Farm Animal Nutrition

Background and Aim: Pelung chickens make unique, pleasant, and rhythmic sounds in addition to having strong muscle mass. Performance is controlled by testosterone. A natural aromatase blocker is an agent capable of blocking the aromatase enzyme, which consequently prevents testosterone from being changed into estradiol. Such a condition results in consistently high testosterone levels. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the administration of the shell powder of Anadara granosa on the testosterone level, frequency and quality of sounds, and metabolism of Pelung chickens within set parameters of thyroid hormone levels, the triiodothyronine (T3)/thyroxine (T4) ratio, and weight gain. Materials and Methods: This study used four Pelung chickens aged 14 months. Control data consisted of data before treatment (day 0). Shell powder of A. granosa was administered for 56 days. Body weight (BW) was measured, and blood samples were drawn. In addition, the sounds from Pelung ch...

Aim: This research aimed to know the effect of the use of complete feed on Bali cattle fattening performance seen from the carcass characteristics.

Materials and Methods: The cattle employed in this research were 12 male Bali cattle aged between 2 and 2.5 years old based on the teeth estimation. The average initial body weight of the cattle during the research was 181.50±16.51 kg. The complete feed contained Gliricidia sepium, natural grass, ground corn, bran pollard, and rice bran which have been compiled into three types of ration of T1, T2, and T3. The T1 ration contained standard crude protein (CP) and high energy (11% CP; 72% total digestible nutrient [TDN]), and T2 contained medium protein and high energy (13% CP; 72% TDN), while T3 ration contained high protein and high energy (%15 CP; 72% TDN).

Results: The meat percentage of T2 and T3 was relatively the same, but higher than T1 (p<0.05). The bone percentage and meat: A bone ratio of T2 was higher than T1; in contrast, and T3 was relatively the same with T2 and T1 (p<0.05). The weight of slaughter, carcass percentage, and weight of meat, bone, and fat were relatively the same among the treatments.

Conclusion: The application of complete feed with protein source from G. sepium with CP and TDN of 13 and 72%, respectively, can improve carcass percentage and meat: A bone ratio of male Bali cattle fattening. The treatments have not had a positive effect on slaughter weight (kg), hot and cool carcass weight (kg), meat and fat weight (kg), fat percentage, and non-carcass (kg).

Determinación del valor nutricional y evaluación sensorial del ensilado de Sorghum vulgare y Tithonia diversifolia Determinación del valor nutricional y evaluación sensorial del ensilado de Sorghum vulgare y Tithonia diversifolia-(Determination of nutritional value and sensory evaluation of silage using Sorghum vulgare and Tithonia diversifolia) Resumen Se evaluaron tres mezclas de ensilado utilizando Sorghum vulgare (SV) y Tithonia diversifolia (TD) en proporciones respectivas de 75/25, 50/50 y 25/75. Así también se evaluaron las opiniones de un grupo de 29 expertos respecto a la calidad de las tres mezclas, determinando si la opinión estaba asociada a la proporción de las plantas en el ensilado. El experimento completamente al azar consistió en tres tratamientos con siete repeticiones cada una. Por medio de ANOVA (p< 0.05) se buscaron diferencias entre los tratamientos sobre sus valores del análisis químico proximal. Los contenidos de nutrientes fueron diferentes en los tres tratamientos. Los resultados en términos de materia seca (MS), proteína cruda (PC), extracto etéreo (EE), cenizas (Cen), fibra cruda (FC), extracto libre de nitrógeno (ELN) y total de nutrientes digestibles (TND) señalaron que el tratamiento con la proporción 75/25 posee los niveles de nutrientes aptos para alimentación animal en comparación con las otras dos mezclas. La opinión de los expertos acerca de la calidad de las proporciones (Excelente, bueno regular y malo), estuvo asociada a los tratamientos, señalando que cuando hay más cantidad de SV, mejor es la calidad del ensilado. Se deben continuar los esfuerzos para investigar la utilidad del ensilado de SV y TD debido a sus cualidades nutricionales, siendo una alternativa alimentaria para animales no rumiantes. Palabras claves: botón de oro, árnica, sorgo forrajero, análisis proximal, bromatología.

The shortage of feeds in general and protein in particular attract attention of many researchers to
manipulate the unconventional sources of feeds. Crop residues are often referred to as
‘lignocellulosics’ as they are rich in cellulose which is bound with a biopolymer lignin which results in
low digestibility, low protein content, high crude fiber and low palatability. Biological treatment of such
crop residues using white rot fungi (WRF) can break the ligno-cellulose complexes, liberating free
cellulose and thus enhancing their feeding value for ruminants. Biologically treated roughages have
higher digestibility for most of the nutrients with an increase in crude protein content as compared to
untreated material, besides ensuring more fermentable substrates in the rumen. Treatment of low
quality animal feeds with white rot fungi species increases the protein and ash contents with a
reduction of its fibrous components (NDF, ADF, ADL, cellulose and hemicelluloses). Treatment of feeds
also increases feed intake, digestibility and ultimately animal performance in terms of growth and
production either meat or milk. Nevertheless, its utilization may be hindered due to difficulties and lack
of technology to produce large quantities of fungi or their enzymes. Loss of weight of the substrate is
also a disadvantage of the technology. Dry matter (DM) losses of substrate can be as high as 40% in
prolonged incubation with the fungus.
Key words: White Rot Fungi, Biological Treatment and Animal Feeds, ‘lignocellulosics’.

Tannins bind nutrients like proteins and reduces their bioabsorption. In this article role of several beneficial microbes and enzymes that can be employed to degrade the tannins in the feeding stuff is discussed in detail to make them more useful in animal feeds.

This study was conducted in the farm of Ruminants Researchs Station / Office of Agricultural Research / Ministry of Agriculture. The experiment was continued for 65 days in addition to the adaptation period for 14 days, to study the effect of treated barley straw with fungi (Trichoderma harzianum), Iraqi Probiotic and baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on some characteristics performance (intake, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio and in vivo digestibility) and some rumen fermentation (PH and NH3N). Eighteen Awassi lambs were used an average initial weight 38 ± 0.50 kg and the average age 8-9 months. Lambs were randomly divided into six equal groups (3 per each group). All lambs were fed individually concentrate diet at a level of 2.5% of their body weight, while, the roughages were offered on ad libitium:
Each group fed on roughages (barley straw), as follows:
1. The first treatment was a control, lambs were fed untreated barley straw.
2. The second treatment lambs were fed barley straw treated with
Trichoderma harzianum at rate of 0.1%.
3. ThethirdtreatmentlambswerefedbarleystrawtreatedwithIraqiProbiotic
at rate of 0.25%.
4. Thefourthtreatmentlambswerefedbarleystrawtreatedwithbaker’syeast
(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at rate of 0.5%.
5. The fifth treatment lambs were fed barley straw treated with Trichoderma
harzianum at rate of 0.1% + 0.5 of baker’s yeast.
6. ThesixthtreatmentlambswerefedbarleystrawtreatedwithIraqiProbiotic
at rate of 0.25% + 0.5 of baker’s yeast.
The animals weighted every two weeks before the morning feeding.
The digestibility experiment performed in the seventh week. The rumen liquor collected at fifth week of the experiment at three periods (before feeding, three and six hours after feeding). The results showed that different effects among treatments as follow:
1. Feed Intake: treatments had no effected on feed intake.
2. Intake of nutrient: crude protein intake was increase significant (P <0.05)
in fungi treatment compared with control (1.42 and 1.29, kg/head respectively), and decrease significant (P <0.05) with probiotic treatment (1.06, kg/head). Ether extract intake was decrease significant (P <0.05) in probiotic + baker’s yeast treatment compared with control (0.33 and 0.43, kg/head respectively). Cellulose intake was decrease significant (P <0.05) in fungi + baker’s yeast treatment, treatments showed decrease significant (P <0.05) in hemicelluloses intake except baker’s yeast treatment not effected. Fungi and fungi + baker’s yeast treatments showed decrease
significant (P <0.05) in ADL intake
3. Weight gains and feed conversion ratio: treatments had not effected in final
weight and weight gains. Feed conversion ratio was increase significant (P <0.05) with treatments except treatment of fungi + baker’s yeast compared with control. Feed conversion ratio were better with fungi and baker’s yeast treatments (13.64 and 13.57, respectively).
4. Invivodigestiblecoefficient:treatmentshadnoeffectedonthedigestibility of DM, CP, EE, Cellulose, Hemicelluloses, NDF, ADF and ADL. Digestibility of OM was decrease significant (P <0.05) in fungi treatment compared with control (65.11 and 50.49, % respectively), and digestibility of CF was decrease significant (P <0.05) in probiotic, fungi + baker’s yeast, and probiotic + baker’s yeast treatments compared with control (68.22, 66.26, 41.69 and 51.28, % respectively),
5. Some rumen fermentation: treatments had no effected on ruminal pH and ammonia – N concentration in all periods.
We conclude that the treatment with fungi (Trichoderma harzianum), Iraqi probiotic and baker’s yeast were improved feed conversion ratio, and fungi treatment decrease ADL intake while not improved feed intake, intake of different nutrients, weight gains, digestibility and rumen fermentation (pH and NH3-N concentration).

La epigenética estudia los procesos de expresión géni- ca que no requieren de la modificación de la secuencia de  AdN, es decir, se ocupa de las diferentes trayectorias que un genotipo puede tomar a lo largo del desarrollo del organismo. Estos mecanismos están implicados en procesos biológicos básicos como la diferenciación celular o la selección sexual, en el desarrollo de enfermedades complejas como el síndrome de Rett y en trastornos psiquiátricos como la esquizofrenia y la depresión, entre otros. Los estudios epigenéticos están proporcionando evidencias de que los eventos ambientales y los factores psicosociales pueden modificar el epigenoma.

Aim: The study investigated the effect of feeding fermented mixture of cassava pulp and Moringa oleifera leaf meal (FCPMO) on the immune responses, antioxidative status, biochemical parameters, and intestinal ecology of broiler chickens.

Materials and Methods: Four hundred Lohmann broiler chickens were distributed to four groups of diets including CONT (corn-soybean-based feed with no additive), BACI (corn-soybean-based diet supplemented with 0.1% zinc bacitracin), FERM (diet containing 20% FCPMO), and FERB (diet containing 20% FCPMO and added with 0.1% Bacillus subtilis). At days 4, 14, and 19, the chicks were vaccinated using commercial Newcastle disease-infectious bursal disease (ND-IBD), IBD, and ND vaccines, respectively. At day 35, blood was sampled and digesta was obtained from the ileum and caecum. Furthermore, the duodenal segment was obtained.

Results: The BACI, FERM, and FERB groups had higher (p<0.05) serum superoxide dismutase activity than control. The malondialdehyde was lower (p=0.07) in BACI, FERM, and FERB than that in CONT. The BACI and FERM had lower (p<0.05) leukocytes and lymphocytes than CONT. The hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and hematocrit were lower (p<0.05) in BACI and FERM than those in CONT and FERB. Serum total triglyceride was lower (p<0.05) in FERM and FERB than that in CONT. The FERM and FERB had higher (p<0.05) albumin levels. Serum globulin level was lower (p<0.05) in FERB than that in BACI, but did not differ from that in CONT and FERM. The numbers of coliform, lactose-negative enterobacteria and enterobacteria were lower (p<0.05) in FERB than that in other treatment groups. Crypt depth (CD) was higher (p<0.05) in FERM, while the villi height to CD ratio was lower (p<0.05) in FERM than that in CONT and FERB. The treatments showed no effect (p>0.05) on cecal volatile fatty acids production.

Conclusion: Feeding FCPMO improved immune responses, antioxidative status, and physiological conditions, but had less effect on the intestinal ecology of broilers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and feeding value of peanut hay (Arachis hypogaea L.) produced under tropical environment as an alternate forage resource for sheep. Peanut hay was appreciably high in crude protein [CP; 105 g/kg dry matter (DM)] and lower in neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 466 g/kg DM). Moreover, peanut hay was rich in Ca (12 g/kg DM) and P (1.7 g/kg DM). A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of substituting wheat straw with peanut hay on nutrient intake, digestibility, and N utilization. Four adult Ramghani (Kaghani × Rambouillet) wethers (60 ± 2.5 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to the four dietary treatments according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The four rations were formulated on isonitrogenous and isocaloric bases and differed in the proportion (in grams per kilogram DM) of wheat straw/peanut hay, i.e., 700:0, 460:240, 240:460, and 0:700. The replacement of wheat straw with peanut hay increased the intakes of DM (P < 0.001), NDF (P < 0.01), and N (P < 0.001). Moreover, apparent in vivo digestibility of DM, NDF, and CP increased (P < 0.001) with the increasing proportion of peanut hay in the ration. Nitrogen retention in the body increased (P < 0.01; 3.2 to 8.1 g/day) with the replacement of wheat straw with peanut hay. These findings showed that substitution of wheat straw with peanut hay can improve DM and nutrients intake, digestibility, and N retention in sheep.

Animal agricultural production systems are a major source of nitrogen (N) which may contribute to potential environmental pollution and one way to reduce losses of N to the environment is through feeding protein closer to requirements
without overfeeding. This experiment was conducted toe valuate the effect of two rumen degraded protein (RDP) sources (non-protein N in the form of urea and amino acid-N in the form of casein) on microbial N (MN) flow, digestibility and production in lactating dairy cows. Eight ruminally and duodenally cannulated Holstein cows were fed one of four dietary treatments in a repeated 4x4 Latin square. The first diet
(BASE) served as the negative control and contained 12.2% crude protein (CP). The remaining diets contained either urea (UREA), casein (CAS), or a combination of both (U+C) on an equal N basis and contained 15.0% CP. Cows were infused with
Co-EDTA, Cr-mordanted NDF and 15N which were used as markers for liquid, solid and bacteria flow, respectively. Intake, duodenal MN flow, milk production, and digestibility were lower when cows were fed the BASE diet and there were differences in MN flow between the UREA, CAS or U+C diets. Ruminal starch digestibility was highest when cows were fed the U+C diet and NDF digestibility was higher when cows were fed the CAS and U+C diets. Therefore a source of RDP with amino acids was required to maximize both fiber and starch digestibility. In the same study flow rates of various particle sizes from reticulum and duodenal samples were compared as well as the bacterial attachment to these particles as they flow through the digestive tract. Digesta collected from both the reticulum and the duodenum were poured over a set of sieves to allow for particle size separation. Flow rates of DM, NDF and N differed depending on particle size and the composition
of the various sieve fractions differed but was still similar between reticulum and duodenal samples. Bacterial attachment differed depending on particle size and
location in the digestive tract. These results indicate the importance of particle size passage from the rumen and the usefulness of flow markers to adjust for unrepresentative sampling from both the rumen and the duodenum. A better understanding of the responses of MN flow due to RDP source can lead to improved diet formulation models which can be used to balance dairy cattle rations for optimum production yet minimize losses of N from the cow and therefore to the environment.

Aim: An in vivo experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementation of cinnamon oil (CO) and sodium butyrate on carcass characteristics and meat quality of broiler chicken compared with the antibiotic supplementation.

Materials and Methods: A biological experiment was carried out with 216-day-old Vencobb-400 broiler chicks randomly distributed to six experimental treatments with six replicates, each replicate containing six chicks with equal numbers of male and female chicks. The experimental diets were prepared with isocaloric and isonitrogenous basis. The experimental groups, namely control (T1), control with antibiotic (T2), control with CO at 250 mg/kg and coated sodium butyrate (CSB) either at 0.09 (T3) or 0.18% (T4), and control with CO at 500 mg/kg and CSB either at 0.09 (T5) or 0.18% (T6). The trial was carried out in deep litter pen for 35 days. The carcass characteristics such as ready to cooked yield, eviscerated weight, heart, liver, gizzard, giblet, and abdominal fat percent in slaughtered birds and meat quality properties such as pH, water-holding capacity (WHC), tyrosine, shear force, cooking loss, thiobarbituric acid, sensory characteristics, and muscle cholesterol in breast muscle samples were evaluated.

Results: The carcass characteristics such as ready-to-cook yield, eviscerated weight, and weight of heart, liver, gizzard, giblet, and abdominal fat as a percent of live body weight were not influenced by supplementation of CO and CSB at the levels attempted or by antibiotic supplementation in broilers. The pH, cooking loss, shear force and WHC of meat, appearance, flavor, texture, mouth coating, juiciness and overall acceptability of meat were not influenced by the supplementation of different levels of CO and CSB or by antibiotic supplementation but decreased meat cholesterol level in broilers.

Conclusion: The results indicated that the supplementation of CO and CSB in broiler diet did not alter the carcass characteristics and meat quality parameters except meat cholesterol content in broilers.

Global warming and livestock farming are intertwined, and both call for radical policy changes that recognize animal rights. India has the world’s largest cattle head count, and is exceptionally vulnerable to climate change. It is uniquely placed in having cow protection legislations though their focus is limited to the end of the cattle lifecycle by criminalizing slaughter and beef. However breeding programs, the start of industrial cattle lifecycle, also need to be abolished for animal rights and environmental protection. Using the exploitation of bulls in bovine frozen semen farms, this article critiques the practice in terms of cruelty; speciesism; and climatic change. It argues that with an expanded moral baseline on cattle protection that is explicitly embedded in animal rights, India is well placed to respond with radical action by abolishing animal husbandry as an outdated food production system that is inconsistent with planetary and ethical realities.

Yeast cultures are being exploited as a substitute of antibiotics in animal feeding to promote gut health and performance. This experiment assessed the effect of supplementation of the live yeast cultures on live weight change, rumen fermentation, ciliate protozoa population, microbial hydrolytic enzymes status and slaughtering performance of growing lamb during post weaning phase of growth. Sixty weaner lambs were fed ad libitum a composite feed mixture (CFM) for 91 days in five equal groups. The CFM had roughage to concentrate (R:C) ratio of 25:75. In addition to CFM control lambs were supplemented sterilized culture while other lamb groups received either Kluyveromyces marximanus (NRRL3234; KM), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NCDC42; SC), Saccharomyces uvarum (ATCC9080; SU) or mixed (all tree cultures in 1:1:1 ratio) culture. The yeast cultures contained 1.5–2.0 × 10 9 cells per ml, which were fed at 1 ml per kg live weight to each lamb of treatment groups. Dry matter intake was similar among control and yeast culture supplemented lambs ranging from 68.4 to 81.2 g/kg W 0.75. However, daily gain was higher (p = 0.002) in SC and mixed yeast culture supplemented lambs. Half carcass weight ranged from 14.2 to 15.1 kg and dressing 52.2 to 53.5% were similar among five lamb groups. Similarly, other carcass traits did not change by yeast supplementation. The SU and mixed culture supplementation declined rumen fluid pH and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration. Individual yeast cultures increased but mixed yeast culture reduced total ciliates protozoa. Individual cultures increased Entodinomorphs while mixed culture reduced its number in rumen ecosystem. The SU culture increased (p = 0.023) Diplodinomorphs population. Proteases activity was 499, 407, 284 and 144 units higher respectively, in mixed, SC, SU and KM culture supplemented lambs. Cellular activity of α-amylase enzyme was lower in SC, KM and mixed yeast culture lambs. Extra cellular activity of β-glucosidase enzyme was similar (p = 0.581), whereas cellular (p = 0.007) and total activity was higher (p = 0.029) in SU culture lambs. The extra cellular and total activity of xylanase was not different but cellular activity was higher (p = 0.042) in KM lambs. The carboxymethyle cellulase activity was similar among the five animal groups. The SC, SU and mixed culture supplementation improved feed intake (p = 0.722) by 8.0, 13.3 and 18.8% and daily gain (p = 0.002) by 26.6, 11.7 and 18.8% respectively in lambs. The SC culture feeding promoted feed intake and growth by 8 and 26.6% respectively showing the suitability of growth promoting microbial feed additive. The SC culture supplementation in rumen ecosystem also facilitated microbial growth and improved activity of short chain polysaccharides degrading microorganism. Therefore, SC culture can be used as a growth promoting feed additives in meat animal production.

There is a current need to increase global livestock production in line with consumers’ preferences for more sustainable and ‘natural’ products. Organic farming is considered among the potential production systems and market strategies that could be employed to cope with this change. Animal nutrition is key, as it greatly influences feed efficiency, animal health, and sustainability. Under situations where animal health care is technically more challenging, due to limitations in the use of veterinary drugs (such as in organic farming), the importance of feed is even higher. However, the there is a lack of commercially available permitted feed ingredients and the range of feed additives on the market is limited. This is partially due to the fact that organic regulations are mainly followed to ensure that pure organic methods are used, instead of trying attain the core goal of complying with organic principles and contributing to the sustainability of the sector. For example, improved animal health and animal welfare through the use of non-organically certified feed additives is needed. This lack of availability, along with difficulties for the feed industry to become organic, affects the development of sustainability in the livestock sector (which should be the final objective of organic farming) in both already organic livestock/feed companies and those still producing under the conventional system. In this context, the presented work may be interesting to producers and policymakers, as it is aimed at providing a critical view of the relationship between the market and the needs of the livestock sector, the sustainability challenge, and organic farming regulations as applied to animal nutrition.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding graded levels of dried Acacia saligna leaves (ALH) on the performance response and some blood parameters of pregnant Barki ewes during late pregnancy. Ten ewes aged 3-5 years old at the last third of pregnancy in each group (38.0±1.2 kg body weight) were fed with 0, 20, 40 and 60% of ALH as berseem hay replacement in a completely randomize design for 75 days. The results showed non-significant differences (P>0.05) in daily DM intake and digestibility coefficients for DM, OM, CP, EE, NFE and cellulose. Diets of 40% and 60% ALH showed higher (P<0.05) CF digestibility comparing to 20% ALH and control diets. The highest (P<0.05) NB was recorded for ewes fed 60% followed by 40% ALH. The incorporation of ALH at levels 20, 40 and 60% resulted in non-significant differences in live body weight at all periods of the late pregnancy. Pregnant ewes fed 60% ALH diet recorded the highest (P<0.05) body weight gain (Kg) and daily gain (g/day) and the lowest (P<0.05) weight loss at lambing. Birth weight of lambs were not significantly (P<0.05) affected. Blood urea concentrations were decreased (P<0.05) with the graded percentage of ALH inclusion instead of berseem hay. The results of this study revealed that inclusion of dried Acacia saligna leaves up to 60% instead of dietary berseem hay could be best for improving nutrient utilization and ewe’s performance during late pregnancy stage.

Background: Regardless of having ample number of farm animals, its contribution to GDP is limited due to insufficient year round
livestock feed supply in terms of quantity and quality, particularly during the dry season. This study was conducted to assess the most
commonly used browse species as livestock feed particularly during dry period and to determine their nutritive value from four kebeles
of East Dembiya district.
Methods: Stratified random sampling was used for the selection of respondents. A total of 12 plots of 20m *20m (400m2) were
established at an interval of 200m along the transect line to identify and record the available browse species. The leaves and petioles
of A. abyssinica, C. africana, F. thonigii, F. sycomorus, V. amygdolina, M. arbutifolia and A. seyal were collected for chemical analysis.
General linear model procedure of SAS was used for statistical analysis.
Result: The mean CP content of the browse species ranged from 12.13% (F. sycomorus) to 29.74% (V. amygdolina). The IVDMD
varied from 38.5% for M. arbutifolia to 71.67% for F. sycomorus. High gas production from immediately soluble component (a) was
recorded for C. africana. The gas production from insoluble but potential degradable fraction (b), production potential (a+b) and
organic matter digestibility were higher for F. thounigii but low for V. amygdolina. The browse species in the current study could be
used as protein supplements to livestock fed on low quality feeds due to their high levels of crude protein, low fiber contents and high
digestibility potentials

Background and Aim: As a non-protein nitrogen source, urea is a popular, low cost, and easily obtained protein supplement. The objective of the present study was to perform a meta-analysis of the effects of urea supplementation on rumen fermentation and sheep performance.

Materials and Methods: A total of 32 experiments from 21 articles were compiled into a dataset. The levels of dietary urea varied from 0 to 31 g/kg of dry matter (DM). Parameters observed were rumen fermentation product, nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility, and sheep performance. This dataset was analyzed using a mixed model methodology, with urea supplementation levels as fixed effects and the different experiments as random effects.

Results: Increasing levels of urea were associated with increases (p=0.008) in rumen pH, butyrate (C4) production, and ammonia (NH3–N) concentration. Urea supplementation had minor effects on total volatile fatty acids (p=0.242), total protozoa (p=0.429), and the microbial N supply (p=0.619), but tended to increase methane production (CH4; p<0.001). Supplementation of urea increased the intake of dry matter (DM; p=0.004) and crude protein (CP; p=0.001). Digestibility parameters, such as DM digestibility (DMD) and CP digestibility (CPD), also increased (p<0.01) as a result of urea supplementation. Retained N (p=0.042) and N intake (p<0.001) were higher with increasing levels of urea supplementation. In terms of animal performance, supplementation of urea increased average daily gain (ADG; p=0.024), but decreased the hot carcass weight percentage (p=0.017).

Conclusion: This meta-analysis reports the positive effects of urea supplementation on rumen fermentation products (i.e., pH, C4, and NH3–N), intake (DM, CP, and N), digestibility (DMD and CPD), and ADG in sheep.

Background and Aim: Duck eggs have high cholesterol levels; inulin addition combined with probiotic is known in several studies to lower cholesterol, while maintaining egg production capacity and blood hematology. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the addition of synbiotic preparations on egg production, egg quality, and hematology of Pengging ducks.

Materials and Methods: A total of 200 female Pengging ducks aged 75 weeks (late production phase) and weighing 1467±90.87 g were maintained in litter cages, each measuring 1×1 ducks. The treatment included the addition of synbiotics between the inulin of gembili tuber (Dioscorea esculenta L. and Lactobacillus plantarum Ina CC B76) as follows: T0=control feed ("farmer feed"), T1=control feed+synbiotics 1 mL/100 g, T2=control feed+synbiotics 1.5 mL/g, and T3=control feed+synbiotics 2 mL/100 g in the feed. A completely randomized design was used in this study. The production performance, physical and chemical qualities of eggs, and hematological parameters of Pengging ducks were evaluated.

Results: The addition of synbiotics had no significant impact on the production performance, physical and chemical qualities of eggs, and hematological parameters (p>0.05), except for the egg yolk cholesterol content. The cholesterol content decreased significantly (p<0.05) with T2 and T3 treatments, but they had no significant effect (p>0.05). A significant decrease (p<0.01) in cholesterol levels was observed when the synbiotic dose was given at 1.5 ml/100 g feed (T2). However, there was no further decrease in cholesterol level when the synbiotic dose was increased to 2 ml/100g fed (T3).

Conclusion: The addition of synbiotics preparations at 1.5 mL/100 g reduced the cholesterol content but did not improve egg production, egg physical quality, and hematology of Pengging ducks.

Background and Aim: Antibiotic, improves the growth performance of laying hens when used as a feed additive; however, it has been banned in Europe. Furthermore, secondary metabolites used as a substitute for antibiotics are compounds produced by plants. Therefore, this aims to determine the effect of dates water extract (DWE) on the performance of laying hens. This study used dates containing secondary metabolites as a feed additive and substitute for antibiotics.

Materials and Methods: A completely randomized design was used, dividing 400 Lohmann brown day old chick into five groups (each group has five replications and each replication consisted of 16 laying hens). Furthermore, there were two control groups such as mineral water control group and antibiotic growth promoters (basal feed+50 mg/kg of bacitracin), and three DWE groups such as 5% DWE (50 mg/mL), 10% DWE (100 mg/mL), and 20% DWE (200 mg/mL). Dates extract treatment was administered through drinking water for 54 days, whereby three laying hens from each replication were taken randomly and decapitated on the neck. Afterwards, a necropsy was performed for histological preparations of the small intestine, ovary, and lymphoid organs. The structure and morphology of the small intestine, and ovaries were observed through histological preparations, while lymphoid organs were observed through histological preparation and morphometry, and body morphometry, body weight, feed intake and weight gain were observed by measurements and weighing.

Results: Small intestine morphology, ovarian follicle, and growth performance of the DWE2 group increased significantly compared to the control group, but the lymphoid organs index was influenced by DWE1.

Conclusion: The administration of 10% dates extract (100 mg/mL) in drinking water improves the morphology of the small intestine, ovarian follicles, lymphoid organs, and growth performance.

An experiment was conducted to quantify the chemical composition, different forms of tannins and their effects
on in vitro gas production, organic matter digestibility and metabolisable energy content in Syzigium cumini
(Blackberry) seed with and without polyethelene glycol (PEG). The DM, OM, ash, CP, NDF and ADF contents
of S. cumini seeds were 90.1, 87.6, 2.6, 4.6, 32.9 and 15.5%, respectively. The total phenol, total tannin,
condensed tannin and hydrolysable tannin content were 5.89, 4.25, 0.42 and 0.05mg/g seed, respectively. In
vitro gas production, organic matter digestibility and metabolisable energy content of S. cumini seed were 54
ml, 42.91% and 6.43 MJ/Kg DM, respectively. Addition of PEG to tannin containing seed was significantly
(P<0.05) increased in vitro gas production, OMD and ME content. Higher levels of tannins in S. cumini seed
could limit utilization through impaired digestibility and nutrient utilization but the addition of PEG increased
all the fermentation parameters studied. It is predictable from the present findings that S. cumini seed could be
utilized as natural source of feed additives to alter rumen fermentation parameters especially to protect protein
and other nutrients from ruminal degradation, thereby make the nutrients available in the lower tract for higher
milk and meat yield.

The purpose was to investigate the use of dried cashew pulp (DrCP), the sun-dried residue after juice has been extracted from the cashew apple, as a feed ingredient in growing pig diets. The growth rate, feed intake, feed to gain ratio and cost of gain of grower pigs fed diets containing 0 (0DrCP), 100 (100DrCP), 150 (150DrCP) or 200 (200DrCP) g kg−1 of dried cashew pulp was investigated in a feeding trial set up as a Completely randomized design with 4 treatments replicated 3 times and lasting 112 days. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) among treatments in the parameters measured. It was concluded that dried cashew pulp could be used in growing pig diets up to a level of 200 g kg−1 without any deleterious effects. Future work will look at higher levels of DrCP inclusion in the diets of growing pigs.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the immune effects of genetically modified (GM), insect resistant corn (MON810) expressing toxin protein of Bacillus thuringiensis, and glyphosate-tolerant soybean meal (Roundup Ready MON-40-30-2), which are used as the feed mixture components in domestic animals. The study was conducted on 60 pigs (36 fatteners and 24 sows), 20 calves, 40 broilers, and 40 laying hens. Each species was divided into four basic nutritional groups: group I (control) - conventional feed, group II - feed consisted of GM soybean meal and non-modified corn, group III - non-modified soybean meal and GM corn, group IV - GM soybean meal and GM corn. Moreover, in the experiment on fatteners two additional groups were formed: group V - animals fed both conventional soybean meal and bruised grain, and group VI - GM soybean meal and conventional bruised grain. The results of study did not reveal any significant effect of feed mixtures containing GM components on the immune response in all animals regardless of their species and technological producing groups.

Egg quality and nutrient utilization of laying hens fed raw Anthonotha macrophylla seed meal were evaluated in an 8week trial involving a total number of 120 laying hens in a completely randomized design. Four layer rations were formulated and made in such a way that T 1 (Control) contained no Anthonotha macrophylla seed meal while diets T 2 , T 3 and T 4 contained 4 %, 8 % and 12 % Anthonotha macrophylla seed meal respectively. Each group of hens contained 30 layers which were further subdivided into three replicates of 10 hens each. Results obtained in the digestibility trial showed significant (P<0.05) differences in all the parameters measured except in dry matter digestibility. However digestibility coefficient of crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, ash and nitrogen free extract of hens fed diet 3(8 % AMSM) was significantly higher than others. Egg quality indices (egg weight, length, index, shell thickness, yolk weight, yolk height were not affected by the experimental diets (P>0.05). The findings indicate that raw Anthonotha macrophylla seed meal had no negative effect on the quality of eggs produced and also could be incorporated into layers ration at 8% level of inclusion without any negative effect on nutrient digestibility.

Background and Aim: Dairy cattle breeding plays a significant role in providing the population with high-quality, reasonably priced goods. The development of this industry and its effectiveness depends on the proper use of available feed products. Feed additives (FAs), as a rule, should compensate for missing elements in the diet. This study aimed to determine the effect of the FA Vermikom on blood parameters, as well as milk physicochemical and mineral composition and yield in lactating dairy cows.

Materials and Methods: A total of 30 Holstein cows, with an average weight of 650±5 kg, were randomly divided into three groups of 10. Over a period of 5 months, each group was fed one of three diets: Mixed main diet without supplements (control), main diet supplemented with 2% Vermikom, and main diet supplemented with 4% Vermikom.

Results: Hematological parameters, productivity, and physicochemical and mineral composition of milk from animals provided the FA Vermikom were higher than those of the control group. In the Vermikom groups, the hemoglobin content was higher by 5.75%, calcium by an average of 10.8%, and total protein by 2.5%. The average daily milk yield was also higher by 8.4% than the control group. Regarding the mineral composition of the milk, the content of calcium, phosphorus, and iron exceeded that of the control on average by 2.9%, 3.4%, and 14.8%, respectively.

Conclusion: We propose introducing 4% Vermikom into the diet of dairy cows based on the study results. Future research will expand our knowledge regarding cows' needs for all recommended nutrients, thereby improving animal productivity and milk quality. The results obtained contribute to further expanding the food base of animal husbandry in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Keywords: diet, feed additive, hematology, milk productivity, milk quality, vermiculite.