دکتر فریبرز خواجعلی

This experiment was conducted for 10 weeks (40 to 52 weeks old) to investigate the effect of different sources and levels of zinc on the immune and antioxidant performance of laying hens. For this purpose, 240 high-line laying hens (36-W) were used in a completely randomized design, with 8 treatments and 5 replications (6 birds per replication). The experimental treatments include 1- control (without zinc supplement), treatment 2, 3, and 4, respectively, including the control diet + 80, 120, and 160 mg/kg of zinc sulfate with a purity of 34%, and treatment 5, 6 and 7, respectively The control diet included 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg zinc hydroxy chloride with 55% purity, and treatment 8 included the control diet + 124 mg/kg zinc-methionine complex. The findings showed that, in general, different levels of zinc supplementation in organic and hydroxy form caused significant improvement in feed conversion ratio, shell weight, Haugh unit, and blood glucose reduction compared to other treatments. During the test, organic and hydroxy sources increased antibodies against the influenza vaccine (P<0.05). Also, treatments containing zinc supplements increased superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity (P<0.05). This increase was associated with a decrease in serum malondialdehyde (P<0.05). Different levels and sources of zinc had no significant effect on shape index, yolk color, and glutathione peroxidase level (P<0.05). The results show that adding hydroxy chloride at 100 mg/kg can improve the antioxidant and safety indicators of eggs.

In order to estimate the optimum dietary digestible arginine to lysine ratio for starter period at a high altitude (2100 m), 420 day-old Arian broiler chicks (210 male and 210 female) were used in a completely randomized design with seven treatments of six replicates. From 1 to 7 days of age, all chicks were fed with a standard diet. Dietary treatments with seven digestible arginine to lysine ratios (0.83, 0.93, 1.03, 1.13, 1.24, 1.34 and 1.44) were formulated and fed from 7 to 14 days of age. On day 14, feed intake and body weight gain (BWG) were recorded and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. The optimum ratio of arginine to lysine for BWG and FCR were estimated using quadratic regression (QR), linear broken line (BL), and quadratic broken line (BQ) models. The optimum ratios for BWG using QR, BL, and BQ models were estimated as 1.21, 1.08, and 1.22 (R2: 0.75, 0.70, and 0.69) respectively. Also, the optimum ratios for FCR using QR, BL, and BQ models were estimated as 1.22, 1.13, and 1.19 (R2: 0.77, 0.78, and 0.71) respectively. According to the obtained coefficients of determination (R2), it is concluded that in this study, the RQ model has more accurately estimated the arginine to lysine ratio for both BWG and FCR. Using this model, the obtained optimum ratio for both BWG and FCR in high altitudes is about 1.22 which is considerably more than the recommended ratio by the strain catalogue (1.08).

In this study, the effects of different levels of barley malt extract (BME) in the diet of ostrich chicks (one to 120 days old) on growth performance, some blood and serum parameters and bacterial population of feces were investigated. A total number of 48 day-old ostrich chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments including different levels of barley malt extract (0, 5, 10, and 15 g/kg of basal diet) in a 120-day trial. The results showed that the use of malt extract increased weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio in the final period (P <0.05). Also, the number of heterophils and the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes were decreased in the treatments containing BME. The levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, HDL and VLDL were significantly (P <0.05) increased. The concentration of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased whereas the total antioxidant capacity showed a significant increase (P <0.05). The number of coliforms and Escherichia coli bacterial population was significantly reduced in the treatments containing BME compared to the control treatment (P <0.05). It can be concluded that the use of BME in the diet of ostrich chicks improved immune function, antioxidant capacity and reduced the population of harmful bacteria. In general, the results of this study showed that the use of 10 g of BME per kg of diet shows the best performance in ostrich.

In this experiment, nano DL-methionine was synthesized from commercial DL-methionine and used in broiler diets to evaluate the effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood parameters and small intestine morphology. A total of 200 one-day-old broilers (Arian) were used in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four 4 replicates of 10 birds for a period of 40 days. Experimental treatments included: 1) a control diet consisted of DL-methionine, 2) a diet included 75% of DLM of the control+2.5% nano-methionine, 3) a diet included 50% of DLM of the control+5% nano-methionine, 4- a diet included 25% of DLM of the control+7.5% nano-methionine, and 5- a diet included 10% nano-methionine. The results showed that replacing DLM with NM caused no significant difference between treatments for live responses, carcass characteristics and activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase. There was no significant difference between treatments for serum uric acid, height and width of villi in duodenum and jejunum. However, groups with 7.5% and 10% NM manifested a significant increase (P < 0.05) in breast weight and villus height and width and its absorptive surface area compared to the control. In conclusion, the use of NM could save up to 90% of DLM requirements.

In this study, the effect of Securigera securidaca (Securigera S.) seed powders on growth performance, relative weight of some organs, serum and blood parameters, expression of Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and Fatty acid synthase (FAS) genes in the liver and antihyperlipidemic properties of this seed in feeding broilers were investigated. A total of ??? day-old broilers (Ross???) were used in a completely randomized design with ? treatments, ? repetitions (?? pieces per pen) for ?? days. The experimental diets included a control group (without Securigera S. seed powder) with four levels of ?.?, ?, ?.? and ?? g/kg of Securigera S. seeds. The results showed that the dietary inclusion of Securigera S. improvement in body weight gain and reduced feed conversion ratio (P

In this study, the effects of broccoli and mulberry leaf on growth performance and intestinal villi morphology in broiler chickens were evaluated. A total of 216 one-day old broiler chickens were randomly divided into 6 groups with 3 replicates of 12 birds. Group 1 received basal diet with standard ration of broiler chickens. Group 2 was fed with a diet containing 500 mg/kg of vitamin C. Groups 3 and 4 received diets containing 0.5 % and 1 % of broccoli powder, and groups 5 and 6 received diets containing 0.05 % and 0.1 % of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract respectively. Variables related to growth performance and intestinal villi morphology were evaluated at age 35. Growth performance increased in experimental treatments in comparison to control, but did not show statistically significant difference. The results of intestinal morphology indicated that in the duodenum, all parameters were higher in experimental treatments than control (P<0.05). In the jejunum, villi height was higher in all treatments exception to mulberry leaf 0.05% and absorption surface of the groups vitamin C, broccoli 1% and mulberry leaf 0.1% was more than control (p<0.05). In the ileum, vitamin C in all parameters and mulberry leaf 0.1% had more villus width and lamina propria depth than control (P<0.05). The present study showed that the addition of broccoli powder and mulberry leaf ethanoic extract to broiler chickens diet improved the intestinal villi morphology in terms of height and absorption surface and could increase the food absorption, so relatively improve growth performance.

In this study, the effect of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract on blood, serum and antioxidant parameters of broiler chickens under cold stress was investigated. A total of 108 one-day old broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly divided into 3 groups and each group included of 36 chicks with 3 replicates. Experimental treatments were: control group and two levels of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract, which respectively were fed with basal diet and levels of 0.05% and 0.1% of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract. Malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity of serum, PCV, heterophile to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, right ventricle to total ventricle (RV/TV) ratio, serum biochemical factors and humoral and cellular immune responses were evaluated. The results of this study showed that RV/TV ratio was lower in mulberry leaf ethanoic extract, and this difference was statistically significant in the group 0.1% of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract (P<0.05). The H/L ratio was reduced in the level 0.1% of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract (P<0.05). PCV levels decreased insignificantly in mulberry leaf treatments. Serum nitric oxide increased in 0.1% of mulberry leaf group (P<0.05). Triglyceride level decreased significantly in the group 0.05% and LDL-C level decreased significantly at both levels of 0.05 and 0.1% of mulberry leaf (P<0.05). HDL-C increased significantly at the level 0.05% of mulberry leaf (P<0.05). Serum malondialdehyde decreased significantly in mulberry leaf treatments and total antioxidant capacity of serum increased significantly at the level 0.05% of mulberry leaf (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in uric acid, total protein and serum cholesterol level. Humoral and cellular immunity increased insignificantly. Mortality decreased in mulberry leaf treatments but it was not significant. In conclusion the present study showed that the addition of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract to broiler chickens diet improved the antioxidant parameters and increased nitric oxide, decreased RV/TV ratio, blood lipid levels and mortality, so can be effective in preventing ascetic syndrome.

Modern strains of broiler chickens are susceptible to pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) because of the mismatch between oxygen demanding muscles and oxygen-supplying organs (i.e. heart and lungs). Intensive genetic selection for rapid growth over the past several decades has reduced allometric growth of the heart and lungs in modern broiler chickens compared with their chronological counterparts. The susceptibility of broilers to PHS is exacerbated whenever they are raised at high altitudes where the availability of atmospheric oxygen is limited. Pulmonary arterioles in broilers respond to hypoxia by vasoconstriction and if the situation sustains, broiler develop pulmonary hypertension with subsequent right ventricular failure that finally leads to ascites. Research has addressed the impact of nutritional factors including energy, protein, electrolytes and feed restriction on the development of PHS. However, the effects of herbal medicine in the prevention and control of PHS in broiler chickens have not been adequately studied. Urtica dioica is a medicinal herb that belongs to the family of Urticacea and it grows in most parts of the world. Urtica dioica is used because of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds for the treatment of cardiovascular, respiratory, cancerous and allergic diseases. One of the important effects of this plant is the reduction of blood pressure. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of different levels of this medicinal plant in preventing pulmonary PHS in broiler chickens.

The experiment was conducted in the experimental facility of Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran, which had an altitude of 2100 m above sea level. A total of 240 day-old broilers (Ross308) were randomized across16 floor pens (15 birds per pen). A control diet based on corn and soybean meal were formulated for the starting (1–3 weeks of age) and growing (4–6 weeks of age) stages according to NRC (1994) recommendations. Three additional diets were prepared by substituting 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% Urtica dioica for wheat bran in the control diet. At 42 days of age, 8 birds per treatment were selected for blood collection and then killed by decapitation. Blood samples (3mL) were collected from the brachial vein. Serum samples were used for the determination of nitricoxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), urea, albumin, alkalin phosphatas (ALP), alanine amino transaminase(ALT) and aspartat amino transaminase(AST). To measure the expression of the gene, the heart and lung samples were harvested and the right ventricles dissected and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -70°C for subsequent RNA analysis. The levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), Endothelin 1 (ET-1) and β-actin transcripts were determined by real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. Results were compared by GLM using SAS (2007) software in a completely randomized design. Means were separated by Duncan's multiple range test.

The results of the experiment showed that broiler chickens fed a diet containing 0.5 to 1.5% Urtica dioica leaves, the efficiency of heart and liver weight relative to the live weight of the chickens and right ventricular ratio to total ventricles showed a significant decrease compared to control group (P<0.05). Birds received Urtica dioica at 1 and 1.5% had significantly (P<0.05) higher circulatory concentrations of nitric oxide, protein and albumin though significantly (P<0.05) lower serum concentrations of malondialdehyde, alkaline phosphatase, alanine amino transaminase and aspartate amino transaminase when compared to the birds fed the control diet. The expression of endothelin 1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes in the heart and lung of broiler chickens has been affected by feeding Urtica dioica to broiler chickens. NOS gene has been highly over expressed in the heart and lung of broilers fed Urtica dioica from 1 to 1.5 % increase relative to the control. On the other hand, Urtica dioica significantly suppressed the expression of ET-1 in the heart and lung (P<0.05). The Urtica dioica contains polyphenolic compounds, including phthalides and flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties. This compound can prevent oxidative stress by scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activation of antioxidant enzymes, metal chelating activity. It also causes more nitric oxide secretion from vascular endothelial cells and opening of potassium channels. The Urtica dioica extract prevents the destruction and necrosis of the liver cells and maintains the consistency of the liver tissue and has a stabilizing effect on hepatocytes.

In conclusion, levels of 1 to 1.5% Urtica dioica in the diet can significantly prevent PHS in broiler chickens reared at high altitudes. Beneficial effects of this medicinal plant are attributed to vasorelaxant and antioxidant actions that mediated through polyphenolic compounds Therefore, Urtica dioica is a promising medicinal herb to prevent pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens reared at high altitude.

A total of 192 one-day old Ross-308 broiler chickens were divided to 4 treatment groups of 48 chicks. Treatment groups were Control (Basal diet), vit-c (Basal diet+500mg/kg vit-c), Nano-Selenium (Basal diet+0.3mg/kg Nano-Se), and organic Selenium (Basal diet+0.3mg/kg Organic-Se). Chicks were raised until 35th day and growth performance was evaluated during the growing period. At day 35, 12 birds were selected in each group, bled and sacrificed to assess the relative weight of carcass, liver and spleen and to calculate the duodenal morphology and serum lipogenesis factors.Results showed that FCR of Nano-Selenium group was numerically better among groups but without significant differences (P>0.05) and relative carcass weight were also numerically higher in both vit-c and Nano-Selenium groups than that of others. The highest percent of liver weight were recorded in control group and had significant difference with vit-c group which could decrease relative liver weight (P<0.05). Moreover, spleen weight was increased in both Nano and organic Se groups. About morphological parameters of intestine, liberkuhn gland depth and villi height and surface of duodenum were enhanced in Nano-Selenium more than others and had significant differences with control group in all of the parameters (P<0.05). The differences of serum lipogenesis factors’ were not statistically significant but organic selenium had lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than others. Meanwhile, PCV was decreased in Nano-Selenium groups. It could be concluded that Nano-Selenium is a better choice for improving performance parameters in broiler chickens than organic selenium and vit-c due to better impact on intestinal villi surface area and liberkun glands

In the current research, the effect of different levels of dietary Urtica dioica leaf powder was investigated on growth performance, small intestine morphology and ascites indicators in broiler chickens reared in Shahrekord. A total of 240 one-day old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 4 replicates of 15 birds in each pen in an experimental period for 42 days. The experimental treatments included control group (without Urtica dioica leaf powder) and three levels of Urtica dioica leaf powder (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5%). The results of this experiment showed that the dietary inclusion of Urtica dioica leaf powder improvement in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (P

The influence of three dietary doses of finely ground powder of mountain celery (Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf) (0.25, 0.5, and 0,75%) were evaluated on growth, serological variables and ascites prevalence in broiler chickens. A group run without mountain celery and served as a control. Each experimental diet was fed to four groups of day-old broiler chicks (15 chicks per group) on litter flooring. The experiment lasted for 42 days. The results indicated a significant impact of mountain celery on growth (P

Probiotics are bacteria with beneficial effects to humans and animals. Gram-positive Lactococcus lactis can be genetically engineered to efficiently produce a large variety of proteins. Glucanase enzymes, are capable to hydrolyze β-glucans (a non-starch polysaccharide). β(1,3)-(1,4) glucan (Lechinan) is a characteristic hemicellulose in primary cell walls of grasses such as barley, rye, sorghum, rice and wheat. The purpose of this study is to express the lechinase enzyme in Lactococcus lactis to achieve a feed supplement for hydrolyzation of barley β-glucan to replace corn by barley in poultry diets. licBM2 gene encoding lechinas enzyme with a secretion signal peptide was cloned in pNZ8149 plasmid. Then recombinant plasmids were transferred to Lactococcus lactis using electroporation method and the transformed colonies were selected via their ability to grow on lactose containing medium. The expression of transgene was induced using of Nisin in the medium. Our results showed that by increasing of the induction time, the expression of lechinase gene and consequently the production of enzyme in the medium were increased.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of wheat and wheat bran diets with and without enzymes on growth performance and digestive characteristics of broilers. A total number of 625 one day old Ross-308 broiler chickens were allocated randomly to 5 treatments with 5 replicates, using a CRD statistical design. Treatments were control, wheat, wheat enzyme and wheat bran and wheat bran enzyme. Traits were growth performance, carcass characteristics, ileal microbial counting and measurement of gut acidity and viscosity. According to the results, effect of different treatments on all experimental traits at starter and finisher periods were significant (P

Considering the role of arginine in the prevention of ascites and the possibility of replacing this amino acid with Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA), in present study, the effects of different levels of GAA (0.5 and 1 g/kg diet) supplementation in low-protein diets on growth performance and ascites incidence in broiler chickens were investigated. Therefore, a total of 208 male broilers (Ross 308) were used in completely randomize design with four treatment with four replicate in each treatment. The chicks were reared on the floor up to 42 day. Treatments consisted of a normal-protein diet (NPD) according to the National Research Council (1994) and a reduced-protein diet (RPD) with reduced 30 g/kg of crude protein relative to the NPD. Two reduced-protein diets with similar RPD that supplementing with 0.5 and 1 g/kg GAA were also prepared. Results show that levels of protein and GAA supplementation had no significant effect on growth performance and breast and thigh percentage. The relative weight of liver, heart, and right ventricular weight ratio (RV: TV) significantly (P

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dietary enzyme supplemented non-starch polysaccharides on growth and physiological traits of broilers. 625 one day old Ross-308 broiler chickens were allocated randomly to 5 treatments with 5 replicates using a CRD statistical design through 1 to 21 and 22 to 42 days of rearing period. Treatments were included control, wheat, wheat enzyme, barley and barley enzyme. According to the results, effect of various diets with different source of NSP on growth traits was significant and wheat or barley diets supplemented with enzymes had higher means than those without enzymes (p

Today, due to residual antibiotics in meat production and increased bacterial resistance, there are restrictions on its use. That's why probiotics are bacterial or fungal origin Phytogenic compounds as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters used. This study evaluates the effect of adding synbiotic Biomin IMBO and phytogenic Biomin P.E.P composition on serum lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide impact on growth performance of Japanese quails were performed. Bomin IMBO including Enterococcus fasium (a probiotic), fructo- Oligosaccharides (a prebiotics) and particles stimulate the immune system. Biomin P.E.P includes phytogenic compounds (carvacrol, anethole, limonene), which is part of prebiotic compounds fructooligisaccharides. In this experiment, 180 Japanese quail chicks were divided into 3 groups of 4 replicates. Groups 2 and 3, respectively 1gr/kg Biomin IMBO and 1gr/kg Biomin P.E.P dietary received. The mean weight, feed intake and feed conversion was done on a weekly basis.. Blood samples to measure plasma levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation were measured on day 35 and the end of the growing period. Measurement of serum lipid peroxidation using T-BARS and measurement of serum levels of nitric oxide were measured using the Griess method. The results show the effectiveness of the improved feed conversion Biomin IMBO and Biomin IMBO and Biomin P.E.P impact on reducing oxidative stress.

Introduction Corn has been recently used for producing ethanol fuel in the major corn-producing countries such as the US and Brazil. Recent diversion of corn for biofuel production along with the increased world's demand for this feedstuff has resulted in unprecedented rise in feed cost for poultry worldwide. Alternative grains such as wheat and barley can be successfully replaced for corn in poultry diets. These cereal grains can locally grow in many parts of the world as they have remarkably lower water requirement than corn. Wheat and barley are generally used as major sources of energy in poultry diets. Though the major components of these grains are starch and proteins, they have considerable content of non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), derived from the cell walls (Olukosi et al. 2007; Mirzaie et al. 2012). NSPs are generally considered as anti-nutritional factors (Jamroz et al. 2002). The content and structure of NSP polymers vary between different grains, which consequently affect their nutritive value (Olukosi et al. 2007).Wheat and barley are generally used as major sources of energy in poultry diets. The major components of these grains are starch and proteins, they have considerable content of non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), derived from the cell walls. NSPs are generally considered as anti-nutritional factors. The content and structure of NSP polymers vary between different grains, which consequently affect their nutritive value. The major part of NSPs in barley comprises polymers of (1→3) (1→4)-β- glucans which could impede growth factors and consequently carcass quality through lowering the rate and amount of available nutrients in the mucosal surface of the intestinal.
Materials and Methods This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn and barley based diets supplemented with multi-enzyme on growth, carcass, pancreas enzyme activity and physiological characteristics of broilers. A total number of 375 one day old Ross-308 broiler chickens were allocated randomly to 3 treatments with 5 replicates using a CRD statistical design. Treatments were included control, barley and barley enzyme. The experimental diets were formulated to have similar contents of crude protein, metabolizable energy, total non-starch polysaccharides (NSP).
Results and Discussion According to the results, effect of barley with or without enzyme on growth performance at starter, grower and the entire period and also on carcass characteristics, pancreas enzyme activity and measures of ileal acidity and viscosity at the age of 42 were significant (P

The present study was conducted with 4 dietary treatments including: 1) diet containing 5% soybean oil, 2) diet containing 5% soybean oil with vitamin E, 3) diet containing 5% flax oil and 4) diet containing 5% flax oil with vitamin E were used. Flax oil and Soybean oil were used as n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) sources, respectively. A total of 192 day-old broilers (Ross 308) were randomized across 16 floor pens (12 birds per litter pen). The dietary treatments were applied from 1 to 42 d of age in which growth performance was measured. At the end of trial, blood sampling was done and carcass characteristics and gut morphology were recorded. There were no significant difference between treatments in terms of growth performance, total feed intake, weight gain, FCR and carcass characteristics. Birds fed flax oil had lower serum triacylglyceride, cholesterol and they had significantly lower liver and abdominal fat pad weights (P

Two hundred and forty male day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments including: a corn-soybean meal basal diet (control); basal diet + 0.25% garlic powder; basal diet + 0.25% fresh ground garlic; basal diet + 0.5% garlic powder; basal diet + 0.5% fresh ground garlic. Feed intake (FI), body weight gains (BWG), and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were recorded periodically. On day 42, two chickens form each replicate were randomly selected, and after blood sample collection via brachial vein, euthanized and visceral organs, abdominal fat pad, heart, right ventricle, and total ventricles were weighed. Blood samples were used for measurement of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Inclusion of garlic powder or fresh ground garlic into diet at the levels used in this experiment had no significant effect on FI, BWG, FCR, and carcass yield (p>0.05). However, Inclusion of 0.5% garlic powder into diet caused a significant increase in relative weight of bursa of Fabricius (p<0.05). Both levels of dietary fresh ground garlic (0.25% and 0.5%) caused a significant increase in serum MDA concentrations compared to control group (p<0.05). Dietary garlic powder at 0.25% inclusion rate caused a significant increase in serum NO concentration compared to control group (p<0.05). Overall, it is concluded that dietary garlic powder at the level of 0.25% would be advisable due to its desirable effects on NO concentrations.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of non-starch polysaccharides of barley supplemented with multi-enzyme on growth performance and physiological characteristics of broilers. A total number of 375 one day old Ross-308 broiler chickens were allocated randomly to 3 treatments with 5 replicates at 2 rearing period (including 1 to 21 and 22 to 42 days of age) using a CRD statistical design. Treatments including control، barley and barley+ enzyme. Traits were included growth performance، gut microbial numeration and jejunal villus morphometric characteristics. According to the results، maximum and minimum feed intake at the whole rearing period was observed in barley+ enzyme and control group. Unlikely about average daily gain، the maximum value was belonged to control and minimum was belonged to barley treatments. The barley and control group had maximum and minimum feed conversion ratio respectively. Barley treatment had the highest number of gram negative، coliform and clostridium bacteria، but in conversely had the minimum number of lactic acid and bifido-bacteria among treatments. Also measures of villus including height and width and crypt depth significantly affected by feeding of barley diet. So the minimum villus height and width، conversely maximum crypt depth belonged to barley diet. Supplementation of barley diet eliminated these problems. In conclusion، inclusion of barley to experimental diet due to high level of the non-starch polysaccharides had negative effect on growth performance، gut microbial population and intestinal villus morphology، but enzyme supplementation of barley diet with multi-glycanase and phytas eliminated such negative effects.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effects of Kelussia odoratisma on the wave amplitudes of ECG in Lead II, right ventricular hypertrophy, and the occurrence of broiler pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS). A six-week trial was conducted with 208 five-day-old broiler chickens (Ross 308) in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments included four levels of 0 (control), 2.5, 5, and 7.5 g/kg of Kelussia odoratisma. Variables tested were wave amplitudes of ECG in Lead II, right ventricular hypertrophy and mortality from PHS. Dietary inclusion of Kelussia odoratisma significantly (P<0.05) increased T wave amplitudes though decreased S wave amplitudes in Lead II of ECG. Feeding Kelussia odoratisma at 5 and 7.5 g/kg improved cardiopulmonary function as reflected in significant (P<0.05) declines in right ventricular hypertrophy index and mortality from PHS. The use of Kelussia odoratisma at 5 and 7.5 g/kg is beneficial in prevention of PHS in broiler chickens reared at high altitude.