish their antimethanogenic effect. Hydrolysable tannins are hydrolyzed in the rumen and some could be toxic (Lowry et al., 1996; McSweeney et al. 2003). Addition of pomegranate oil and pomegranate peel powder to base substrate did not have a significant effect on digestibility in in vitro conditions, but reduce the production of methane gas as a harmful greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, that would loss significant portion of the energy of the feed. Therefore, the use of pomegranate oil and pomegranate peel in the present experiment as inexpensive edible compounds not only have no negative effects on feeding ruminants, but also a good alternative to ionophors and other antigens.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the major cause of chronic liver disease in developed countries. In this study, we identified the most important transcription factors and biological mechanisms affecting the incidence of fatty liver disease using the promoter region data mining. In this study, at first, the marker genes associated with this disease were detected and the pattern of transcription factors was examined by the Genomatix software.  In the whole of genome, genes with a similar binding pattern for transcription factors in the promoter region were identified as potentially effective genes on the fatty liver. By using the Cytoscape software (3.6.0), the network of transcription factors and target genes was mapped. Finally, the most important biological pathways associated with genes derived from fatty liver were studied using the DAVID database. The protein network fitting showed Creb1, Jun and Max transcription factors and  Sfpi1, Ddit3 and Gsk3b genes play an important role in the development of this disease. Gene ontology analysis revealed that biological pathways including apoptosis, intracellular signals, and biosynthesis of aromatic compounds and signaling pathways of circadian rhythm, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and chemokine signals contributed to the occurrence of fatty liver disease. Increasing the expression of transcription factors and genes produced can be one of the most factors affecting the onset of the disease, also, biological pathways including apoptosis, intracellular signals, and biosynthesis of aromatic compounds and signaling pathways of circadian rhythm, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and chemokine signals are important in fatty liver phenomenon.

Jujube is one of the invaluable fruits from nutritional and medicinal aspects. However, its shelf life is short in ambient temperature. Drying is used as a common method to extend the shelf life, but optimum maturity stage at harvest and drying conditions is crucial for maximizing the nutritional value and maintaining the antioxidant properties during the processing stage. Hence, the effect of drying temperature and maturity stage (crisp mature and full ripe) on quality parameters, sensory and antioxidant properties of jujube fruit was examined. The results showed that the higher values of total phenolic content, ascorbic acid, and skin color characteristics include lightness (L*), redness (a*) and chroma (C*) were obtained in fruit harvested at crisp mature fruit. An increase in ascorbic acid, antioxidant activities and L*, a* and C* values were obtained in fruit dried at a lower temperature (45°C), while the greater value of hue (h°) was achieved at fruit dried at a higher temperature (60°C). In general, from sensorial and nutritional aspects, fruits harvested at fully ripe stage and dried at a lower temperature (45°C) were better.

This study was carried out to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant properties and phenolic compounds of Pistacia atlantica leaf at different stages of growth. Intestinal digestibility of determined by nylon bags method.  In order to prepare experimental treatments, Pistacia atlantica leaf (PAL) were collected and dried in three stages (early growing season, mid and end of growing season) from foothills of the around the city of Birjand. The treatments were: 1. PAL in early growing season, 2. PAL in middle of growing season, and 3. PAL at the end of growing season. Neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber was determined. The total amount of phenolic compounds was measured. The total amount of tannins was obtained by calculating the difference between before and after the reaction with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). Condensed tannin was measured. Antioxidant activity was measured by 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picaril hydrazil (DPPH). To investigate nutritional value of Pistacia atlantica leaf (PAL) by nylon bags method, two Holstein cows fitted with a flexible rumen fistula, fed forage and concentrate in total mixed ration (TMR) at maintenance level twice daily. To determine degradability coefficients, 5 g of DM of PAL sample (ground using 2 mm screen mill) were placed in individual polyester bags and feed samples were incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. Also, ruminal and post ruminal digestibility were determined with the incubation of samples for 16 hours in the rumen by Daisy system.  The results showed with the advance stage of growth increased, percentage of dry matter, Ash, NDF and ADF. The highest amount of dry matter belonged to the end of the growing season (49.41%) and the lowest was related to the beginning of the growing season (19.51%). The highest amount of crude protein observed at the first stage (early growth) (16.41%) and the lowest at the end of the growing season (P<0.05). With the advancement of the growth stage, the percentage of NDF and ADF was increased (P <0.05). The highest average crude fat was related to the second stage (5.62%) and the lowest average was observed in the first stage (1.82%). The highest average ash was related to the end of growing season (7.27%) and the lowest average was observed in the first stage (5.58%). The highest antioxidant and phenolic compounds was observed in the early stages of growth, this amount decreased in the third stage. The most unsaturated fatty acids of this oil were linolenic acid (26.54%), linoleic acid (10.88%) and oleic acid (12.5%).Also the most saturated fatty acid of this oil was palmitic acid (18.02%). Pistacia leaf oil used in the experiment was contain a 44.85 % saturated fatty acids, 17.83 % unsaturated fatty acid with one double bond, 10.88 % unsaturated fatty acid with two double bonds and 26.54 % unsaturated fatty acids with three double bonds. With increasing incubation time degradability of dry matter and crude protein increased. The rapid part degradation of the dry matter was 28.33% and its effective degradation at the passage rates of 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08 was 48.29, 43.39 and 40.40% respectively. The lowest constant degradation rate (c) was found for crude protein (0.0137). Most effective degradability was observed in 4% pass rate. The effective degradation rate was reduced by increasing the pass rate. Ruminal digestibility of dry matter and crude protein was higher than digestibility of post-ruminal. Overall, the digestibility of dry matter in the total digestive tract was higher than crude protein digestibility. This is due to the high rumen digestibility of dry matter compared with the digestibility of crude protein. Based upon the present research it is concluded that Pistacia atlantica leaf has good degradability. It has high nutritional value and compatible or even is a good alternative to conventional feed ingredients in livestock feed. Also, Pistacia atlantica leaf is rich in phenolic compounds and antioxidant, and it can be used as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants. Due to having about 55.25 percent unsaturated fatty acids, it has a high nutritional value and could be used in livestock diets in order to enrich and enhance oxidative stability of animal products.

Successful animal breeding strategies rely on selecting superior animals to produce progeny which are expected to have better performance compared to contemporaries at different rearing environments (Doeschl-Wilson 2007). Based on this, the main aim of a breeding scheme is to promote genetic potential of livestock for the traits of great economic importance. Milk yield varies over a course of lactation as a result of continuous physiological mechanisms of growth and death of udder cells (Val-Arreola 2004). Mathematical models used for description of the lactation curve can be empirical (shape-oriented) or mechanistic (biology-oriented) (Farhangfar 2015). Using mechanistic (biological) models it would be possible to study genetic aspects of cows' lactation curve from the biology of milk secretion in udder tissue standpoint. Vast majority of the research undertaken on the lactation curve of Iranian dairy cows have been focused on the use of empirical models. This research was carried out with the objective of evaluating genetic characteristics of the lactation curve of Iranian Holstein grade and pure-bred dairy cows using a mechanistic model. The data used in this research were provided by Animal Breeding Centre, Karaj, Iran. The data set consisted of 1,448,292 test day milk records belonging to 161,676 first parity cows (progeny of 3979 bulls) in 921 herds (in 14 provinces over the country) and calved during 1997- 2012. Minimum and maximum number of test day records were 4 and 13, respectively. Based on the percentage of Holstein gene inheritance (H), cows were divided into four groups. Pollott-Gootwine mechanistic model with two parameters of MS (maximum secretion potential of the lactation) and DR (relative decline in cell numbers) was applied to describe the shape of lactation curve. This nonlinear function was fitted to the individual lactation curves and the parameters were estimated for each cow by using nonlinear procedure of SAS software. Heritability of MS and DR traits was estimated using a fitting univariate animal model. In the model, effects of province, contemporary group of herd-year-season, calving age, type of genotype, interval of first test day from calving, fat to protein ratio, length of lactation as well as random effect of cow were included. All relationship among the animals were taken into account through including pedigree. The model was run for each trait using DMU software and restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimate of additive genetic and residual variance components and prediction of breeding value of the animals were obtained. Genetic trend was subsequently calculated through fitting weighted regression of mean breeding value on calving year. Additive genetic and residual variance components for MS were 5.7123 and 13.7759, respectively and the corresponding figures for DR were 0.0000012 and 0.0000051, respectively. Heritabilities of MS and DR were found to be 0.293 (SE=0.008) and 0.194 (SE=0.120), respectively indicating that there is relatively good genetic variation for the traits to be used in selection programmes. Mean predicted breeding value (PBV) of the cows with records were 0.255 (Kg) and -0.000005 for MS and DR, respectively. Regarding MS, cows with 50  H  75 had minimum PBV (0.072 Kg) while cows with 87.5  H 100 had maximum PBV (0.309 Kg) and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Based upon mean PBV for MS, mean PBV for the trait of 305-day milk yield in pure-bred Holstein cows (H=100) was expected to be 82.96 Kg. Pearson correlation between breeding values of the traits was -0.29 (P<0.0001) suggesting that cows of high genetic potential for MS are expected to have low breeding value for DR. Phenotypic and genetic trends for MS were 0.52 (SE=0.017) and 0.063 (SE=0.004, R2=0.95) kg per year, respectively, while the corresponding figures for DR were -0.000025 (SE=0.0000021) and -0.000007 (SE=0.00000054, R2=0.92), respectively and that all the trends were statistically significant (P<0.0001). High heritability of MS and DR suggests that appropriate genetic gain could be obtained as the selection of the cows is based upon these traits. As DR is associated with lactation persistency, it could be therefore concluded that Iranian dairy cows have become phenotypically and genetically persistent over the years of 1997-2012.

In this experiment the chemical composition, nitrogen fractions, degradation characteristics and gas production of raw and pelleted concentrate were determined. Food processing is one of the most important factors affecting feed intake and digestibility of feed which may be used to optimize fermentation and digestion (Dann et al. , 1999). Cereal processing can make optimal use of them, reduce nutrient losses, and also make livestock more balanced, which is very important in animal nutrition management. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pelleting on the chemical composition, nitrogen fractions and degradability characteristics of commercial concentrates by two in vitro methods. Material and This study was carried out at the Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Iran. In order to prepare experimental treatments, concentrate samples were prepared in three stages. Step mash concentrates or Mash that was not inserted into pelleted machine, conditioner stage or phase that concentrates flour inside the machine under the influence of water vapor was 80-70 ° C and the third stage when the concentrates from the crossing conditioner cooled and turned into pellets. The treatments were: 1. mash concentrates before pelleting, 2. mash concentrates that has received heat and the pass conditioner and 3. Heated and pelleted concentrates. Degradability parameters of the samples were measured after incubation for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 hours in the rumen of two fistulated Holstein cows. The DM and CP degradation data were fitted by exponential equation P=a+b (1-e–ct). Effective degradability (ED) were calculated using of equation ED = a + { (cb) / (c + k) } and taking into consideration passing rate (k) 0. 02, 0. 05 and 0. 08 per hour. The gas production was recorded after 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h of incubation. The data at the different times was analyzed using completely randomized design. The results showed the pellet process had no appreciable change on chemical composition (DM, CP, Fat, Ash, NDF, ADF) of concentrate. The non-protein nitrogen (NPN) decreased under the influence of heat processing. Neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) increased under the influence of heat processing (P<0. 05). Acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) also increased under the influence of heat process but no significant difference observed. The lowest NPN was observed in heat-pelleted concentrate. Pellet heating caused a significant reduction in part b of dry matter and crude protein commercial concentrates. The rate of degradability in crude protein was associated with a significant reduction. There was a significant difference between the mean degradability coefficients and the effective degradation of crude protein under the influence of heat process. The highest mean slow part of degradation was observed in control treatment (0. 7360). Significant difference was observed between treatments in terms of fixed rate of degradability (P <0. 05), but there was no significant difference between two and three treatments. Pellet heating reduced part with the potential gas production that confirmed the results of the nylon bags method. According to the obtained data in this study, short chain fatty acid (SCFA), metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible organic matter (DOM) of experimental treatments showed significant differences (P<0. 05).

Conclusions: It was concluded that pellet heating reduces the dry matter and crude protein degradability, especially in both gas production and nylon bag technique. Therefore heat process during pelleting concentrate is a good strategy to reduce ruminal degradability of concentrate and supply bypass protein requirement of dairy cows.

RNA-Sequencing technique is a powerful tool for analysis of cellular transcriptome in many research areas. In recent years, network constructing on data resulted from this technique and gene relationships have been investigated for better understanding the complex physiological mechanisms. In this study, construction of gene regulatory network and surveying gene relationships which involve in skeletal muscle synthesis were discussed by growing muscle tissue’s RNA-Seq data. This research introduced six transcription factors which were involved in formation and growth of skeletal muscle tissue by fitting an integrated network. These transcription factors included KLF4, FOXM1, FOS, MYBL2, KLF10 and FOSB. Their biological roles have been identified in proliferation and differentiation of stem cells, elongation and fusion of muscle cells, myofibril generation and self-renewal of satellite cells. Ontology of these transcription factors and their regulated genes showed that theyare involved in hexose pathway and nucleotides production. Theyare also involved in regulation of basic cell activities such as gene expression and transcription. These genes may be used as molecular markersfor improvement of meat production in breeding programs.

In dairy cattle enterprise, mastitis is a common and economically important disease leading to milk loss, therapeutic cost, changing of milk quality, reproductive problems, animal death, and early culling. A wide range of cow-level and herd-level factors can influence on the number of somatic cell count (SCC) including udder infection, lactation stage, age, breed, short-term of days in milk, season, stress and level of production. This research aimed to estimate the effects of SCC on daily milk yield (DMY) at different lactation stages and months of production of first-parity cows (progeny of internal and external sperms). Variation of DMY in terms of Holstein gene inheritance and first calving age were special objectives.
Material and The data used in this research were provided by the Animal Breeding Centre, Karaj, Iran. Data set comprised a total number of 543,884 test day records collected from 64,634 first-parity dairy cows (progeny of 1,899 sires and 56,995 dams) distributed in 606 herds and calved between 2009-2013 (in ten provinces over the country). The trait under consideration (dependent variable) was DMY which is actually a quantitative variable with continuous distribution and measured based on ratio scale. The records were analysed using a linear fixed model. In the model, the effects of province, herd nested within province, year of calving, stage of lactation, sperm type of the sire, two-way interaction between stage of lactation and sperm type, as well as linear covariable of SCC within the two-way interaction, Holstein gene inheritance, and first calving age were taken into consideration. The model was fitted on the test day records of the cows for individual months of production using general linear model procedure of SAS software (Version 9.4) and the effect of SCC was estimated as the partial regression coefficient in 30 combined groups resulted from two-way interaction between stage of lactation and sperm type.
Most of the partial regression coefficients were statistically significant (P Daily milk yield of Iranian, American and Canadian sperms’ progeny decreases when somatic cell count of their milk increases and that it has no regular pattern at different lactation stages as well as different production months. Holstein gene inheritance and first calving age had positive effect on daily milk yield suggesting that these effects are needed to be taken into account as phenotypic and genetic analyses are carried out. Yearly milk production of daughters of the American sperms are apparently more suffered as compared to the other groups as a result of increasing SCC in DMY.