یوسف مصطفی لو

About 70% of the cost of livestock breeding is related to feed, so the preparation of balanced diet with inexpensive ingredients can play an important role in the profitability of production in breeding. One of the cheapest sources of feed for ruminant animals is the agricultural by-products that are not consumed by humans. Canola Straw is one of the major agricultural by products in Golestan province whose digestibility is low because of containing high amounts of lignocellulosic materials. Processing lignosellulotic feeds with alkaline components can improve their digestibility throw breaking cellulos-lignine bonds. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of canola straw processing with urea on feed digestibility and weight gain performance and some blood parameters of fattening lambs.

For this purpose, 18 5-month-old male lambs of the Dalaqh breed (30-35 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to three nutritional treatments. The control treatment was a fattening diet with a ratio of forage (alfalfa and straw in equal proportions) to concentrate 64:36. In the second treatment, 50% of wheat straw was replaced with untreated canola straw and in the third treatment with urea treated canola straw. After a two-week habituation period with the same ration and initial weighing, experimental rations were fed to the lambs and continued until the end of the 70-day fattening period. During this period, the lambs were weighed every 14 days. At the end of the period, the lambs were weighed and blood sampled. Blood samples were analyzed to determine the serum urea nitrogen, glucose and total protein concentrations. In order to determine the feed intake and digestibility, during two weeks, the remaining feed and feces samples of each animal were collected daily, and the amount of acid insoluble ash was used as an internal marker to calculate the digestibility of experimental feeds.

The average daily feed intake of lambs fed with a diet containing processed canola straw (925.00 gr.day-1) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than lambs fed with diet containing wheat straw or unprocessed canola straw (respectively 887.32 and 850.00 gr.day-1). Also average daily gain of lambs in treated canola straw group was significantly higher than untreated canola straw group (respectively 178.09 vs. 141.53, P<0.05), but feed treatments had no significant effect on feed conversion rate of lambs. Processing with urea significantly (P<0.05) increased the digestibility of dry matter, NDF and ADF (respectively 61.30, 71.11 and 35.30 %) compared to unprocessed canola straw (respectively 55.45, 66.42 and 27.96%) and control (respectively 58.80, 68.82 and 28.76 %). Processing canola straw with urea significantly (P<0.05) increased crud protein digestibility of diet compared to control (60.32 vs. 54.04 %). The levels of serum urea in treated canola straw treatment was significantly higher than untreated canola straw and wheat straw treatments (respectively 17.82, 15.50, 14.82 mg/dl, P<0.05), but the average serum glucose, total protein, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not significantly different among the treatments.

The results of this research showed that canola straw processing with urea can improve its nutritional value and nutrient digestibility, feed intake and weight gain performance of lambs.

High producing ruminants require a significant amount of rumen escape protein. Researches have reported a correlation between increased yield and decreased ruminal degradation of crude protein (CP). Cottonseed is a common feedstuff for ruminants due to its high fiber, energy and protein. But the CP degradability of this ingredient is relatively high in the rumen. Several feed processing methods have been developed to decrease ruminal CP degradation such as heat treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of heat treatment on chemical composition and rumen degradation kinetics of dry matter (DM) and CP of cottonseed and its effect on Dalagh lambs growth performance.

The cottonseed used in this study was processed for 15 minutes at temperatures of 115 and 125 °C. After processing, dry matter (DM), Ash and organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were determined according to standard procedures. Degradability trial of DM and CP was done by nylon bag technique using three rumen fistulated male Dalagh sheep. In vitro digestibility and fermentation parameters were determined with batch culture method. Performance trial was performed for 56 days using 18 six- month old Dalagh sheep with a mean weight of 34.75 2 2.69 kg. The lambs were divided into 3 equal groups and each group received one of the diets contained unprocessed cottonseed and heat processed cottonseed at temperatures of 115 and 125 °C. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Performance traits including weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were measured. At the end of experiment, blood samples were taken from sheep to determine the osmotic fragility of red blood cells, blood parameters and hepatic enzymes. Statistical analysis of data from this experiment was performed using SAS (9.1) software and GLM procedure.

Processing had no effect on chemical composition of cottonseed (p < 0.05). Washout fraction, degradation rate of b fraction and effective degradability of DM and CP decreased by heat processing (p < 0.05). The effect of 125 ° C on reducing degradability was greater than that of 115 ° C. So that effective degradability of CP at rumen out flow rates of 2, 5 and 8 percent/h reduced from 84.88, 79.26 and 75.15 percent in control to 83.26, 75.79 and 70.81 percent and 82.32, 73.34 and 67.63 percent in samples processed with 115 and 125 °C respectively. Heat treatment had no effect on in vitro digestibility of dry matter and organic matter, partitioning factor, microbial mass production and its efficiency (P>0.05). But gas yield was decreased (P <0.05) by 125 ° C heat treatment (40.76 ml) compared to control (47.02). Heat processing had no effect on performance traits of animals (P>0.05). However, the daily weight gain in sheep fed heat treated cottonseed was significantly higher than control. Heat treated cottonseed nutrition had no effect on osmotic fragility of red blood cells, blood metabolites and hepatic enzymes.

The results of this study showed that although processing with temperatures of 115 and 125 ° C for 15 minutes reduced the effective degradability of cottonseed in the rumen, but had no effect on blood parameters and performance of lambs. Further research is needed to determine the optimum temperature and duration of application to improve the nutritional value of cotton seed.

Carbohydrates are generally classified as either non-structural or structural carbohydrates. Structural carbohydrates include cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) are present inside the plant cells and are usually more digestible than carbohydrates found in plant cell walls. Dietary non-fiber carbohydrates are the main source of energy for high-producing dairy cows, which provide 30 to 45 percent of the dry matter intake. They are a very diverse group of non-fiber carbohydrates, which include starch, sugars, fructans, and pectin substances. Although the total amount of non-fiber carbohydrates is referred to as a single value, different types of NFC have different effects on digestibility and production properties. The dietary profile of NFC has the potential to alter the supply of metabolizable nutrients to the animal because NFC differ in digestion and fermentation characteristics. Sucrose is rapidly fermented in the rumen compared with corn starch. In vitro fermentation of sucrose, starch, and pectin resulted in different organic acid profiles, digestion characteristics, and maximal microbial protein yields. In addition, these effects may be affected by other feed components, such as the amount of rumen degradable protein. Some researchers have been showed that the impact of starch and sugars on low quality forage utilization may interact with the amount of supplemental rumen degradable protein. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of various sources of non-fiber carbohydrates (starch, sucrose, pectin, dextrose) in combination with different levels of rumen degradable protein on gas production and digestibility of fermentation parameters in in vitro condition.

Soybean meal treated with heating at 160°C-60 min and untreated soybean meal were selected as low rumen degradable protein (RDP) and high RDP sources, respectively. Four types of non-fiber carbohydrates (dextrose, sucrose, starch and pectin) supplemented with two levels of rumen degradable protein (RDP) in a 2×4 factorial arrangement by gas production and batch culture. A basal diet including: alfalfa (30%), corn silage (10%), barley grain (25%), wheat barn (9%), salt (0.5%), mineral-vitamin supplement (0.5%), soybean meal (15%) and non- fiber carbohydrate source (10%) was prepared. This study was conducted in two experiments. In the first experiment, the gas production parameters for two levels of high and low rumen degradable protein and four types of non-fiber carbohydrates (starch, sucrose, pectin and glucose) using the gas production technique. In the second experiment, the digestibility of the first experimental treatments were measured in an in vitro batch culture method. In the first experiment, the gas pressure was recorded with the pressure gauge at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96 h after incubation. In the second experiment treatments were incubated in batch culture conditions for 24 hours and the degradability parameters were determined using equations.

the obtained results showed that sucrose had highest gas production potential, organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME) and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) than other NFC type in low RDP level. There was a significant difference in digestibility of organic matter and dry matter between treatments (P<0.05). The highest and lowest ammonia nitrogen concentrations were obtained from treatments with starch in combination with high and low RDP, respectively. Treatments had a significant effect on partitioning factor and production of microbial mass (P<0.05). Among the low-degradability protein-based treatments, pectin treatment had the highest amount of microbial production and among the treatments with high degradability protein content, starch treatment had the highest production of microbial mass and partitioning factor. Overall, the results showed that when the RDP level is low, sucrose has a better performance in terms of fermentation parameters, whereas when using the high RDP, there was no significant difference between different types of carbohydrates. It seems that these interactions should be considered in regulating diets.

The results of this experiment showed that different types of non-fiber carbohydrates and levels of rumen degradable protein had a different responses to fermentation parameters. When using low protein levels, it seems that there is a greater difference between different sources of non-fiber carbohydrates, while at high levels of protein degradation there is no significant difference between the different sources of non-fiber carbohydrates in terms of digestibility. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the non-fiber carbohydrate sources, along with the degradable protein supplement, has the ability to change the characteristics of ruminal fermentation, the source of food and the production.

Inroduction &

Artificial insemination in sheep is an effective way to improve genetic and reproductive management. One of the vital stages of artificial insemination is the protection of ram sperm during storage. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of different levels of trehalose sugar and different storage times in Tris-chicken egg yolk and Tris-turkey egg yolk extenders on Dalagh ram semen characteristics in liquid condition.

In this study, for semen sample collection four Dalagh rams in the age of 2- 3 years were used. The samples were diluted in different extenders, then received different trehalose sugar treatments. Semen samples were aspirated into 0.5 ml straws, and were transferred into the refrigerator (5°C). Then at different times, spermatozoa characteristics including percentage of motile and viable sperm and membrane and sperm normality were evaluated. This experiment was carried out in 4×3 factorial arrangement with the use of completely randomized design. Treatments were included different levels of trehalose sugar (0, 80, 100, 120 mM) and different storage times (0, 24 and 48 hours). The data were processed in Excel spread sheet environment and was analyzed by ANOVA procedure of Statistical Analysis System SAS (version 9.1). Comparison of data means were performed by Turkey test at the level of %1 error.

The results showed effects different levels of trehalose sugar and different storage times in Tris- chicken egg yolk and turkey egg yolk extenders on the sperm characteristics were significant (P

For Dalagh ram semen dilution, the use 120 Mm of sugar trehalose in Tris-turkey egg yolk extender at the early hours of storage in liquid condition is effective.

One of the pivotal technology for genetic resorviors preservation is the freezing of semen. As freezing causes a reduction in sperm fertility, adding some components to semen to preserve its ferility would be important. Since beginning the time of artificial insemination technique, different diluents have been used to preservation semen in liquid and frozen condition. Therefore, the goal of this stady was to investigate the effect of adding different levels of raffinose and milk, Tris-chicken egg yolk and Tris-soybean lecithin extenders on ovine semen characteristics after freezing and thawing.

Samples were collected from four mature Dalagh rams and extended by different extenders and then raffinose was added. Semen samples were aspirated into 0.5 ml straws and cooled to 4°C within 150 min and then frozen in liquid nitrogen Frozen straws were transferred to a tank containing liquid nitrogen. After thawing spermatozoa quality parameters including percentage of sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity and sperm normality were evaluated. This study was performed in a 4×3 factorial experiment with a completely randomized arrangement. Treatments were four levels of raffinose (0, 60, 70 and 80 mmol) and also three kinds of extenders (milk, tris-egg yolk and tris-soy lecithin). The obtained data from this study were analyzed by ANOVA procedure of Statistical Analysis System SAS (version 9.1). Comparison of data means were performed by Tukey test at the level of %1 error.

Results showed that adding raffinose had a significant effect on sperm viability and mobility (P<0.01), but did not significantly affect on sperm memberane integrity and normal morphology percentages. Effect of extender on percentages of motility, viability, membrane integrity and normal morphology of sperms was significant (P<0.01). The interaction between raffinose levels and extenders on percentages of motility, membrane integrity and normal morphology of sperms was significant while it was not for viability percentage. The greatest sperm mobility (35.00±2.09%) was in tris-egg yolk extender containing 60 mmol raffinose while that greatest sperm viabilty (74.40±1.88%) was in tris-egg yolk extender containing 80 mmol raffinose but also the most percentages of membrane integrity (66.40±2.60%) was in Tris-chicken egg yolk containing 0 mM raffinose. The greatest sperm normal morphology (74.80±2.82%) was observed in tris-soy lecithin extender containing 60 mmol raffinose.

Findings of the study showed that sperm characteristics including mobility and normal morphology percentages in level 60ml raffinose, membrane integrity percentages in level 0ml raffinose wihle for viability percentage were better preserved in 80ml level. In the other hand, tris-egg yolk extender had more prominant effect on preservation of sperm characteristics.