https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/ Animal Science Research en daily 1 Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_19983.html AbstractIntroduction: The intricate relationship between minerals and the biological functioning of living organisms has long been a subject of scientific inquiry and practical importance. Minerals, present in small yet crucial quantities, play multifarious roles in satisfying the diverse physiological needs of various species. This is particularly evident in tropical regions, where animals reared under extensive systems often face limitations in their feed, leading to a heightened risk of mineral deficiencies. These deficiencies can have far-reaching consequences, disrupting the performance of livestock production, compromising reproductive functions, and ultimately diminishing the overall profitability of farms (Suttle 2010; Parent et al. 2018). The concentration of minerals within living organisms is influenced by numerous factors, including species, sex, genotype, stage of production (such as lactation), geographical region, prevailing climate, tissue characteristics, and the specific animal management practices employed, including rearing and feeding systems (Alturiqi and Albedair 2012; Hernandez-Castellano 2017; Lin et al. 1989; Ozcelik et al. 2017). Reducing the availability of feed will cause a lack of mineral substances received by livestock (Haenlein and Anke 2011), and affect the composition and amount of colostrum and milk produced (Norgaard et al. 2008) which increases mortality in lambs (Hashemi et al. 2008). Therefore, it is necessary to know the amount of minerals in the lambs of animals that are faced with reduced access to feed during the transition period. This study aimed to investigate the effect of feed restriction in ewes during the transition period on the plasma concentration of mineral elements in their lambs.Materials and Methods: Twenty pregnant fat-tailed ewes were allotted to two experimental groups of Control, (n=10) and feed restriction (Restriction; n=10). After adaptation, during the pre-partum period, the control group from five weeks before parturition to parturition (-5 to -1) was fed with 100% of the balanced ratio. Restriction in the same period during the first to fifth weeks of the study were fed with 100, 50, 65, 80, and 100% of the recommended ration, respectively. The same nutritional program was repeated from the first to the fifth week after parturition for both groups (1 to 5). After lambing, blood samples were taken at zero (parturition), 1, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours. During the feed restriction (wk 1-wk 5), lamb blood samples were taken weekly. Blood samples were collected at various time points, including parturition, and at specific intervals throughout the study. The samples were kept on ice and centrifuged to harvest the plasma, which was then analyzed for the concentrations of key minerals, including phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl), using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Hitachi - Science & Technology - Z-2300, Japan). The data were statistically analyzed using the Mixed model procedure of SAS to determine the effects of the feed restriction on the mineral status of the lambs.Results and discussion: The feed restriction had no significant impact on the plasma concentrations of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and chloride, and the concentrations of these elements did not differ between the two treatment groups. However, sampling time showed that the blood mineral except sodium, changed during the experiment. Blood phosphorus concentration gradually increased from birth (hour 0) to the end of the experiment, and from the second week, the phosphorus concentration showed a significant increase compared to the first week and the early hours of parturition (P<0.001). The sampling times indicated a difference in the blood magnesium concentration in the lambs (P<0.001), where the concentration of this element was low in the early hours of parturition and reached the highest concentration in the final weeks of the experiment (weeks 4 and 5) compared to the early stages of birth in both experimental groups. The results showed that the potassium concentration in both treatment groups followed a specific pattern from birth to the end of the experiment, being almost identical from the early hours of birth (0) to 24 hours in the restricted group and 36 hours in the control group, but then began a decreasing trend (P<0.05) and reached the lowest value at 72 hours after birth compared to the previous hours. The concentration of this element was at its lowest in the first and second weeks after parturition compared to the early parturition and other sampling weeks. From the third week, the concentration of this element showed an increasing trend and reached a higher concentration in the fourth and fifth weeks compared to the first week after birth. With the increase in the age of the lambs, the chloride concentration changed (P<0.001), such that 12 hours after birth, the concentration of this element increased in both groups, and this increase continued until 72 hours after parturition. Contrary to the increasing trend until 72 hours after parturition, the concentration of this element showed a significant decrease in both treatment groups at the end of the first week after parturition (P<0.05), and from the second week, it resumed an increasing trend. The concentration of this element increased from the third week after parturition to the initial concentration at birth. Due to the effective role of minerals in growth, development of bones, general health and optimal functioning of biological systems, the optimal amount of these elements in lambs is of great importance. Different studies have shown that, probably due to the use of reserves of mineral elements in the body that compensate for their deficiency, the clinical symptoms of the lack of these elements are not visible except in very acute conditions (Ramirez-Perez et al. 2000). As previous studies have shown, one of the characteristics of long-tailed ewes is their ability to retain nutrients and influence the growth and health of their lambs, such as colostrum, milk and immunogenic factors (Zarrin et al. 2021; Nouri et al. 2023). Therefore, according to the role of minerals in the growth and development of body tissues, as well as their very important role in health and maintaining the body's antioxidant capacity (Ataollahi et al. 2018), it is concluded that lambs are able to, even in conditions of food restriction, Maintain appropriate plasma concentrations of these elements. The changing the concentration of some of these elements with the increasing age of lambs, especially in the second and third weeks after birth, indicates the physiological changes of the body and, accordingly, the difference in the need for minerals and other nutrients, which was emphasized by Hernández-Castellano et al. (2017).Conclusion: The study explored the impact of maternal dietary restriction on the mineral levels in the plasma of lambs. The findings revealed that maternal dietary restriction during pregnancy and after birth did not significantly affect the mineral concentrations in the lambs. However, the study highlighted that the mineral concentrations varied with the age of the lambs. This suggests that ewes efficiently utilize their energy and mineral reserves during pregnancy to ensure proper mineral levels in their offspring at birth. Furthermore, the ewes continue to provide minerals to their lambs through colostrum and milk until the lambs become independent. Once the lambs are independent, they acquire the necessary minerals from their feed. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_21387.html Introduction: Meat, as the most important source of animal protein, plays a significant role in meeting human needs for amino acids (Orman et al. 2008) and is the most important product of sheep (Kianzad 2013). Given that the highest income from sheep farming is through lamb production (Snyman et al. 1997), increasing the reproduction rate by reducing the lambing interval and properly raising the lambs produced is the most important measure to increase the economic efficiency of livestock farming (Emsen et al. 2004). In natural pastures and rangelands (especially in arid and semi-arid regions), the nutritional needs of growing lambs are not met through available feed, so the use of supplementary diets during lactation will be effective in stimulating rumen growth, increasing nutrient absorption, and increasing growth (Santra and Karim 1999). Starter diets are generally given to lambs after the first week of life to develop rumen and provide feed for rapid growth (Haddad 2006). Lambs require high-quality protein source during the first weeks of their life, because their rumen is not completely developed (Herath et al., 2021). Legumes are one of the most important sources of food in human, livestock and poultry nutrition, (Bayourthe et al., 1998). One of the products of the legume family that can be considered as a protein source is bitter vetch seed (Vicia ervilia) (Haddad, 2006). Cultivation of this plant has been common in the West and North-West of Iran for many years (Haddad, 2006). In recent years, attention has been paid to leguminous plants due to their high nutritional value and short growth period, and the need for little care by farmers, livestock breeders and feed factories. Livestock population has increased in most countries of the world (Rotger et al., 2006). Moreover, one of the important features of bitter vetch seed is its high crude protein content, which can be used as a protein supplement (Arabi, 1996). So that the amount of protein is 2 to 3 times that of cereal grains, and they can be included in livestock diets, as a protein supplement especially the starter diets of suckling lambs (Arabi, 1996; Hadjipanayiotou and Economides, 2001). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of starter diets containing different levels of bitter vetch seed on milk consumption feed intake, performance and growth characteristics in Mughani suckling lambs. Materials and methods: Fifty Mughani suckling male lambs (average 5 ± 1 days of age and average initial body weight 4.56 ± 0.77 kg) were grouped based on live weight and randomly assigned to one of 5 experimental groups (one control group and 4 groups receiving the starter diets containing different levels of 0, 9, 18 and 27% bitter vetch seed) in a completely randomized design. Milk consumption, feed intake and growth performance of lambs were recorded until the age of 90 days. Conventional methods (AOAC 2000) were used to determine dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, ash and the method of Van Suest et al. (1991) to measure neutral detergent insoluble fiber (NDF) and acid detergent insoluble fiber (ADF). On the 90th day of the experiment, blood was collected from the jugular vein three hours after feeding the meal. Glucose, urea, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, and triglyceride were measured. Data obtained from each treatment were analyzed using software (SAS, 2003) and the GLM procedure. Comparison of means was done using LSMEANS and 0.05 level was considered as significant level. The initial weight of the animals at the beginning of the experiment was included as a covariate and was removed from the model if it was not significant.Results and discussion: The results showed that the experimental diets had a significant effect on the daily weight gain of the suckling lambs, so that the average daily weight gain was the highest in the lambs fed starter diet containing 18% bitter vetch seed. The starter diets containing protein supplements significantly increased the average daily weight gain of suckling lambs compared to the control group. Haddad (2006) investigated the effect of replacing soybean meal with bitter vetch seed in growing Awasi lambs and concluded that the partial or complete replacement of bitter vetch seed with soybean meal does not affect the feed intake and growth performance of lambs. The effective degradability ratio of crude protein of bitter vetch seed is higher than the effective degradability ratio of crude protein of soybean meal (Haddad 2006). Therefore, if its amount is high in the diet, it is likely that the balance between dietary protein degraded in the rumen and microbial protein produced in the rumen is changed, causing an increase in ammonia concentration in the rumen. A high effective degradability ratio provides the required energy in the form of volatile fatty acids for the livestock and rumen microbes (Yalcin and Enol 1994). Synchronizing the rumen digestion of protein and carbohydrates, in order to create rapid fermentations by means of sources of starch and rapidly degradable protein, stimulates the synthesis of more microbial crude protein or increases the efficiency of its synthesis (National Research Council 2001). The experimental diets had a significant effect on the structural characteristics of suckling lambs (P<0.01) and lambs fed diet containing 18% bitter vetch seed had the highest body length, height growth, hip, pin, and testicular circumference. Whereas lambs fed starter diet containing 9% bitter vetch seed had the highest breast circumference growth. Reisi et al. (2011) reported that replacing 25% of cotton meal with bitter vetch seed improves the growth and carcass characteristics of Lori-Bakhtiari lambs. Average daily milk intake and the total milk intake was higher in the control group (P<0.01). Overall, the study of blood parameters of suckling lambs fed with supplementary diets in reports by other researchers show consistency with the present study, as Toghdari et al. (2022) reported similar results regarding blood parameters.Conclusion: It was concluded that bitter vetch seed inclusion starter diet of suckling lambs improved growth performance and it is recommended up to 18% of the starter diet. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_20544.html Introduction: Milk production in Lori Bakhtiari ewes, especially in the first lambing, is low due to the consumption of energy received for body growth, and the lamb(s), especially if there are twin or multiple, have less growth and will have a lower weaning weight. Long day length during early lactation increase milk production in some livestock as dairy cattle and dairy sheep (Mikolayunas et al., 2008). More recent research in dairy cattle (Velasco et al., 2006) and dairy goats (Bagheri and Karami 2023) suggests that prepartum photoperiod affects mammary development and subsequent milk production, but the positive response is from short day photoperiod. The mechanism of this function is the level and role of circulating prolactin in mammary development. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of light length at the end of the pregnancy period on the milk production of Lori Bakhtiari ewes and the growth of their lambs.Materials and Methods: 40 days before the start of lambing, 40 ewes whose lambing dates were close to each other were selected and randomly allocated in two treatments (n=20 for each treatment). Treatment 1 (control): ewes that were exposed to natural day length during the entire pregnancy period. Treatment 2: Ewes that were exposed to 8 hours of light and 16 hours of darkness during the last 40 days of pregnancy. The ewes of two treatments were reared in two separate places with the same size and environmental and management conditions during the late pregnancy period. The amount of feed and it`s quality was similar for both groups. After parturition, all ewes were exposed to natural day length. Milk production and its compositions, prolactin, melatonin and IGF-1 hormones and growth and weight gain of lambs from birth to weaning were measured. Hand milking was done at one week intervals from one week to one month after parturition. Blood samples were taken from jugular vein at the beginning of the experiment, 20 days before parturition, at the time of parturition, 15 and 30 days after parturition.Results and discussion: The results showed that the average milk production in the second treatment was 13.6% more than the first treatment (control). According to the results of this research, Mikolayunas et al. (2008) reported that, during the first 8 weeks of lactation, ewes exposed to short day prepartum photoperiod tended to produce more milk than ewes exposed to long day prepartum photoperiod. No significant difference was observed between the treatments in terms of the amount of milk composition. The level of prolactin hormone in treatment 1 was higher than in treatment 2 in 20 days before parturition (P<0.05). Long day exposure increases prolactin in blood as compared to short day. IGF-1 has reverse action as compared to prolactin (Rao et al., 2017). At parturition and fifteen and thirty days after that, the level of prolactin hormone was similar in the two treatments. At twenty days before parturition and parturition, the level of melatonin in ewes of treatment 2 was higher than that in treatment 1 (P<0.01), but at fifteen and thirty days after parturition, the level of melatonin in ewes of both treatments was similar. Secretion of melatonin is stimulated by darkness (Rao et al., 2017). At 20 days before parturition, at parturition, and fifteen days after parturition, the level of IGF-1 hormone in ewes of treatment 2 was lower than that in ewes of treatment 1 (P<0.01). At the age of one, two and three months, the highest weight was related to the lambs of treatment 2 (P<0.01). The lambs of treatment 1 experienced less weight gain than the lambs of treatment 2 from birth to three months of age (P<0.01). The results of this study regarding weight and weight gain of lambs are consistent with the results of the study by Aviles et al., (2019). Kids cared for by mothers who produce more milk grow faster (Garcia Y-Gonzalez et al., 2017).Conclusion: In general, in Lori Bakhtiari sheep flocks, applying a short lighting period before lambing can increase the amount of milk produced by ewes in subsequent lactation period and the weaning weight of their lambs.Results and discussion: The results showed that the average milk production in the second treatment was 13.6% more than the first treatment (control). According to the results of this research, Mikolayunas et al. (2008) reported that, during the first 8 weeks of lactation, ewes exposed to short day prepartum photoperiod tended to produce more milk than ewes exposed to long day prepartum photoperiod. No significant difference was observed between the treatments in terms of the amount of milk composition. The level of prolactin hormone in treatment 1 was higher than in treatment 2 in 20 days before parturition (P<0.05). Long day exposure increases prolactin in blood as compared to short day. IGF-1 has reverse action as compared to prolactin (Rao et al., 2017). At parturition and fifteen and thirty days after that, the level of prolactin hormone was similar in the two treatments. At twenty days before parturition and parturition, the level of melatonin in ewes of treatment 2 was higher than that in treatment 1 (P<0.01), but at fifteen and thirty days after parturition, the level of melatonin in ewes of both treatments was similar. Secretion of melatonin is stimulated by darkness (Rao et al., 2017). At 20 days before parturition, at parturition, and fifteen days after parturition, the level of IGF-1 hormone in ewes of treatment 2 was lower than that in ewes of treatment 1 (P<0.01). At the age of one, two and three months, the highest weight was related to the lambs of treatment 2 (P<0.01). The lambs of treatment 1 experienced less weight gain than the lambs of treatment 2 from birth to three months of age (P<0.01). The results of this study regarding weight and weight gain of lambs are consistent with the results of the study by Aviles et al., (2019). Kids cared for by mothers who produce more milk grow faster (Garcia Y-Gonzalez et al., 2017).Conclusion: In general, the results of the present study showed that applying a short light period before lambing in Lori Bakhtiari sheep increased the amount of milk produced by ewes and the weaning weight of their lambs. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_20262.html Introduction: Due to reduced rainfall and degradation of rangelands, some portion of ruminant feed is provided by agricultural by-products such as cereal straws and sugarcan bagasse (SB). A key strategy for achieving environmentally sustainable added value and providing animal feed is to convert agricultural by-products into animal feed (Madadi et al 2023). Sugarcane is one of the most important economic crops worldwide and is mostly used as a raw material in the sugar industry and it is produced in more than 100 countries around the world. Its biomass can be used as animal feed in many countries more than any other forage. The SB is one of the fiberous residues that remain after water extraction from the sugarcane stalk and can be used as a source of fodder for ruminants (Pipitpukdee et al 2020). However, it has been reported that these by-products have low protein (less than 3% on DM basis), high cellulose (more than 40% on DM basis), high hemicellulose (more than 35% on DM basis), high lignin (15% on DM basis), and low DM digestibility (20-30%; Ahmed et al., 2013; Costa et al., 2013). Some livestock producers use unprocessed SB in ruminant nutrition, which is not accompanied by desirable results on animal performance (Nogueira et al 2022; Kraiprom et al 2022). Various methods including physical, chemical, and biological processing are used to change the physical and chemical nature of SB to improve its digestibility (Balgees et al 2007; Rezaii et al 2022; Khawar et al 2023). Therfore, the aim of this experiment was to investigate dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility and in vitro ruminal feremrntation parameters of diets containing sugarcan bagasse (SB) treated with urea (U) calcium hydroxide (CaH) at different times. Materials and methods: For each processing method, 6 one-kilogram samples of sugarcane bagasse were considered. One liter of solution was added to each kilogram of sugarcane bagasse and mixed thoroughly. Also, 6 one-kilogram samples of bagasse were considered as controls (without processing), and each was mixed with one liter of water without urea or calcium hydroxide. All samples inside 2-layer nylons were well compressed and sealed. Then, 3 one-kilogram samples of sugarcane bagasse mixed with alkaline solution and 3 control samples were silaged for 30 days and the rest for 45 days at room temperature. After the end of the desired time, the samples were taken out of the nylon and exposed to air for 5 days and stored for chemical analysis after drying. Then, experimental diets were prepared using these processed sugarcane bagasse samples.The SB was treated with solution containing different content of urea (4 or 3%) and calcium hydroxide (1 or 2%) for two times (30 or 45 days). Then, experimental diets were formulated by using treated SB. Experimental diets were 1- diet containing untreated SB stored for 30 days (Control, C-30), 2- diet containing treated SB with 4% U and 1% CaH stored for 30 d (U4CaH1-30), 3- diet containing treated SB with 3% U and 2% CaH solution stored for 30 d (U3CaH2-30), 4- diet containing untreated SB stored for 45 d (C-45), 5- diet containing treated SB with 4% U and 1% CaH stored for 45 d (U4CaH2-30), and 6- diet containing treated SB with 3% U and 2% CaH solution stored for 45 d (U3CaH2-45). Ingredients and chemical composition of experimental diets are shown in Table 1 and 2, respectively. The SB treated with different methods at different times and experimental diets were dried in an oven at 60 ° C for 48 hours, ground through a 1-mm screen using a Wiley mill, and analysed for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) (AOAC 2007), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) (Van Soest et al 1991). For measurement of methane production, the final gas production (end of 24 hours) was recorded after 24 hours of incubation of the sample in ruminal fluid + phosphate buffer. Experiment conducted by gas production technique (Menke and Steingass 1988) based on completely randomized design as 2×3 factorial. Results and discussion: The effect of different processing methods at different times on chemical composition of SB is shown in Table 3. Results showed that the highest DM content was observed in C-45 (P<0.05). Whereas, SB treated with 3% U and 2% CaH and preserved for 35 or 45 d had lower DM content compared to others (P<0.05). The highest and the lowest OM content were observed in SB untreated and preserved for 30 d and SB treated with 3% U and 2% CaH and preserved for 45 d, respectively (P<0.05). Treatment of SB with U and CaH increased crude protein (CP) content compared untreated SB (P<0.05). The SB treated with U and CaH and preserved for 30 or 45 d had lower neutral detergent fiber (NDF) compared to untreated SB (P<0.05). The highest ash content was observed in SB treated with 3% U and 2% CaH and preserved for 45 d (P<0.05). Ruminal fermentation parameters of diets containing SB processed by different methods at different times is shown in Table 4. The lowest 24 h comulative gas production (CGP) and OM digestibility were observed in C-30 and C-45 diets (P<0.05). Methan production, patitioning factor, efficiency of microbial mass production and DM digestibility did not influence by experimental diets (P>0.05). Gas production parameters of diets containing SB processed by different methods at different times are shown in Table 5. The U3CaH2-45 diet had higher 96 h CGP and gas production potential than other diets (P<0.05). The U3CaH2-30 and U3CaH2-45 had the lowest lag time (P<0.05). Diets containing SB processed with 3% urea solution and 2% calcium hydroxide solution and stored for 30 and 45 days had the highest cumulative gas production (P<0.05). Conclusion: In general, treatment of SB with 3% U and 2% CaH solution improved OM digestibility and gas production and can be used as a method for improvement of nutritional value of SB for using in diets of ruminant animals. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_20652.html Introduction: Mycotoxins are toxic chemical substances generated as secondary metabolites by specific types of filamentous fungi (Conte et al., 2020). Aflatoxins are a significant group of mycotoxins, predominantly produced by specific fungi species, especially Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus (Caceres et al., 2020). Aflatoxins adversely impact poultry by decreasing growth, feed efficiency, and egg production, while causing liver fat accumulation, reduced serum protein levels, carcass bruising, poor pigmentation, liver damage, impaired digestion, and immune suppression (Murugesan et al., 2015). Aflatoxin B1 is the most toxic and biologically active form of aflatoxins, known for its widespread occurrence (Min et al., 2021). One effective detoxification method is treating mycotoxins with oxidizing agents, which alter their molecular structure (Liu et al., 2022). Ozone, approved by the food and drug administration for food use, has advantages over other oxidants, such as its residue-free application in gaseous or aqueous form, abundant precursors, and the ability to be generated on-site (Peivasteh-Roudsari et al., 2022). The study by Demirci et al. (2023) showed that ozonation at 10 mg/L (60 min) or 3.33 mg/L (90 min) effectively reduced aflatoxins in hazelnuts. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ozone treatment time on aflatoxin-contaminated feed by examining detoxification efficiency and changes in feed chemical composition, as well as evaluating its impact on growth performance, carcass traits, and intestinal absorptive capacity in broiler chickens consuming the contaminated diet. Material and method: The first experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 6 replicates. The experimental treatments were as follows: (1) a diet contaminated with aflatoxin (0.1 mg/kg) without ozone gas exposure, (2) an aflatoxin–contaminated diet exposed to ozone gas for 30 min, (3) an aflatoxin–contaminated diet exposed to ozone gas for 60 min, and (4) an aflatoxin–contaminated diet exposed to ozone gas for 90 min. The samples analyzed in this study were starter feed for broiler chickens. The levels of total aflatoxins and aflatoxin B1 were quantified by HPLC following the Iranian National Standard Method INSO 6782:2003. All feed samples were also analyzed for dry matter, ash, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber, gross energy, calcium, and phosphorus content. In the second experiment, a total of 180 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 6 replicates: control diet, diet contaminated with 0.1 mg/kg aflatoxin, and contaminated diet treated with ozone (10 mg/L for 60 minutes). Parameters measured included performance, carcass characteristics, and morphology of different sections of the small intestine. Data from both experiments were analyzed using a completely randomized design with ANOVA in SAS (4 treatments × 6 replicates for experiment 1; 3 treatments × 6 replicates for experiment 2). Tukey’s test identified significant differences at 𝑃<0.05. Polynomial regression was used to evaluate the effect of ozone exposure duration on the parameters. Results and discussion: Ozone treatment significantly reduced total aflatoxins and aflatoxin B1 in feed, with longer exposure causing greater decreases (P<0.01). Regression analysis also showed a significant linear decrease (P<0.01) in total aflatoxins and aflatoxin B1 levels as ozone exposure duration increased. Ozone treatment for 30 and 60 min did not affect (P>0.05) nutrient levels, while 90 min significantly reduced dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and gross energy content (GE; P<0.05). Regression analysis showed that DM, CP, ether extract (EE; P < 0.05), phosphorus (P < 0.05), and GE decreased linearly (P < 0.01) as ozone exposure increased from 0 to 90 minutes. Luo et al. (2014) found that ozonation of maize at 90 mg/L for 20 and 40 minutes significantly reduced aflatoxin B1 levels from 83 µg/kg to 12.18 µg/kg and 9.9 µg/kg. Similarly, Torlak et al. (2016) reported 74.3% and 86.4% reductions in AFB1 in poultry feed after 240 minutes of ozone exposure at 2.8 mg/L and 5.3 mg/L. Ozonation breaks down aflatoxin by reacting with the C8-C9 double bond on the furan ring and the lactone ring, destroying the toxin (Salsabila et al., 2025). Asadnejad et al. (2023) similarly found that longer ozone exposure (0 to 48 hours) at 10 g/hr caused a linear decrease in DM and EE in feather meal, due to ozone’s strong oxidative effects. The reduction in GE content may be attributed to the decrease in the percentages of DM, CP, and EE in the feed samples. Feeding aflatoxin-contaminated feed, either with or without ozone treatment, significantly reduced (P<0.01) body weight gain (BWG) and European performance efficiency factor (EPEF), and increased (P<0.01) feed conversion ratio (FCR), while feed intake (FI) was not affected (P>0.05). No significant (P>0.05) differences in relative weights of breast, leg, heart, gizzard, or spleen were observed. Carcass yield and bursa weight were higher (P<0.05) in the control diet compared to aflatoxin-contaminated feed but similar to the ozone-treated group. Liver weight increased (P<0.05) with aflatoxin contamination but normalized after ozone treatment. The Villus height: crypt depth ratio was significantly (P<0.01) better in the control and ozone-treated groups compared to the untreated aflatoxin group, indicating that ozone mitigated the negative effects of aflatoxin on intestinal structure. The mitigating effects of processing aflatoxin-contaminated feed on the relative weights of the carcass, liver, and bursa, as well as the improvement of small intestine morphology, can be attributed to the role of ozone in degrading aflatoxin into less toxic or non-toxic compounds. Generally, ozone treatment effectively degraded aflatoxin in contaminated feed and mitigated its adverse effects on carcass traits and intestinal morphology. However, the lack of improvement in overall performance suggests that residual aflatoxin levels or ozone-induced alterations in feed composition may still influence bird growth. Overall, ozone processing can be considered a promising detoxification approach when properly optimized to balance toxin removal and feed quality. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_20376.html Introduction: Elderberry (Sambucus ebulus) as a valuable antioxidant, immune stimulant, anti-influenza and antibiotic alternative and a strong antiviral supplement, and in parallel reducing a variety of metabolic and non-metabolic diseases, can have a good prospect in poultry nutrition. It has been proven that Sambucus ebulus fruit extract can increase cytokine production by monocytes, and subsequently the expression of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF is revealed, and the immune system in the host body is modulated and improved. Administration of this extract of this plant through drinking water showed positive and promising results in the improvement and treatment of H9N2 avian influenza. Therefore, the present study was planned to evaluate the dietary effects of elderberry (Sambucus ebulus) on production performance, carcass characteristics, biochemical parameters and blood antioxidant status, immune system, and meat sensory and taste traits, and its fatty acid profile in broiler chickens. Material and method: Biological experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design using elderberry (Sambucus ebulus) fruit powder (SE) consisting of three treatments of 0, 1.5 and 2%, each treatment consisting of 5 replications and 10 birds per replication, and a total of 150 Ross 308 broiler chickens. Assay diets based on corn and soybean meal were formulated during three periods: starter (1-11 d), grower (12-21 d) and finisher (22-42 d). During the three rearing periods of starter, grower, finisher and the entire period, feed intake (FI) and body weight (BW) were measured, respectively, and FCR was also calculated. At the end of the period, after four hours of starvation, two birds with the average weight of their experimental unit from each replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered and, by separating the carcasses, the following were weighed and measured: live weight, defeather body, eviscerated carcass, breast, thigh, gizzard, crop, liver, heart, pancreas, spleen, bursa of Fabricius weight and abdominal fat, respectively, with a scale with an accuracy of 0.001. In addition, at the end of the period, blood samples were taken from the wing vein of three birds from each replicate using sterile 5 cc syringes, and biochemical blood parameters were measured. To evaluate immunological parameters, sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were injected at a 5% dilution into the pectoral muscle area of the birds on days 28 and 36 of rearing in a volume of 0.2 cc. Seven days after SRBC injection (days 35 and 42), samples were taken from the wing vein of the same injected birds with sterile syringes with a volume of 3 cc to evaluate the level of antibodies against SRBC using the hemagglutination method for Newcastle disease (NDV) and influenza (AIV) titers. In order to evaluate the fatty acid profile of meat, sampling was performed from the whole breast of the bird and meat health indices including omega 6 to omega 3 ratio, atherogenic index (AI), thrombogenic index (TI), hypocholesterolemic index (HI), and hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic ratio were calculated. For the sensory and taste attributes item including the evaluation of aroma, flavor, odor, tenderness, color and overall desirability of breast meat, one sample was taken from each replicate and the samples were cooked without spices. Then, it was evaluated by six panels (food testers) (by scoring from 1 to 10). All data obtained were collected in Excel software and the results were analyzed with statistical software (SAS 9.3). Comparisons of treatment means were reported with Duncan's multiple range test. Quadratic, linear, nonlinear and orthogonal equations were reported and finding the turning point of quadratic equations was achieved with the "Solver" extension of Excel software. For traits related to breast fatty acids, statistical analysis was not performed and only the raw laboratory data report was published and the calculation of indices was presented.Results and discussion: The performance results showed that only in the finisher period (22-42 d), the feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased at the level of 2% (P<0.05) and for other periods and even the entire period, there was no negative effect on performance after SE feeding (P<0.05). Carcass traits for live body weight and defeather body weight in the control treatment were significantly higher in the SE-fed groups (P<0.05). Also, for these two mentioned traits, the contrast effects of the control group compared with the combined effect of the SE-fed groups were significantly different (P<0.05). Eviscerated carcass, heart and pancreas weights in the control treatment were significant compared with the combined effect of the SE-fed groups (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in carcass relative weight between the experimental treatments (P<0.05). Results of blood parameters for glucose, cholesterol, atherogenic index, triglyceride, phosphorus, Fe, calcium, liver enzymes and total antioxidant capacity were significantly different in line with the improvement of chicken health after SE feeding (P<0.01). For immunological traits Antibody Titr (35day-SRBC test), the treatment containing 1.5% SE and the control treatment had significantly higher values than the 2% SE treatment (P<0.05). Meat color was observed to increase in the treatments fed with SE compared with the control treatment (P<0.05). Overall, the results indicated that SE feeding in broiler chickens with the least negative effect on performance has a positive role on the biochemical health parameters of blood and immunity of broilers and in parallel affected meat color and the potential of supplementing this antioxidant source in nutrition has a promising perspective for health.For immunological traits Antibody Titr (35day-SRBC test), the treatment containing 1.5% SE and the control treatment had significantly higher values than the 2% SE treatment (P<0.05). Meat color was observed to increase in the treatments fed with SE compared with the control treatment (P<0.05). Overall, the results indicated that SE feeding in broiler chickens with the least negative effect on performance has a positive role on the biochemical health parameters of blood and immunity of broilers and in parallel affected meat color and the potential of supplementing this antioxidant source in nutrition has a promising perspective for health. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_11270.html https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_11336.html https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_13692.html AbstractIntroduction: Genetic selection for the higher milk yield during the last decades, resulted in lower fertility in dairy cattle herds (Dobson et al. 2007; Walsh et al. 2011). There are handful reports that the efficient fertility and higher production in dairy cattle requires greater concentration of nutrients such as protein, energy and micronutrients in the diet (Gao et al. 2009; Roche et al. 2011; Bisinotto et al. 2018; Ayyat et al. 2021). The dietary crude protein (CP) has vital role both in milk yield and fertility rate, however it has not received enough attention (Ayyat et al. 2021; Cardoso et al. 2021). Dietary crude protein (CP), can be degraded in the rumen (RDP) to prepare nitrogen (N) for ruminal microorganisms to produce microbial protein at the presence of carbohydrates or not to be degraded in the rumen (RUP), but digested by intestinal enzymes to prepare amino acids for host animal (Kamalak et al. 2005; Taghizadeh et al. 2005). Increasing CP level to provide enough quantities of RDP and RUP may lead to an excessive N in the blood (BUN) and milk (MUN), as the monitors of the dietary protein both in quality and quantity (Hammon et al. 2005). Surplus level of RDP will result in higher concentration of ruminal ammonia (De Boever et al. 2005) and subsequently urea, a product of detoxification of ammonia by liver (Tamminga 2006). These metabolic residues have adverse effects on reproduction and fertility, where ammonia interferes prior to the ovulation, whereas urea has detrimental effects after fertilization (Sinclair et al. 2000; Jorritsma et al. 2003). Hence, limiting CP level may be a reasonable strategy to control consequences, but on the other hand, it has been reported that reducing CP level may decrease metabolizable protein (MP; RUP+ by pass microbial protein) which will result in the reduction of limiting amino acids (NRC 2001). Methionine (Met) and lysine (Lys) are first limiting amino acids in the diets based on corn (NRC 2001). Supplementing diets with rumen protected (RP) Met can enhance dairy cattle performance and dry matter intake (DMI), also it can boost liver function by reducing accumulation of the lipid (Ordway et al. 2009; Osorio et al. 2013). Methionine was proposed as limiting amino acid in the reproduction trait of dairy cattle (Métayer et al. 2008), where a correlation of Met concentration and embryonic development was reported by Acosta et al. (2016) beside its concentration in embryonic and uterine fluids (Groebner et al. 2011). Moreover, Met and Lys are participated in taurine and glutathione synthesis, where glutathione is involved in Glutathione transferase, Glutathione peroxidase and Glutathione reductase as cellular detoxifiers (Mavrommatis et al. 2021). Methionine is reported to be methyl donor in the synthesis of carnitine and choline (Chandler and White 2017). Choline (Chol) may be a key component in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, acetylcholine and as a methyl donor like Met. It has been shown that Chol has an important role in lipid metabolism consequently the energy balance (Esposito et al. 2014).Therefore, the objective of this study was to decrease CP level in order to reduce unsuitable effects of suppressing N on dairy cattle reproduction trait and to compensate for amino acid loss, rumen protected Met, Lys and Chol were added as top dress to the diets.Material method: Thirty multiparous and thirty primiparous (n=60) Holstein dairy cows with the BCS (body condition score) of 3 were individually housed in free-stall barns. Cows were used in two periods of 28 days as experimental animals. All animals of each period (30 cows; 15 multiparous and 15 primiparous) were treated according to Iranian Council of Animal Care guide lines (1995). Cows were randomly assigned to experimental diets based on their parity, days in milk (DIM) and milk yield. Designed five experimental diets were (1) Control diet (CP=16.2; providing +149 g/d of MP requirements according to NRC (2001); (2) Low protein diet (LPD) +methionine (LPDM; CP=14.2; −232 g/d of MP requirements + 30 gr/cow per day of RPMet [Mepron, Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH, Hanau, Germany); (3) LPD +lysine (LPDL; CP=14.2; −232 g/d of MP requirements,+ 100 gr/cow per day RPLys of [RELys, VETAGRO S.p.A.; Reggio Emilia, Italy]); (4) LPD +methionine + lysine (LPDML; CP=14.2); (5) LPD +methionine + lysine + choline (LPDMLC; CP=14.2; + 60 gr/cow per day of RPChol, [ReaShure, Balchem Corp., New Hampton, NY]). Diets were formulated according to nutrient requirements of dairy cattle (NRC, 2001) to meet the nutrient requirements of the cows (milk yield= 45 kg/d, milk fat= 3.3% and milk true protein= 2.9%). Offered ad libitum diets (TMR, at 0730, 1530 and 2330 h) aimed to have refusals of 5 to 10%. The rumen protected Met, Lys and Chol were fed top-dressed to the LPD receiving cows. All the cows were milked three times a day (0630, 1430 and 2230 h). 2.3. Statistical AnalysisObtained data for DMI, milk yield and milk composition were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS (SAS software version 9.4) as repeated measurement. The statistical model was:Yijk = μ + Ci + Tj + CTij+ Pk + TPjk + eijkwhere Yijk is the dependent variable, μ is the overall mean, Ci is the cow, Tj is the experimental diet (jth treatment), CTij is the interaction of cow × treatment, Pk is the experimental phase (phase 1 & 2), and TPjk is the interaction of treatment × phase and eijk is the error term.Collected data for blood parameters and reproductive performance were analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS (SAS software version 9.4). The statistical model was:Yij = μ + Ci + Tj + Pk + PTjk + eij where Yijk is the dependent variable, μ is the overall mean, Ci is the cow, Tj is the jth treatment ( experimental diet), Pk is the experimental phase (phase 1 & 2), and TPjk is the treatment × phase interaction, with the error term eijk assumed to be normally distributed. P-value of 5% (P≤ 0.05) were declared as significant difference among treatments.Results and discussion: Daily DMI, milk protein and fat were not significantly different, but significantly higher milk yield were achieved for the control, LPDML and LPDMLC groups (P<0.05). Significantly higher milk urea N (13.82 mg/dl) was obtained for the control group (P<0.05). Plasma concentration of insuline and creatinine was not affected by experimental diets, whereas significantly higher concentration of glucose (58.75 mg/dl) was obtained for LPDL (P<0.05). Energy status indicators (NEFA&BHBA) were not influenced by experimental diets, but blood urea-N was significantly higher (16.15 mg/dl) for the control group (P<0.05). Number of days from calving to first artificial insemination, open days, number of artificial inseminations, number of first services resulting in pregnancies and number of second services resulting in pregnancy were not significantly different among the experimental groups. In conclusion, the results showed that it might be possible to keep dairy cattle productive and reproductive performance by decreasing about 12.35% of the CP level of the diet which was compensated for by supplementing RPMet, RPLys and RPChol. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_17539.html ABSTRACTThe present study was designed to compare the efficacy of organic and inorganic sources of trace minerals (TM) in the flushing diet on some blood biochemical parameters and hormonal profile of Ghezel ewes during breeding season. Eighty ewes (48.88±7.40 kg), age (2 to 4), with parity (1 to 4), and BCS (2 to 3.5) were assigned to the experiment. The study was conducted for a period of five weeks. The ewes were divided into 4 treatment groups included: 1 (CTM): flushing with chelated TM (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cr, Se and Co from Bonzaplex7), 2 (ITM): flushing with inorganic TM (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cr, Se and Co), 3 (NTM): flushing without trace minerals, and 4 (Control): only pasture grazed. At the end of five weeks, blood samples were collected on day 34 of the experiment to assay hormones, enzymes, and metabolites. The collected data were analyzed by GLM procedure of SAS software. The experimental diets had no effect on cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and estradiol concentrations (P>0.05). Progesterone tended to be higher in CTM group (P=0.07). However, the lowest triglyceride and total protein were observed in ITM group (P<0.05). Also, serum urea concentration was the highest in the control group (P<0.05). Concentrations of T3 and T4 were affected by treatments (P<0.01) and were higher in the CTM group as compared with other groups. However, the ratio of T3/T4 was higher in the NTM and control groups as compared with supplemented ewes (P<0.01). Although superoxide dismutase, alkaline phosphatase, choline-esterase, and hemoglobin were not affected by treatments (P>0.05), malondialdehyde (P=0.09) and glutathione peroxidase (P=0.07) tended to be lower in CTM group, and total antioxidant capacity was lower in CTM group (P<0.01). Therefore, the current study demonstrated that the flushing ration with TM chelate could not affect biochemical parameters, antioxidant status and sex hormones, but thyroid hormones improved in ewes. So, it is suggested to use this supplement in longer period in order to evaluate these indicators. keywords: Antioxidant status, Blood metabolites and hormones, Ewes, Flushing, Inorganic minerals, Organic minerals. INTRODUCTIONEssential trace minerals (TM) plays an important role in reproductive performance (Vázquez-Armijo et al. 2011). Trace minerals participate in the synthesis of some reproductive hormones. For example, manganese is involved in the synthesis of cholesterol, which in turn is essential for the synthesis of steroid hormones such as progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone (Xie et al. 2014). Zinc is a component of a special type of proteins that play a role in the genetic expression of reproductive hormones (Tapiero et al. 2003), while Cu is essential in the synthesis and maintenance of the appropriate level of FSH in the serum (Vázquez-Armijo et al. 2011). The Se and Fe used for estrogen and progesterone biosynthesis (Derar et al. 2022). Changes in thyroid hormone concentration in the blood indicate indirect changes in thyroid gland function (Todini et al. 2007). The normal function of thyroid glands is based on the presence of minerals for the synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormone (Arthur et al. 1988). Zinc, iron , copper and selenium have important role in action of enzymes involved in the action of thyroid hormone metabolism and T4 conversion to T3 (Ebrahimi et al. 2009; Yatoo et al. 2013). In addition, trace minerals are cofactors of a large number of enzymes that play a significant role in reproduction. As a result, their deficiency/imbalance exerts can lead to various disorders that ultimately lead to reduced reproductive efficiency. Mineral deficiency in livestock is often seasonal, resulting from increased demands of pregnancy, lactation or rapid growth at the same time as reduced mineral content or availability in pasture (Dar et al. 2014). Intensive production requires full coverage and proper balance of mineral elements. Meeting mineral needs at times when physiological needs are greatest will have a greater return on investment than at other times of the year. The periods of breeding, early gestation, and late gestation simultaneously rely on senescent plant communities with the lowest nutritional value for many extensively managed sheep operations. Deficiency of minerals in forages and soils has been reported, which is the main reason for reproductive failure and low animal productivity (McDowell and Valle, 2000). This deficiency in animal diets or in the uptake may decline ovulation rate, but it has a direct primary effect on basic health status (Vázquez-Armijo et al. 2011; Suttle 2022). Adequate amounts of TM supplements and their absorption are required for various metabolic functions such as reproduction, immunity, growth and development (Hackbart et al. 2010; Suttle, 2022). Traditionally, TM in diet is usually obtained from inorganic compounds: sulfate, oxide, chloride and phosphate due to the cost and availability of the commercial surface (Yaqoob et al. 2020). The bioavailability of ingested inorganic minerals may be less than 20% due to several factors, including reactions with lipids, protein, fiber, oxalic acids, oxides, and vitamins, as well as interactions with other compounds such as phosphates and phytates (Hardcastle, 1995). Several research activities conducted on different species of livestock showed that the use of different sources of trace minerals led to a significant improvement in the bioavailability of organic forms (OTM) compared with inorganic forms (Hardcastle, 1995; Wang et al. 2010; Yatoo et al. 2013; Xie et al. 2014; Alimohamady et al. 2019). Investigations showed that amino acids and peptides in connection with Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn elements can increase the availability of these metals. So, improve milk production, growth, reproduction and general health of livestock (Hackbart et al. 2010; Sobhanirad and Naserian, 2012; Qiu et al. 2022). Studies have reported that the presence of organic acids such as citric, lactic and malic in food materials can lead to an increase in bioavailability of copper. Organic acids can improve rumen fermentation, they sustain the rumen pH, even after consumption of carbohydrate-rich feeds through which an increased growth and fattening performance are observed (Martin, 1998). Chelate are stable complexes that preserve the minerals from engaging in chemical reactions that occur during digestion. Moreover, it has been shown that chelated trace minerals (CTM) dissociate from their carrier groups in the intestinal lumen and are then absorbed into enterocytes lining the gastrointestinal tract (Byrne et al. 2021). Recent studies have confirmed that supplementing livestock with CTM has resulted in improved production and reproductive performance. By using the flushing method and feeding vitamin E and organic selenium to ewes, reported to improve fertility, estrus and reduce non-pregnant ewes by improving the control of oxidative conditions and increasing sex hormones (Safdar et el. 2020). Earlier researchers concluded that OTMs (Fe, Mn, Se, Cu and Zn) supplement could improve hepatic Cu/Zn-SOD, ALP, and GSH-Px activities and reduce fecal Mn, Cu, and Se excretion for grower-finisher pigs when supplemented at commercially recommended levels (Liu et al. 2016).Also, ewes treated with organic phosphorus twice a week for 3 weeks at the end of breeding season had higher pregnancy rate (80 vs. 50%), shorter interval to estrus and increased number of antral follicles compared with control ewes (Senosy et al. 2018). https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_17546.html AbstractIntroduction: During the transition period, the lack of sufficient feed supply and the increase in energy required for fetal growth and the initiation of lactation are associated with changes in blood metabolites and hormones in dairy ruminants (van Dorland et al. 2009; Zarin et al. 2017; Ahmadpour et al. 2019). Thyroid hormones play an important role in circadian rhythms even in animals such as dairy cows (Bateman et al. 1984). The concentration of these hormones in dairy cattle is influenced by various factors such as the transition period, parturition, ambient temperature, feed restriction and diet components (Todini 2007; Todini et al. 2007; Fiore et al. 2015). Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) is a peptide hormone with 70 amino acids. This hormone is one of the factors affecting the growth and development of breast tissue, which is done through the differentiation of breast epithelial cells and its maintenance (Flint and Vernon, 1998). In order to better understand the mechanism of these metabolic adjustments, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the consequences of feed restriction before and after parturition on the concentration of thyroid hormones involved in basal metabolism as well as insulin-like growth factor-1. Our hypothesis in this experiment was that feed restriction in the pre- and post-partum period as well as the physiological phase change from pregnancy to lactation has an effect on the concentration of these hormones in fat-tailed sheep.Materials and Methods: To examine the response of thyroid hormones and insulin-like growth factor 1 in sheep subjected to feed restriction during parturition, 20 pregnant ewes with a mean age of 40.8 to 6.2 months and weighing 56 to 1 .8 kg (mean standard error) selected. The animals were randomly divided into two control (control; n=10) and feed restriction (restriction; n=10) groups. The control group had free access to feed from the beginning of the period to parturition (-5 to -1). The restriction group was fed complete at weeks -5 and -1 and 50, 65 and 80% of recommended diets at weeks -4, -3 and -2, respectively. After parturition, the same feeding program was repeated for five weeks (weeks 1 to 5). Blood samples were taken weekly. The plasma was isolated and the concentration of the desired hormones was measured using the ELISA method. The data analysis was based on the SAS mixed model. Results and discussion: In the prepartume, the concentration of T3 and T4 hormones was not affected by feed restriction. The concentration of T3 hormone in the prepartume period in the control group remained unchanged, but in the restriction group only in the fifth week of the experiment (-5) it showed a significant increase compared to the other weeks of the experiment and also the fifth week in the control group (P<0.05). In the postpartum period, dietary restriction increased the concentration of T3 hormone in the restriction group, especially in the second to fifth weeks after delivery compared to the control group (P<0.05). The interaction effect of oral treatments on test weeks was also significant in the postpartum period for T3 hormone (P<0.01). The concentration of T4 hormone in the postpartum period was affected by food restriction and showed a higher concentration than the control group (P<0.01). showed (P<0.05). It seems that sheep with tails during the time of food restriction by regulating the basic metabolism of the body through increasing the activity. The thyroid gland and the increase in the concentration of hormones secreted from it keep the basic metabolism high to provide energy and nutrients needed by different tissues. This idea can be justified by the increase in lipolysis of reserve tissues (Puchi et al. 2000; Sinha et al. 2018), no decrease in blood glucose, no change in immunoglobulin content, and no difference between the components and compositions of milk in animals of the food restriction group(Zarin et al. 2021; Nouri et al. 2023). About 70% of ewes' mammary growth occurs in the last four weeks of pregnancy (Mellor and Murray, 1985), which can be affected during insufficient feeding.In the prenatal period, the concentration of IGF-I showed a decreasing trend from the start of the experiment (week-5) to the time of delivery in both treatment groups, so that in the control group, it was lower from week-3 to week-1 than when the experiment started. (P<0.05). In the restriction group, this significant decrease started from the second week and showed a lower concentration (-5) until the last week compared to the first week of the experiment (P<0.05). Feed restriction caused the concentration of this hormone to be higher in the third week (-3) and fifth week of the experiment (-1) compared to the control group (P<0.05). The interaction effect of nutritional treatments and test time was statistically significant (P<0.01). In the postpartum period in the control group, no significant difference was observed between the weeks of the experiment, but in the restriction group, the second to fourth weeks where the 50%, 65%, and 80% restrictions were applied respectively, the concentration of IGF-I compared to the week The animals in the group with free access to feed (weeks 1 and 5) were less (P<0.05). Feed restriction caused a significant difference in IGF-I concentration in the fourth week of the experiment compared to the control group (P<0.05). Postpartum plasma IGF-I concentrations decreased in both groups, and this decrease was greater in the feed restriction group. The findings of the present study in the postnatal period are consistent with previous reports of low IGF-I levels in feed-restricted animals (Anderson et al. 2004; Banchero et al. 2006; Radcliffe et al. 2006). According to the obtained results, it is concluded that the increase in the concentration of this hormone in the pre-natal period due to the decrease in the availability of food for mammary development is a kind of homeostasis specific to long-tailed sheep to provide the minimum needs of newborns for their survival, so that the immunoglobulin content of colostrum and even lamb blood plasma was not significantly different between the two groups (Nouri et al. 2023).Conclusion: According to the obtained results, it seems that the fat-tailed sheep during feed restriction through increasing the activity of the thyroid gland and increasing the concentration of the hormones secreted from it keeps the basic metabolism high to provide the energy and nutrients needed by the tissue are different. The decrease in the concentration of IGF-I in the feed restriction group after parturition also indicated the decrease in the development of mammary gland following the feed restriction, the results of which were confirmed in previous reports. But the increase in the concentration of this hormone in the prepartume period due to the decrease in the availability of edible substances in a way indicates the special ability of fat-tailed sheep to provide the minimum needs of their newborn for survival, so that the immunoglobulin content of the colostrum and even the blood plasma of the lambs are different between the two groups. These findings provide important new information regarding the relationship between thyroid hormones and nutritional status during feed restriction around parturition, suggesting that these hormones play an important role in providing energy requirements through the mobilization of body stores. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_17914.html Introduction: The transition period in dairy goats refers to the period of three weeks before and three weeks after parturition. During this period, the increase in nutritional requirements as a result of the increased nutrient requirements resulting from the exponential growth of on the one hand, and the reduction in feed intake due to the decreased nutrient uptake caused by the increased uterine volume on the other hand, exposes the animal to negative energy balance and various metabolic abnormalities such as pregnancy toxemia. Therefore, finding alternatives that can reduce the consequences of negative energy balance will lead to an improvement in metabolic status and animal health. Additives involved in energy metabolism, such as rumen-protected niacin and choline chloride, can mitigate the negative effects of negative energy balance in the transition period due to their contribution to lipid metabolic pathways and gluconeogenesis, thus leading to a strengthening of the animal's metabolic status. Objective: This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of body condition score and supplementation of rumen-protected niacin and choline chloride during the transition period on blood parameters of Murciano Granadina dairy goats. Material and methods: During the transition period (21 days prepartum and 21 days postpartum), seventy-two multiparous pregnant Murciano-Granadina goats that were previously estrous-synchronized with CIDR and PMSG hormone were equally allocated (n= 12) to one of the following six experimental diets based on BCS in a randomized complete block design: 1) LBC: dry goats with 3≤BCS≤3.5 and fed the basal diet; 2) HBC: dry goats with BCS>3.5 and fed the basal diet; 3) HBC+ Ni: dry goats with BCS>3.5 and fed the basal diet plus 4.7 g of rumen-protected niacin; 4) LBC + Ni: dry goats with 3≤BCS≤3.5 and fed the basal diet plus 4.7 g of rumen-protected niacin; 5) HBC + Cho: dry goats with BCS>3.5 and fed the basal diet plus 16 g of rumen-protected choline chloride and 6) LBC + Cho: dry goats with 3≤BCS≤3.5 and fed the basal diet plus 16 g of rumen-protected choline chloride. he commercial brand of rumen-protected choline chloride used in this experiment was VETACHOL and contained 25% coated choline, and the commercial brand used for rumen-protected niacin was NIAPASS and contained 50% coated nicotinic acid. The experimental diets were formulated according to the requirements recommended by NRC (2007) and using SRNS (2007) software and were offered in four meals. During the experimental period, the difference between the amount of feed offered and rejected was recorded daily to calculate the dry matter intake of the goats. Sampling of feeds was done weekly to determine the chemical composition of feed such as dry matter, ash, crude protein, NDF, fat, calcium, and phosphorus content. Blood samples were collected from the experimental animals on the 130th, 137th, and 143rd day of pregnancy and on the 7th and 14th day after kidding for determination of glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, VLDL, total protein, albumin, and urea nitrogen levels using Pars Azmun diagnostic kits via spectrophotometry. All statistical analyses were performed with a randomized complete block design using SAS v.9.3 software. Results and discussion: On the 137th and 143rd days of pregnancy, blood glucose levels were higher in goats fed rumen-protected choline chloride than in those fed rumen-protected niacin and the control groups (P < 0.01). On day 143 of pregnancy and at the time of parturition, administration of rumen-protected choline chloride resulted in an increase in triglyceride and VLDL concentrations compared with the other nutritional treatments (P < 0.01). The increase in VLDL concentration when taking rumen-protected choline chloride may be due to the fact that RPC increases the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and leads to the export of VLDL from the liver, thereby improving lipid metabolism (Lima et al. 2010). During the last week of pregnancy, the blood cholesterol concentration of goats consuming the rumen-protected choline chloride was higher than in the other groups (P < 0.01), but did not differ from the control group with a high body score. In the first week after kidding, goats that did not receive any supplements had lower cholesterol concentrations than other experimental groups in both groups of body condition scores (P<0.01). The results also showed that the amount of total protein and blood albumin of goats during the transition period was not affected by the nutritional treatments and body condition scores (P > 0.05). The fact that the albumin and total protein concentrations of the studied goats did not change during the transition period may indicate that the rations used in the experiment provided sufficient protein to the studied animals, because despite the significant differences between treatments in terms of blood concentration, no significant difference was observed in total protein and albumin levels. On day 14 postpartum, the use of rumen-protected niacin in goats with high body condition scores resulted in higher urea concentrations compared with the LBC, HBC + Cho, and LBC + Cho treatments (P < 0.01). The increase in blood urea concentration as a result of rumen-protected niacin intake may be related to the coenzyme NADH, which is required for urea biosynthesis to provide amino nitrogen via aspartate (Harmeyer and Kolnkrichen 1989). Conclusion: In general, the results of this study showed that the use of rumen-protected choline chloride at the rate of 16 g/head/day in the diets of Murciano Granadina dairy goats with 3≤BCS≤3.5 or BCS > 3.5 during the transition period improved the metabolic status of the goats by increasing the amount of glucose, VLDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol, especially one week before parturition, whereas the beneficial effect of protected niacin supplementation was less evident. Therefore, it is recommended to use this additive during the transition period of Murciano Granadina dairy goats to improve their metabolic status and prevent metabolic disorders. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_18382.html Introduction: Iran is one of the largest producers of palm leaf by-products. Palm leaves have excellent potential to be used as animal feed. However, the nutritional barrier for a Palm leaves consists of several factors such as high lignin content, low digestive potential and low metabolic energy. Recently, a more general solution to this challenge has been proposed, which are mechanical, chemical, and biological treatments of palm leaf by-products. With this motivation, the overall aim of this work was to investigate Kluyveromyces marxianus microbial inoculants and molasses on the chemical composition and nutritional value of ensiled palm leaves based on in vitro techniques.Material and method: The leaves of palm trees were collected from the groves of Bushehr province and then chopped into 3 to 5 cm pieces. Since bagasse is a common feed sourced from agricultural waste, in the present study, bagasse was used to compare the nutritional value of palm leaves with a common agriculture waste as a feed in ruminant nutrition. Palm leaves were treated with different concentrations of microbial additives and molasses. The bacterial additive, used under the brand name Kluyveromyces marxianus sub at the manufacturer's recommended amount (109 per ml), was mixed with water and applied to the treatments as a spray. Experimental treatments included palm leaf, palm leaf silage with no additives, and palm leaf silage with microbial additive and molasses at various concentrations. For approximate analysis, dried silage samples were measured at 80 °C according to the methods recommended by AOAC (2005) and NDF and ADF according to Van Soust (1991). The recommended method by Fedorak and Herody was used to measure gas production and the recommended method by Parnian et al. (2014) was used to determine the in vitro degradability. The required rumen fluid was collected from two Fistula ewes fed a diet containing 60% concentrate and 40% forage. The basic mathematical model was used to determine the gas production and degradability parameters. This research was conducted in a fully randomized design (CRD) and the data were analyzed using SAS software.Result and discussion: On this basis, the palm leaf silage containing 50% molasses had the highest dry matter among other processed treatments. Ziaei et al. (2008) reported that adding 10% molasses to silage of palm branches increased the dry matter of the silage by more than 5% and accounted for 93% of the dry matter of palm branches without additives. Furthermore, the highest crude protein levels were associated with the treatment of silage with molasses and microbial additives, and the lowest levels of crude protein with bagasse and unprocessed palm leaves. Also, the highest amount of ash was due to the treatment of silage with molasses and the lowest amount to the treatment of bagasse and unprocessed palm leaves. Moreover, the result showed that microbial additive alone has no effect on the ash content of palm leaf silage. Cascon et al. (2005) reported that adding molasses to sorghum silage increases raw ash, consistent with the results of the present study. The results show that the process of ensiling palm leaves with molasses and microbial additive reduces NDF and ADF, and there was a significant difference between palm leaf silage with no additive and palm leaf silage with molasses and microbial additive (p<0.05). Based on gas production results, palm leaves showed a significant difference from the processed treatments at all incubation times (P<0.05). According to Chiquette et al. (1998) Palm leaves have higher levels of phenolic compounds than bagasse, including tannins, and tannins reduce the binding of rumen microorganisms to nutrients due to their high ability to form complexes with carbohydrates and proteins, and therefore have lower gas production. The results showed that the dry matter degradability of palm leaves processed with molasses and microbial inoculum differs significantly from the control treatment due to low NDF and ADF and high crude protein and ash content. The degradability of the dry matter was higher in the processed treatments than in the control treatment. Sadeghi et al. (2007) reported that the addition of urea and molasses to palm shoots reduced NDF and ADF and increased the digestibility of palm leaves. Also in the study by Alikhani et al. (2005) adding molasses to silage as a carbohydrate source increases dry matter degradability by 13% compared to molasses-free treatments and cites an increase in the population of cell wall-degrading microorganisms due to the use of molasses as a growth factor.Abstract. Iran is one of the largest producers of palm leaf by-products. Palm leaves have excellent potential to be used as animal feed. However, the nutritional barrier for a Palm leaves consists of several factors such as high lignin content, low digestive potential and low metabolic energy. Recently, a more general solution to this challenge has been proposed, which are mechanical, chemical, and biological treatments of palm leaf by-products. With this motivation, the overall aim of this work was to investigate Kluyveromyces marxianus microbial inoculants and molasses on the chemical composition and nutritional value of ensiled palm leaves based on in vitro techniques. Experimental treatments included palm leaf silage with no additives and palm leaf silage with the microbial additive and molasses at different concentrations. This research was conducted in a fully randomized design and the data were analyzed using SAS software. The results showed that palm leaves in silage with molasses contained the highest dry matter content (DM) and the lowest DM content occurred in the ensilage treatment of palm leaves with and without the microbial additive. Based on the results, treatment of palm leaves in silage with molasses and the microbial additive resulted in an increase in crude protein, crude fat and ash content and, in contrast, a decrease in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acidic detergent fiber (ADF). The results of the gas production test from the experimental treatments at different incubation times showed that the silage treatments with molasses and the microbial additive produced less gas than unprocessed palm leaves. In terms of DM degradability, significant differences between treatments were observed at different incubation times (P<0.05). The lowest and highest percentages of degradability were measured in unprocessed palm leaves and in silage treatment with molasses and microbial inoculum. Overall, the test results showed that silage containing molasses and the microbial additive improves the nutritional value and degradability of palm leaves, and palm leaves can be used as ruminant feed. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_18512.html Introduction: One of the potential sources of livestock nutrition is waste and Citrus by-products. The use of these food sources due to availability, low price, palatability, improving feed quality and also to reduce environmental pollution, has been increasingly considered by ranchers and animal nutritionists. The lime tree or Mexican lime, scientifically known as Citrus aurantifolia, is a small tree that belongs to the citrus family or Rutaceae and the order Rutales (Peterson et al. 2006). The fruit of Mexican lime cultivar in Iran is called Shiraz water, glass lemon and Omani lemon (Qazvini 1998). The tree has a small fruit with a thin green bark that turns yellow when fully ripe and falls off after turning yellow. This fruit is very fragrant, juicy and acidic (Daneshgar 2007). The color of the edible part of the fruit is green and sour taste (Tabrizi 1369). In 2019, Iran was in the tenth place in the world with the production of more than 471 thousand tons of lemons (lemon & lime) (FAOSTAT, 2020). It is expected that in the coming years, with the improvement of cultivation methods, management techniques, plant health conditions and also the existence of favorable weather, lime production in Iran will increase. Most of the lime fruit goes to factories and processing centers to produce lemon juice, concentrate or essential oil (Animal Feed Commission 2016). Lime fruit residues after dehydration are called lime pulp, which mainly contains the skin, kernel and pulp residues from dehydration. It makes up about 54% of the total weight of the fruit, which usually varies depending on the type of fruit, processing methods and environmental factors (Mahato et al. 2019). Lime pulp is an energy source for ruminants and can be used as a non-forage fiber with high degradability in ruminant diets (Lashkari and Taghizadeh 2013).Due to the seasonal production and low shelf life of lime pulp, the need to use processes that enable us to provide this product all year round seems necessary. Forage storage in the form of silage is a common method of providing ruminant food sources at times of the year when fresh forage is not available. In this method, due to the activity of lactic acid-producing bacteria and under anaerobic conditions, water-soluble carbohydrates in forage water are converted to organic acids (mainly lactic acid) and reduce the pH and thus protect forage from microbial spoilage (Filia 2003). Lime pulp is a suitable option for silage due to its digestible fibers, energy, sugar and high humidity and can be economically useful and provide nutrients for livestock (Delfard et al. 1396).Various additives can be used to improve the nutritional quality of silage. Lime pulp is low in sugar (Kumar et al. 2022). Molasses is a cheap source of carbohydrates for lactic acid bacteria and can increase lactic fermentation. Due to the fact that lime fruit is washed before watering, the population of Lactobacillus in lime pulp is reduced. In order to provide a sufficient population of Lactobacillus, a lactic acid-producing bacterial additive can be used to achieve a sufficient amount of lactic acid and to reduce acetic and butyric acid during the preparation of lime pulp silage (LPS).Material and methods: This research was conducted in a completely randomized block design with 4 treatments and 3 replications in each treatment: 1) Lime pulp treatment, control, (LPS), 2) Lime pulp treatment mixed with 5% molasses, (LPMS), 3) Lime pulp treatment inoculated with Silolact additive (Includes: Lactobacillus plantarium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and dextrose monohydrate), (LPMLS), 4) Treatment of lime pulp inoculated with enzyme Silolact additive (including Lactobacillus plantarium - Lactobacillus acidophilus and enzymes), (LPMLES). Samples were stored in laboratory silos for 25 days at 25° C. The appearance properties of silage, aerobic stability and physicochemical properties of silages were investigated.Results and discussion: According to the results, there was a significant difference between the treatments in terms of NDF, ADF, ash and pH (P <0.05). The control treatment had better performance in terms of pH and Flieg points (P <0.05). Pectin levels in the control treatment had the highest decrease, but this decrease was not significant. Addition of molasses decreased WHC and increased WSC and improved aerobic stability and apparent quality of silage (P <0.05). The lactic acid concentration of inoculated silos (LPMLS and LPMLES) was higher than non-inoculated silos (P <0.01). The lowest concentrations of acetic acid and propionic acid were observed in inoculated silos (LPMLS and LPMLES) (P <0.05). Concentrations of valeric acid and iso-valeric acid were not affected by enzyme and inoculation of lactobacilli (P = 0.07(. According to the results, the control treatment had better performance in terms of pH, Flieg point and WHC and the addition of molasses reduced WHC and increased water-soluble carbohydrates, pH, Ash, fiber insoluble in neutral and acidic detergent and improved appearance quality and aerobic stability. Bacterial and enzymatic inoculations had a beneficial effect on fermentation and nutritional quality of lime pomace silage. The results of our study emphasized the importance of pH in creating a microbial population of silage in a pectin-containing environment. The high WHC in lime pulp suggests it as a functional substance to avoid synergism and modify the viscosity of diets. Molasses makes the acidic environment of fresh lime pulp more alkaline, so that in the early stages of silage, we see a more suitable pH for microbial activity, especially of Lactobacillus. The use of bacterial and enzymatic additives in the early stages of silage has a beneficial effect on the fermentation and nutritional quality of lime pulp silage. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_19273.html Introduction: Todays, low crude protein (LP) diets are interested for poultry nutritionists and the poultry feed industry as well. One important concern using LP diets is occurring poor performance in broilers which has been reported by some authors. Dean et al. (2006) studied different dietary manipulation tools for improving performance in LP diets and found that glycine (Gly) has a basic role; as the supplementing 2.44 % Gly+Ser in the LP diet led to the equal performance with the diet containing standard CP level. Threonine can be used as procures of glycine. Therefore, Gly supplementation increases the amount of Thr available for the physiological processes. On the other hand, Thr at the levels more than required level could serve as a source of Gly+Ser in LP diets (Ospina-Rojas et al. 2013b). Based on this information, the objective of the present study was to evaluate Gly requirements in LP diets with different levels of digestible (dig) Thr, and their effects on supplementation in comparison with recommended levels of crude protein (RCP) diet on performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens from 8 to 28d of age. Material and methods: A four hundred and sixty-two male Ross-308 broilers distributed in a completely randomized design in a 3× 2 +1 factorial arrangement (3 levels of dig Gly‌+Ser, 2 levels of dig Thr in LP diets and 1 recommend CP (RCP) diet ) with 6 replicates with 11 birds per replicate. Factorial arrangements of The LP diets (18.3% CP) were 3 levels of digestible Gly‌+Ser (1.41, 1.51, and 1.61%) and two levels digestible Thr (0.76, 0.86%, corresponding to 100 and 110 % of Thr requirements, respectively). A RCP diet was formulated to be adequate in essential AA except for Gly, as recommended by Rostagno et al. (2011). L- Glu acid was used as nonspecific nitrogen for the need to the synthesis of Non-essential amino acids. Other six experimental diets with different levels of Gly and Thr were obtained by supplementing the basal diet with Gly and Thr as replacement of L-Glu acid. Body weight and feed intake were recorded at the beginning and the end of the experimental period 8 to 28 d of age. Mortality was recorded daily and corrected to its effect on feed intake. Data were analyzed using a completely randomized design as a factorial arrangement with R software (3.6.2) software (Team. 2020). Also, the fixed effects were expressed as Least Square Means (LSMEANS±SE), and to compare the mean of treatments, the Tukey Kramer test was used.Results and discussion: In the present study, dig Gly supplementation at levels higher than 1.41% in the LP diets showed a significant improvement (P≤0.01) in the body weight gain index of broilers. This is in agreement with the study of Namroud et al. (2008) who reported that in LP diets below 19% CP supplemented with large amounts of essential amino acids, the concentration of ammonia in blood increases and leads to negative effects on tissue metabolism and reduced appetite and growth of poultry, so the addition of Gly and Glu increases the production of uric acid from ammonia and improves performance. In this study, the main effect of supplementation of different levels of dig Thr in LP diets did not significantly effect on performance of broilers (P≥0.05). The interaction effects between levels of dig Gly and Thr were significant (P≤0.05) on BWG and were the highest in the diets with a high levels of dig Gly (1.51, 1.61 %) and Thr (0.86 %) in comparison to the diets containing 1.41 and 0.76 % dig Gly and Thr (i.e., BWG 1146 vs.919g, respectively). These results are in agreement with the reports of Ospina-Rojas et al. (2013b) and Hillar et al. (2019), they suggested that in LP diets supplemented with Gly+Ser and Thr, the catabolic enzymes (Thr aldolase and Thr dehydrogenase) convert the excess Thr to Gly, so the energy used in the synthesis of Gly endogenous (9ATP/mol) is used to improve performance. In our study, there were not found significant (P≥0.05) differences in BWG, FI and FCR between RCP diet and LP diets. The results show that the growth performance of the birds fed LP diets was similar with the birds fed the RCP diet, this finding may be due that the LP diets only contained 2 % CP lower but the content of digestible essential amino acids similar in comparison with RCP diet These results are consistent with the report of Van Harn et al. (2018). In our study, the main effect of Gly supplementation in high levels (1.51, 1.61 %) significantly (P≤0.001) increased in the percentage of breast meat, these results are consistent with studies Kriseldi et al. (2017) that showed Gly amino acid has an important role in the synthesis of creatine. Energy metabolism in muscle tissue is affected by creatine. The interaction effect between levels of dig Gly (1.51, 1.61 %) and Thr (0.86 %) in comparison to the diet containing 1.41 and 0.76 % dig Gly and Thr were significant increased (P≤0.05) on breast and thigh meat percent. By increasing the dig Gly concentration in LP diets, the amount of Thr available for protein synthesis such as breast tissue increases. Conclusions: It can be concluded that dig Gly supplementation in LP diets significantly improves BWG of broiler chickens. Also it seems interactions between dig Gly and Thr supplementation in diets allow reduction of dietary CP from 20.39% to 18.32% for broilers from 8 to 28 days of age, while maintaining growth performance similar to the RCP diet. However, to support maximum growth, it is recommended that the requirement for dig Thr in the LP diets be higher than 0.86%. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_19505.html Introduction: Intravaginal progestagens are widely used to synchronize estrus in sheep, typically resulting in an estrus rate of 90% and a pregnancy rate of 70–80% (Evans et al., 2001). However, these protocols are long-term and expensive. Moreover, there is a need to reconsider these intravaginal devices for social reasons such as animal health, welfare, food safety, and environmental impact (Gonzalez-Bulnes et al., 2020). PGF2α-based protocols produce less environmental pollution compared to intravaginal progesterone devices and are more cost-effective (Fierro et al., 2013); therefore, they may serve as a suitable alternative for estrus synchronization in ewes. To improve PGF2α-based protocols, the administration of gonadotropins has been investigated in several studies. For instance, the studies of Moradi Kor et al. (2012) and Mirzaei et al. (2017) demonstrated that GnRH-PGF2α treatment or GnRH-PGF2α-eCG treatment provided acceptable estrus rates and fertility in ewes. However, the repeated use of gonadotropins, such as eCG, has resulted in low pregnancy rates due to the development of a humoral immune response in small ruminants. In this context, Cox et al. (2024) compared the ability of hCG versus eCG to support follicular growth and fertility. Their results showed that ewes treated with hCG exhibited similar performance to those treated with eCG. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of GnRH and hCG injections in PGF2α-based protocols on progesterone concentration and reproductive performance in Afshari ewes during the breeding season. Materials and Methods: This experiment was carried out during the breeding season (September 2023) at the Afshari Sheep Breeding Station in Zanjan, Iran. Ewes (n=64) were divided into treatment (GhP and GPP) and control groups. Control ewes (n=24) received intravaginal sponges (contacting 60 mg Medroxy Progesterone Acetate) for 14 days with an eCG injection at the time of sponge removal. The treatment groups were intramuscularly injected with a GnRH analogue at the beginning of the study (Day 0). The GhP group (n=20) was treated with hCG five days later, followed by an intramuscular PGF2α injection seven days after that. The GPP group (n=20) was treated with two doses of PGF2α, administered five and twelve days later, respectively. Blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture on days -10, 0, and 17 after mating. Results and Discussion: The estrus and pregnancy rate did not differ between treamtments. The interval to estrus was significantly delayed in the GhP group (P<0.01), which may be attributed to the status of the corpous luteum and the stage of follicular development at the time of PGF2α administration (Moradi Kor et al., 2012), as well as the disruption of follicular development following hCG administration (Bruno-Galarraga et al., 2021). The control group exhibited higher progesterone concentrations compared to the treatment groups on day 17 after mating (P<0.01). One possible reason for this observation could be the effect of eCG on the size and weight of the corpus luteum (Silva Filho et al., 2013) and, consequently, on progesterone concentration (Baruselli et al., 2009). A non-statistical comparison of the economic aspects showed that PGF2α-based protocols reduced the duration and cost of treatments. Conclusion: In this study, ewes injected with GnRH and PGF2α exhibited reproductive performance comparable to that achieved with intravaginal progestagene sponges+eCG. Considering the time and cost of estrous synchronization protocols, the GnRH-PGF2α-PGF2α protocol appears to be more efficient and cost-effective compared to conventional intravaginal progestagene sponges +eCG protocol.Key words: Breeding season, Estrus rate, GnRH, hCG, PGF2α, Sheep reproduction.Introduction: Intravaginal progestagens are widely used to synchronize estrus in sheep, typically resulting in an estrus rate of 90% and a pregnancy rate of 70–80% (Evans et al., 2001). However, these protocols are long-term and expensive. Moreover, there is a need to reconsider these intravaginal devices for social reasons such as animal health, welfare, food safety, and environmental impact (Gonzalez-Bulnes et al., 2020). PGF2α-based protocols produce less environmental pollution compared to intravaginal progesterone devices and are more cost-effective (Fierro et al., 2013); therefore, they may serve as a suitable alternative for estrus synchronization in ewes. To improve PGF2α-based protocols, the administration of gonadotropins has been investigated in several studies. For instance, the studies of Moradi Kor et al. (2012) and Mirzaei et al. (2017) demonstrated that GnRH-PGF2α treatment or GnRH-PGF2α-eCG treatment provided acceptable estrus rates and fertility in ewes. However, the repeated use of gonadotropins, such as eCG, has resulted in low pregnancy rates due to the development of a humoral immune response in small ruminants. In this context, Cox et al. (2024) compared the ability of hCG versus eCG to support follicular growth and fertility. Their results showed that ewes treated with hCG exhibited similar performance to those treated with eCG. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of GnRH and hCG injections in PGF2α-based protocols on progesterone concentration and reproductive performance in Afshari ewes during the breeding season. Materials and Methods: This experiment was carried out during the breeding season (September 2023) at the Afshari Sheep Breeding Station in Zanjan, Iran. Ewes (n=64) were divided into treatment (GhP and GPP) and control groups. Control ewes (n=24) received intravaginal sponges (contacting 60 mg Medroxy Progesterone Acetate) for 14 days with an eCG injection at the time of sponge removal. The treatment groups were intramuscularly injected with a GnRH analogue at the beginning of the study (Day 0). The GhP group (n=20) was treated with hCG five days later, followed by an intramuscular PGF2α injection seven days after that. The GPP group (n=20) was treated with two doses of PGF2α, administered five and twelve days later, respectively. Blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture on days -10, 0, and 17 after mating. Results and Discussion: The estrus and pregnancy rate did not differ between treamtments. The interval to estrus was significantly delayed in the GhP group (P<0.01), which may be attributed to the status of the corpous luteum and the stage of follicular development at the time of PGF2α administration (Moradi Kor et al., 2012), as well as the disruption of follicular development following hCG administration (Bruno-Galarraga et al., 2021). The control group exhibited higher progesterone concentrations compared to the treatment groups on day 17 after mating (P<0.01). One possible reason for this observation could be the effect of eCG on the size and weight of the corpus luteum (Silva Filho et al., 2013) and, consequently, on progesterone concentration (Baruselli et al., 2009). A non-statistical comparison of the economic aspects showed that PGF2α-based protocols reduced the duration and cost of treatments. Conclusion: In this study, ewes injected with GnRH and PGF2α exhibited reproductive performance comparable to that achieved with intravaginal progestagene sponges+eCG. Considering the time and cost of estrous synchronization protocols, the GnRH-PGF2α-PGF2α protocol appears to be more efficient and cost-effective compared to conventional intravaginal progestagene sponges +eCG protocol.Key words: Breeding season, Estrus rate, GnRH, hCG, PGF2α, Sheep reproduction. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_19956.html Introduction: Mastitis and metabolic diseases, including mastitis and ketosis, are among the most important diseases from an economic point of view in the dairy cattle industry, which cause a decrease in milk production, treatment costs, a decrease in the genetic progress of the herd, and a decrease in milk quality.Today, due to the increasing demand of consumers for healthy products, attention to animal health is of increasing importance. Cows that do not receive an appropriate proportion of energy in their diet are prone to diseases (Akbarpanah 2018). By controlling common diseases, it is possible to reduce the costs of disease, improve animal welfare, and increase the health and quality of livestock products (Bifa et al. 2005). Today, livestock breeding is moving more towards genetic modification for greater relative resistance to diseases and subsequently increasing the economic lifespan of the animal (Altenako et al. 2010). For this purpose, one of the strategies that is more or less recommended as a management tool today is the use of markers to predict the health of cows in the peri-calving period, especially developed for the management and monitoring of cow health (Costa et al. 2019).Objective: This study was to identify environmental factors and fixed effects to predict the development of mastitis and ketosis in Holstein dairy cows. Material and methods: Milk samples were taken from 1020 Holstein dairy cows, and milk parameters were measured by milk analysis devices using FT-MIR spectra, and the data were analyzed by SAS software. Logistic regression was used to examine the effect of factors on the incidence of mastitis and ketosis. Results and discussion: The results of Spearman's correlation between the traits of fat percentage, fat to protein ratio and lactose percentage with mastitis (disease= 1 and healthy = 0) showed a negative and significant correlation (P < 0.05), which were (-0.49), (-0.47) and (-0.33), respectively, and a positive correlation with the number of somatic cells (0.51). Spearman's correlation for the traits of milk urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and milk acetone and NEFA and with ketosis showed a positive and significant correlation, which were (0.35), (0.35), (0.37) and (0.38), respectively. Logistic regression coefficients showed that mastitis has a significant relationship with the biomarker parameters of fat percentage and somatic cell count (P < 0.0001). Ketosis have a significant positive relationship with the parameters of fat to protein ratio and beta-hydroxybutyrate and milk quantity (P<0.05). Based on the odds ratio, the main factors affecting ketosis were the ratio of fat to protein, beta-hydroxybutyrate and milk yield. Ketosis has a significant positive relationship with these parameters. Due to the economic consequences of ketosis, determining cows with clinical and subclinical forms of the disease is of great importance, and the results of some diagnostic tests, in addition to clinical examinations, can be used to improve management performance and prevent it; for this purpose, measuring beta-hydroxybutyrate in serum or plasma is used as the golden test for diagnosing this disease (Sakha et al., 2007). On the other hand, this disease will also increase the incidence of other peripartum diseases. Both clinical and subclinical ketosis can be associated with the occurrence of uterine diseases (Sakha et al., 2012). Studies have shown that ketone bodies affect white blood cells and indirectly affect the immune system (Radostis et al. 2007). BHB is used as the ketone body of choice to assess the body's energy status. It is considered a measure of negative energy balance rather than a nutritional indicator. Beta-hydroxybutyrate is increased in cases of negative energy balance, which may be due to a lack of dietary carbohydrates (Herdt 2000). Conclusion: Finding better strategies for prevention and early identification of animals at risk of health and production challenges may significantly prevent the occurrence and spread of disease or help in early treatment of animals. For this purpose, one of the strategies that is more or less recommended today as a management tool is monitoring milk components with the help of devices that examine milk components with the aim of relatively predicting the disease. Therefore, new biomarkers with higher sensitivity are helpful in predicting the diagnosis of subclinical bovine mastitis and ketosis. Without a doubt, mastitis and ketosis are the most important diseases of the dairy cattle industry that can cause significant economic losses. Regardless of the reduction in production and treatment costs, these diseases can lay the groundwork for the occurrence of many other disorders and economic losses caused by them. In such circumstances, the best way to prevent the losses caused by these diseases is to provide practical solutions to prevent the occurrence of diseases. Therefore, by measuring the concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate, fat parameters and the number of somatic cells, the time of disease occurrence can be predicted. A a general conclusion we propose by adopting management measures, the occurrence of mastitis and ketosis diseases could be prevented.Introduction: Mastitis and metabolic diseases, including mastitis and ketosis, are among the most important diseases from an economic point of view in the dairy cattle industry, which cause a decrease in milk production, treatment costs, a decrease in the genetic progress of the herd, and a decrease in milk quality.Today, due to the increasing demand of consumers for healthy products, attention to animal health is of increasing importance. Cows that do not receive an appropriate proportion of energy in their diet are prone to diseases (Akbarpanah 2018). By controlling common diseases, it is possible to reduce the costs of disease, improve animal welfare, and increase the health and quality of livestock products (Bifa et al. 2005). Today, livestock breeding is moving more towards genetic modification for greater relative resistance to diseases and subsequently increasing the economic lifespan of the animal (Altenako et al. 2010). For this purpose, one of the strategies that is more or less recommended as a management tool today is the use of markers to predict the health of cows in the peri-calving period, especially developed for the management and monitoring of cow health (Costa et al. 2019).Objective: This study was to identify environmental factors and fixed effects to predict the development of mastitis and ketosis in Holstein dairy cows. Material and methods: Milk samples were taken from 1020 Holstein dairy cows, and milk parameters were measured by milk analysis devices using FT-MIR spectra, and the data were analyzed by SAS software. Logistic regression was used to examine the effect of factors on the incidence of mastitis and ketosis. Results and discussion: The results of Spearman's correlation between the traits of fat percentage, fat to protein ratio and lactose percentage with mastitis (disease= 1 and healthy = 0) showed a negative and significant correlation (P < 0.05), which were (-0.49), (-0.47) and (-0.33), respectively, and a positive correlation with the number of somatic cells (0.51). Spearman's correlation for the traits of milk urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and milk acetone and NEFA and with ketosis showed a positive and significant corre https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_20390.html AbstractIntroduction: Colostrum is essential for the growth and development of the calf, not only as a food but also as a passive immunity transmitter. Feeding the calf with colostrum is one of the first and important steps in calf nursing. This happens when the calf is less than a week old. Colostrum is rich in nutrients that are needed for the growth of the body and includes sufficient and required amounts of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, trace elements and vitamins. In dairy cattle management, the calf receives colostrum during the first 4 days of life, and then the colostrum is replaced by milk. The protein digestion system of the calf remains immature from birth to three weeks of age, so it is not able to break down proteins other than milk. It is necessary for the calf to receive a sufficient amount of colostrum, which is considered both in terms of immunoglobulin concentration and in terms of reducing intestinal permeability to immunoglobulin during the first 24 hours after calving (Godden et al., 2019). The colostrum received also affects the metabolism, endocrine system and nutritional status of the newborn calf. Colostrum also stimulates the development and function of the digestive tract. One of the problems and issues that most livestock farmers face is the lack of adequate intake of good quality colostrum by newborn calves (Gomez & Chamorro, 2017). Among the most important causes of calf mortality during infancy are infectious diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea. Since the main reason for the occurrence of these diseases is the insufficient level of immunity in the calf due to insufficient intake of quality colostrum, and the calf's low ability to produce immune factors, storing sufficient amounts of colostrum in livestock for consumption in times when the newborn calf does not have access to quality colostrum is essential for its survival. Excess colostrum, which is rich in protein and fat and is produced in large quantities by cows, may be a promising alternative for calf consumption (McGrath et al., 2016). Although most farmers are aware of the importance of its storage and consumption during milk feeding, the difficulty of its storage makes it uninteresting to store and use it in various production systems. Also, there is not much information about colostrum storage methods for feeding calves in the country. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of using colostrum with different storage methods on performance, serum immunoglobulin, hematology, diarrhea status, and colostrum microbial population in Simmental calves (Robbers et al., 2021).Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different colostrum storage methods on the performance, health indicators, colostrum nutrient absorption, dry matter digestibility and blood factors of Simmental breed calves. The number of 32 male Simmental calves with an average weight of 39.5 ± 3.2 were divided into 4 groups in a completely random design for a period of 60 days, which included newborn calves that 1- received colostrum fresh from Mothers 2- received Fermented colostrum without any additives, 3- received Fermented colostrum with the addition of low-fat yogurt, and 4- received colostrum that was kept frozen in the freezer and heated to 37 degrees before use. Eight Simmental male calves were allocated to each group the calves were completely dried at birth, then weighed and the first blood sampling was done, which included two blood samples of 5 cc in vacuum tubes containing anticoagulant for hematological tests and without anticoagulant for Biochemical tests were done from calf vein. The second blood sampling was 24 hours after birth and the last sampling was on the 30th day. The next weighing was on the 30th and 60th days. Before starting the project, a sufficient amount of colostrum was stored and after the storage was completed, colostrum was prepared and divided into simple fermentation, fermentation with yogurt groups, and frozen colostrum group. 8 samples were taken from each group of colostrum after the fermentation process, to measure pH and microbial contamination. On the 27th to 30th days from the start of the project, stool samples were collected to measure apparent digestibility.Results and Discussion: The results of tests and investigations showed that consumption of colostrum with different storage methods had no significant effect on weight gain of calves. Also, no significant difference in feed consumption and digestibility was observed among the experimental groups. The amount of blood immunoglobulin in all treatments did not differ significantly from the control group. No significant changes were observed in the comparison of hematology indicators including the number of red blood cells, hematocrit percentage and blood hemoglobin level among the groups. The mean feces score, number of animals, and days of diarrhea did not show significant differences among the different treatments. No significant difference was observed in the comparison of physical indices. In this project, the quality indicators of colostrum were also examined, and it was shown that the total bacteria count in frozen colostrum group was higher than other groups (P<0.05). Also, the amount of E. coli bacteria was higher in the control and frozen groups than the two fermented groups (P<0.05). The amount of coliforms was higher in the frozen colostrum group than the others (P<0.05), followed by the control group and the fermentation group with yogurt and simple fermentation, respectively. The pH value was significantly higher in the control group, then in the frozen group and finally in the fermented groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results of this research showed that if fresh colostrum is not available, frozen or fermented colostrum can be used for newborn calves. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_20391.html Sperm preservation is essential for utilizing rams with superior genetics, and this process is achieved by reducing or halting metabolic activities. Due to the high content of unsaturated fatty acids, ram sperm is highly susceptible to oxidative stress. Short and long-term sperm storage can significantly enhance the success rate of artificial insemination (AI), offering numerous advantages over natural mating. This preservation is made possible by using various additives.The natural storage duration of ram sperm without protective agents is quite limited. However, when preserved in extenders containing additives such as egg yolk, sperm can be maintained for up to 24 hours at refrigeration temperatures. Nevertheless, cold storage for several days can improve sperm quality by enhancing motility, viability, and membrane integrity. Artificial insemination (AI) is one of the most effective methods for genetic improvement in livestock, but it still faces limitations in sheep due to variable results, as the success of this method depends on various factors (Farahavar et al, 2023). Compared to traditional methods, laparoscopic AI (lone et al, 2022) provides greater precision and improves fertilization success. The first successful artificial insemination was performed on a dog in 1784 by an Italian physiologist, and the technique was later adapted for cattle (Zamiri et al, 2016). Today, AI is widely employed across various livestock species, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses (Nategh Kandroud et al, 2021). This method facilitates the dissemination of superior genetic traits, enabling the simultaneous insemination of multiple ewes using sperm from a single ram, which is not feasible through natural mating. Additionally, AI helps prevent transmitting sexually transmitted diseases (Zamiri et al, 2016). The success of AI relies on accurate sperm collection, evaluation, and the appropriate use of extenders and preservatives (Sultanpour et al, 2011). This study was conducted at the Khalatpoushan educational and research station of the university of Tabriz. During the experiment, the rams were kept in a sheltered facility. Semen was collected from four rams under natural conditions, and the rams were adapted to semen collection using an artificial vagina two weeks before the start of the experiment. For semen collection, a mating pen and an artificial vagina were used. The artificial vagina was filled with water at 45-50°c, and semen collection was carried out under hygienic conditions. The samples were quickly transferred to the laboratory for evaluation. A total of 20 ejaculates were collected during the breeding season. Fresh semen samples were evaluated for volume, wave motion, progressive motility, non - progressive motility, percentage of live and abnormal sperm, sperm concentration, and pH using routine methods. Samples selected for the treatments had a volume greater than 1.5 ml, progressive motility above 70%, and abnormalities less than 15%.To prepare the extender, 80 ml of a solution containing 7.5 gr tris, 250 mg fructose, 1 gr citric acid, 10,000 units of penicillin, and 100 mg streptomycin was mixed with 20 ml egg yolk. Each semen sample was diluted at a ratio of 1:7 with the extender solution, and for each treatment, four microtubes (0.5 ml each) were filled.The treatments were as follows:Control group: base extender without fennel nanoemulsion.Treatment 1: 10 µl fennel nanoemulsion per ml of base extender.Treatment 2: 20 µl fennel nanoemulsion per ml of base extender.Treatment 3: 30 µl fennel nanoemulsion per ml of base extenderThis study aimed to reduce sperm damage and extend its lifespan through cooling. A tris-based extender enriched with fennel extract nanoemulsion was employed, and its effect on the quantitative and qualitative traits of ram sperm was evaluated during the breeding season. The rams were conditioned to semen collection via an artificial vagina for 2 to 3 weeks, and a total of 20 ejaculates were collected from four rams twice weekly. Then the samples were evaluated for volume, wave motion, total motility, progressive motility, percentage of live sperm, and concentration. The samples were divided into four groups: a control group without any additives, and three experimental groups in which 10, 20, and 30 μl of fennel nanoemulsion were added per ml of tris-based extender. All samples were stored at 4°c for fifteen days. On days 1, 5, 10, and 15 of storage, sperm viability and kinematic parameters were assessed. Adding fennel nanoemulsion to the tris-based extender significantly improved sperm quality traits, including progressive motility, in-place motility, total motility, viability, and the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). Furthermore, this additive reduced abnormalities, acrosomal membrane damage, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, extending the storage longevity of sperm compared to the control group. The treatment significantly increased viability, progressive motility, and HOST (p<0.001), while reducing MDA levels (p<0.001). Progressive motility in the 20 and 30 μl treatments was higher than in other groups, and viability and HOST in the 20 μl treatment were superior to other treatments. The control group exhibited the highest percentage of abnormalities. MDA levels were the lowest in the 30 μl group, followed by the 20 μl group; both significantly lower than in the 10 μl and control groups. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between acrosomal abnormalities and structural defects in sperm (p<0.05). The characteristics and traits assessed in fresh sperm are presented in Table 1. The range of measured values falls within the normal limits for ram sperm, including ejaculate volume (2 to 4 milliliters), percentage of live sperm (70-95%), wave motility (4 to 5 percent), and percentage of abnormal sperm (3-10%). These values are consistent with the results obtained by Naghdi et al (2021). The observed variability in the quantitative and qualitative traits of ram sperm may be the result of a broad influence from physiological, genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors affecting sperm production. Factors influencing the biological characteristics of semen include volume, concentration, motility, percentage of live sperm, and percentage of abnormal sperm, include season, age, breed of the ram, frequency of ejaculation, and the interval between collected ejaculations, as well as environmental conditions (day length, temperature, and humidity) and management practices (Yoto et al, 2011).The findings suggest that the use of fennel extract nanoemulsion in a tris-egg yolk extender aids in maintaining the quality of ram sperm and extends its liquid storage life under cold conditions. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_20553.html Introduction: Agricultural residues include the materials that remain after harvesting and extracting the main products from the crop, these residues are made of roughage and they have allocated a significant amount of animal feed resources. Straw is regarded as one of the most vital sources of productive organic matter globally and serves as a primary source of animal feed in numerous countries, particularly in arid regions. In these areas, fodder scarcity presents a significant challenge and is a major limiting factor in animal husbandry. Research findings indicate that the nutritional value of cereal straw is influenced by various factors, including differences among cultivars, soil fertility and growing conditions, crop rotation and agricultural practices, fertilization and harvest time and maturity. The primary reason for variations in the nutritional value of straw lines in the ratio of stem to leaf, as well as the quality and nutritional content of different straw components, particularly the stem and leaf. Different wheat varieties have varying fiber content and digestibility. For instance, some wheat varieties bred for higher yield or disease resistance may produce straw with slightly lower digestibility and protein content. Wheat grown in nutrient-rich soils with good water management typically results in straw with higher mineral content (e.g., potassium, calcium, phosphorus) and slightly improved protein content. Conversely, in nutrient-poor soils, the straw tends to have lower nutritional value. Wheat grown in well-managed crop rotations may have better straw quality compared to wheat grown in monoculture systems. In crop rotation, the straw may have higher nutrient levels due to improved soil health, organic matter, and nutrient cycling. Wheat straw from crops fertilized with nitrogen (N) may have slightly better crude protein levels, as nitrogen boosts protein synthesis in plants. However, excessive nitrogen can lead to high fiber content and reduced digestibility. The nutritive value of wheat straw tends to decline as the plant matures. Young wheat straw (from early harvests) is more digestible and has slightly higher protein content compared to mature, fully lignified straw, which is higher in fiber and lower in nutritional value. So, This experiment was performed to investigate the chemical composition and nutritional value of different straw varieties of promising wheat cultivars in comparison with Chamran cultivar in feeding of Lori sheep.Materials and methods: In this experiment, straw samples from various wheat cultivars were collected, air-dried, and cut into 2-3 cm pieces before being stored in bags for use in different treatments. Then, chemical compounds and including gas production parameters of 17 cultivars of wheat straw varieties were measured, Then 3 wheat straw cultivars that showed the best results were selected along with Chamran cultivar as control groups in a completely randomized design using 16 male Lori sheep (23± 2 kg) were examined. Also, In the present trial, nutrient digestibility, ruminal parameters and blood metabolites were measured too.Results and discussion: The results showed that the highest amount of crude protein and gas production were related to cultivars S-91-11, S-91-14 and S-91-6 (P <0.05), but did not show a significant difference compared to Chamran cultivar. Three straw cultivars (S-91-11, S-91-14 and S-91-6) had the highest amount of crude protein and the lowest amount of cell wall components compared to other straw cultivars (P <0.05). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, insoluble fibers in acidic and neutral detergents, ammonia nitrogen and ruminal pH and blood parameters were not affected by selected wheat straw cultivars in experimental diets. The lack of significant differences in protein digestibility across various straw varieties suggests that dietary variations do not influence protein digestion. One key factor influencing nutrient digestibility in the digestive tract is the size of the bacterial population; therefore, the absence of significant differences in microbial populations logically explains the observed similarities in nutrient digestibility.The average concentration of ruminal ammonia nitrogen under the experimental diets falls within the desired range of 8.5 to 30 mg per 100 ml of rumen fluid. Elevated ruminal ammonia levels enhance microbial activity and fiber digestibility, while a decrease in ammonia concentration serves as a limiting factor for microbial growth in the rumen.Introduction: Agricultural residues include the materials that remain after harvesting and extracting the main products from the crop, these residues are made of roughage and they have allocated a significant amount of animal feed resources.Straw is regarded as one of the most vital sources of productive organic matter globally and serves as a primary source of animal feed in numerous countries, particularly in arid regions. In these areas, fodder scarcity presents a significant challenge and is a major limiting factor in animal husbandry. Research findings indicate that the nutritional value of cereal straw is influenced by various factors, including differences among cultivars. The primary reason for variations in the nutritional value of straw lies in the ratio of stem to leaf, as well as the quality and nutritional content of different straw components, particularly the stem and leaf. So, This experiment was performed to investigate the chemical composition and nutritional value of different straw varieties of promising wheat cultivars in comparison with Chamran cultivar in feedin of Lori sheep.Materials and methods: In this experiment, straw samples from various wheat cultivars were collected, air-dried, and cut into 2-3 cm pieces before being stored in bags for use in different treatments. Then, chemical compounds and including gas production parameters of 17 cultivars of wheat straw varieties were measured, Then 3 wheat straw cultivars that showed the best results were selected along with Chamran cultivar as control groups in a completely randomized design using 16 male Lori sheep (23± 2 kg) were examined. Also, In the present trial, nutrient digestibility, ruminal parameters and blood metabolites were measured too.Results and discussion: The results showed that the highest amount of crude protein and gas production were related to cultivars S-91-11, S-91-14 and S-91-6 (P <0.05), but did not show a significant difference compared to Chamran cultivar. Three straw cultivars (S-91-11, S-91-14 and S-91-6) had the highest amount of crude protein and the lowest amount of cell wall components compared to other straw cultivars (P <0.05). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, insoluble fibers in acidic and neutral detergents, ammonia nitrogen and ruminal pH and blood parameters were not affected by selected wheat straw cultivars in experimental diets. Conclusion: In general, according to the results of gas production parameters and measurement of chemical compounds, wheat straw cultivars S-91-11, S-91-6, S-91-14, showed better results than wheat straw of other cultivars and are recommended.Keywords: Gas production, Blood parameters, Digestibility, Wheat straw, Lori sheepConclusion: In general, according to the results of gas production parameters and measurement of chemical compounds, wheat straw cultivars S-91-11, S-91-6, S-91-14, showed better results than wheat straw of other cultivars and are recommended. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_20720.html Introduction: Concentrated molasses distiller condenses soluble (Vinasse) was one of the by-products of processing industries that can be used in animal feeding.Vinasse has high palatability and is considered a nutritious liquid feed for ruminants. If used in animal diets, it increases forage consumption. Vinasse due to having a high amount of degradable protein in the rumen, it increases the digestibility and increases the consumption of low-protein fiber feeds ( Moeini et al 2008). This feed contains 56% dry matter, 24.4% crude protein, 2% crude fat, 17% neutral detergent insoluble fiber (NDF), 21% starch and 12% sugar (Yarahamdi et al 2011). In order to reduce humidity, solve transportation problems, allow it to be used more easily in animal feeding, better storage for longer and more palatability, it is mixed and dried with straw, and it has a positive effect on the nutritional value of straw(Moeini et al 2014). According to the mentioned materials, the purpose of this research is to use straw mixed with molasses distiller condenses soluble (vinasse) in the sheep diet and replace part of the forage with straw mixed with molasses distiller condenses soluble (vinasse) on growth performance, carcass traits and chemical composition of meat of fattening lambs of Lori breeds.Materials and methods: Seventy two Lori male lambs were selected with three months of age and average body weight 30±0.52 kg. Wheat straw was added to 700 liters of condenced molasses soluble and air dried. Experimental diets include: 1- control (straw was mixed with the basal diet without any process), 2- 2- Processing and mixing straw with 5% of vinasse, 3- 3- Processing and mixing straw with 10% vinasse, and 4- Processing and mixing straw with 15% vinasse (). Diets were formulated based on the nutritional requirements tables of small ruminants (NRC, 2007) and were prepared as total mixed ration. Average daily gain, final body weight and feed intake were measured and feed conversion ratio was calculated. At the end of experiment, three lambs of each treatment were slaughtered and carcass weight and different parts of carcass were weighted. Carcass characteristics,meat chemical composition were measured and of and cost of each kilogram of weight gain, carcass and lean meat was calculated. Data was analysed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replications with 6 lamb in each treatment. Initial body weight of - lambs was considered as a covariate. Data was analyzed by SAS program and mean compared with Tukey test.Results and discussion: The effect of different levels of vinasse mixed with straw in the diet on the final weight and avarage gain daily (ADG) of lambs was significant. The highest ADG was related to lambs fed with 15% vinasse mixed with straw (239 gr) and the lowest daily weight gain was in lambs fed with control diet (191gr). The effect of different levels of effluent in the ration on the consumed feed was not significant, but the feed conversion coefficient was significant. By increasing the level of vinasse mixed with straw in the diet, the amount of feed consumed in lambs that received higher levels of wastewater decreased and tended to be significant. Due to the higher weight gain in the 15% vinasse mixed with straw (239gr) and the lower feed intake (1428gr), it has made it possible to achieve the appropriate final weight. The effect of different levels of vinasse mixed with straw in the diet on the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significant. In this experiment, the weight of hot and cold carcasses in the control diet was lower than the rest of the treatments and had a significant difference with them. At the same time, with the increase of different vinasse levels, fat-tail weight, fat-tail percentage compared to cold carcass and fat percentage of the whole carcass decreased. Based on this, it can be concluded that the lambs fed with 15% of vinasse had a lower percentage of total carcass fat and total fat compared to other treatments Different levels of vinasse had a significant effect on the amount of dry matter, protein, ether extract and meat ash. Zali et al (2017) reported that in fattening calves, the weight of visceral fat decreased significantly with the increase of vinasse in the diet, and in the diet with 15% of vinasse, there was the lowest carcass fat, which is according to the findings of this research. is Also, Potter et al (1979) and Yalcin et al (2010) observed a significant reduction in carcass internal fat using vinasse. In terms of the economic value of the vinasse 15% treatment of 24.3% the price per kilogram of weight gain was lower than the control and had a higher economic value.According to the mentioned cases, lambs fed vinasse mixed with straw to the level of 15% diet due to higher ADG (239 gr), more suitable FCR (5.97) in terms of fattening status It was preferable to other lambs. Too, in terms of carcass characteristics and composition, vinas treatment with 15% reduced carcass fat percentage (6.81%), increased carcass efficiency (2.58%) and lean meat percentage (6.6%), and finally increased carcass quality.This has made the cost of producing one kilogram of live weight gain per feed consumption lower (24.3) in the treatment of 15% vinasse, and the cost of producing each kilogram of carcass and meat has a good price reduction compared to other treatments. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that incorporating vinasse-straw mixtures into Lori lambs diets significantly enhances fattening performance and carcass quality, with the 15% inclusion level proving most effective. The treatment improved growth rates, feed efficiency, and lean meat yield while reducing undesirable fat deposition. Economically, it lowered production costs, highlighting vinasse as a viable feed supplement. These findings underscore the potential of vinasse-straw blends to optimize lamb production systems sustainably. Further research could explore its long-term impacts and applicability across diverse farming conditions. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_20791.html Introduction:Starch stands as one of the most critical nutritional components in dairy cattle diets, serving as a primary energy source that directly influences metabolic functions, milk synthesis, and overall herd health. In typical feeding systems, common starch sources such as corn silage, corn grain, barley, and wheat are incorporated; however, these ingredients differ considerably in terms of their chemical structure, ruminal degradation kinetics, and total-tract digestibility. Such variations lead to marked differences in their effects on milk production, reproductive efficiency, and the prevalence of health disorders including dystocia, mastitis, and lameness. West Azerbaijan Province, a leading region in Iran’s dairy sector, relies heavily on locally produced starch sources like barley and corn. Despite this, there remains a notable lack of scientific data regarding the efficiency and suitability of these feedstuffs across different farm scales—small, medium, and large. This gap is particularly relevant given that farm size often correlates with differences in management capacity, feeding infrastructure, and access to technical support. Accordingly, this study was conceived to systematically evaluate the relationships between starch source utilization and key performance metrics across a range of dairy operations in West Azerbaijan. The specific objectives were threefold: (1) to analyze and compare the chemical composition and in vivo digestibility of the most commonly used starch sources—corn silage, corn grain, barley, and wheat; (2) to examine how each source relates to milk production traits, reproductive indices, and metabolic health parameters; and (3) to formulate herd-size–specific nutritional guidelines that can support enhanced productivity, welfare, and economic sustainability in the region’s diverse dairy farming systems.Materials and Methods:A total of 31 industrial dairy farms located throughout West Azerbaijan Province were enrolled in this study. These were strategically classified according to herd size into three distinct categories: small (maintaining 15–30 milking cows, n=5), medium (31–60 cows, n=20), and large (61–150 cows, n=6). A comprehensive, multi-method data collection protocol was implemented over three consecutive months (June, July, and August) to capture seasonal variations. This included: (i) the administration of detailed, pre-tested questionnaires designed to record farm management practices, precise feed ingredient profiles, health event logs (e.g., dystocia, clinical mastitis, lameness, and metabolic issues), and reproductive performance indicators; (ii) systematic monthly sampling of all major starch-based feeds—corn silage, corn grain, barley, and wheat—as well as representative bulk-tank milk samples from each farm; and (iii) extensive laboratory analyses conducted on collected samples. Feed analyses determined dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ether extract (EE) following established procedures outlined by the AOAC (2003). To estimate total-tract digestibility coefficients for DM, organic matter (OM), and CP, acid-insoluble ash was employed as a reliable internal marker. Milk composition parameters—specifically fat, protein, and lactose percentages—were accurately measured using a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy-based Milkoscan instrument. All statistical evaluations were carried out with SAS software (version 9.4). Continuous response variables (such as milk yield, composition, and digestibility values) were analyzed using mixed-effect models that accounted for repeated measures, while health incidence data (binomial outcomes) were assessed via logistic regression procedures. A probability level of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant for all tests.Results and Discussion:The analysis revealed pronounced differences in starch source selection patterns across the three farm size categories. Smaller-scale farms demonstrated a heavy reliance on commercially formulated concentrates, which constituted approximately 75% of the starch input. In contrast, larger farms utilized significantly higher proportions of barley (55.6% of dietary starch) and corn grain (75%), reflecting greater on-farm mixing capacity and procurement flexibility. Use of wheat declined progressively as herd size increased, from 50% in small herds to 33.3% in large herds. Corn silage was a dietary staple across all systems, present in 75–88.9% of rations, though its dry matter content varied, with medium farms recording significantly higher DM (32.3%) compared to large farms (26.0%, P<0.05). Production outcomes indicated that larger farms achieved higher overall milk yields (P<0.05), although milk components—specifically fat (ranging 3.50–3.63%) and protein (3.13–3.19%)—remained statistically similar across groups. A notable temporal effect was observed in lactose content, which peaked significantly in small herds during August (4.72%, P<0.05), potentially indicating less effective heat-abatement strategies and subsequent shifts in rumen fermentation patterns during hot weather. Health monitoring data highlighted a higher incidence of dystocia in smaller herds (4.43% of calvings), possibly linked to suboptimal pre-partum nutrition. Meanwhile, larger herds reported elevated rates of metabolic disturbances, specifically acidosis (1.20%) and clinical mastitis (1.60%), likely resulting from high-concentrate feeding regimes. Reproductive performance was generally subpar across all farm types, with an average interval to first observed estrus of 68.95 days and 1.65 artificial insemination services required per conception. Most importantly, apparent total-tract digestibility estimates were consistently and significantly superior in larger herds across multiple metrics: DM (56.02% in large vs. 46.98% in small), OM (57.58% vs. 51.01%), and CP (61.60% vs. 53.47%) (P<0.05 for all). This digestibility advantage underscores the role of advanced ration balancing, consistent feed delivery, and professional nutritional oversight commonly available in larger, more resource-endowed operations.Conclusion:This study underscores the profound influence of farm scale and associated management factors on starch utilization efficiency, milk output, and herd health under practical conditions in West Azerbaijan. Smaller farms, often constrained by limited technical expertise and feeding infrastructure, exhibited clear nutritional imbalances—including overreliance on commercial concentrates—and elevated perinatal challenges such as dystocia. Larger farms, while achieving higher milk yields and superior starch digestibility (reinforcing the nutritional superiority of corn over barley in high-yielding cows), simultaneously faced greater risks of diet-related metabolic disorders due to intensive concentrate inclusion. Seasonal fluctuations in milk lactose percentage highlighted critical gaps in environmental management, particularly heat stress mitigation, among smallholder producers. These findings collectively suggest that future feeding strategies must be tailored to herd capacity and available resources. For smaller farms, practical recommendations include dietary diversification, reduced dependence on purchased concentrates, and basic training in ration formulation. In larger, more intensive systems, focus should shift toward optimizing dietary starch-to-fiber ratios, adopting precision feeding technologies, and implementing more robust metabolic health screening protocols. At a broader level, policy interventions—such as the creation of open-access regional feed composition databases, financial incentives for high-quality forage production, and subsidized extension services—could significantly improve sustainability and animal welfare across the dairy sector. By aligning nutritional management with operational scale, producers can simultaneously enhance productivity, reduce veterinary costs, and improve overall farm resilience, thereby contributing to a more competitive and evidence-based dairy industry in Iran. https://animalscience.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_21418.html Introduction: Inbreeding depression indicates a decrease in mean phenotypic value with increase in inbreeding level (Doekes et al 2021). The conventional method of livestock selection, in which animals are selected based on estimated breeding values, leads to increase in genetic achievement but also in inbreeding rates (Selvaggi et al 2010). Inbreeding is caused by increased homozygosity, which reduces the expression of dominance effects. When dominance effects are favorable (i.e., when dominance is in the desired direction), reducing the expression of dominant effects leads to a decrease in the mean phenotypic value. The degree of inbreeding may vary among traits (Doekes et al 2021). Loss of diversity and consequent increase in homozygosity may lead to reduced production in inbred animals. Furthermore, decreased inbreeding in domestic animals can lead to reduced selection response and genetic potential gains in economic traits. Therefore, it is important to estimate the effect of inbreeding on these traits in order to determine the magnitude of changes associated with increased inbreeding (Selvaggi et al 2010). The rate of inbreeding should be limited to maintain the genetic diversity at an acceptable level which is necessary for proper response to environmental changes and selection in the future (Van Wy ketal 2009). The effect of inbreeding depression on economic traits have been studied in many research studies. The results of these studies are not reliable because they come from special experimental conditions and limited sample size (Roger St-Pierrer 2007). In many cases, even contradictory results are observed from similar published studies. In such cases, meta-analysis with the nature of aggregating the results of individual studies could be used as a tool to achieve an overall result with higher reliability (Roger St-Pierrer 2007). In present study, meta-analysis was used to investigate the effect of inbreeding depression on weight at different ages in Iranian sheep based on the results of individual studies. By increasing the sample size, it is possible to comment with greater confidence on the effect of inbreeding on growth traits in Iranian sheep.Materials and methods: Information related to inbreeding depression on body weight of Iranian sheep at different ages in 31 papers published in scientific journals, was used. Studied traits were birth weight, weaning weight and weights at six, nine and twelve months of age. To access these articles, a comprehensive search was conducted in Persian and English databases and journals using the keywords inbreeding, inbreeding loss, production traits, and sheep in Persian and English. The extracted data consisted of sample size and the regression coefficient between rate of inbreeding and the average of studied traits called inbreeding depression. Studies with absence of these information were removed from list of studies. Each study consisted of author name, year of publication, journal title, sample size, race, and regression coefficient presenting inbreeding depression and standard error or standard deviation. Inbreeding depressions were expressed in the form of regression coefficient in studies. Regression coefficients were converted to correlation coefficients to be used in meta-analysis. Normally, studies with significant results take more attention and publish more easily. These kinds of studies with higher chance to be repeated are called publication bias and may confuse the researchers. Funnel plot is a tool for presenting variation of studies around average. It is assumed that effects of studies must be distributed randomly and symmetrically around meta-analysis effect. In the case of publication bias, studies have an asymmetric distribution around meta-analysis effect. Funnel plot was used to check the publication bias in this study. Random effects model was applied for analyzing the collected data. The meta-analysis was performed using CMA software version 3. Using the I2 and Q indices, the heterogeneity among studies was examined. Values between 0 to 25% shows very small amounts of heterogenty, values between 25 to 50% presents small heterogenty, values between 50 to 75% considerable amount of heterogenty and values higher than 75% shows high rate of heterogeneity among studies. Results and discussion: The range of I2 index for fixed model was from 82.83 to 98.54. According to high heterogeneity among studies, random effect model was used for meta-analysis. According to the funnel plot, the result of the meta-analysis was free of publication bias, and on the other hand, examining the funnel plot for growth traits in this study showed that using a fixed effect model to express the results was inappropriate. The estimated correlation coefficients for birth weight were -0.001 (with confidence interval of -0.11 to 0.009), for weaning weight was -0.02 (with confidence interval of -0.443 to 0.003), for weight at six months was -0.46 (with confidence interval of -0.99 to 0.007), for weight at nine months was -0.03% (with confidence interval of -0.76 to -0.011) and for weight at twelve months was -0.09 (with confidence interval of -13.13 to -0.041). According to the P value, the result obtained from the meta-analysis showed that the effect of inbreeding depression on birth weight, weaning weight and weight at six months of age were not significant, while it has highly significant on weights at nine and twelve months of age in Iranian sheep breeds (P < 0.01). This means that with a one percent increase in inbreeding, the average of weights at nine and twelve months of age decrease by 43 and 90 grams, respectively. Therefore, using appropriate mating strategies for Iranian sheep breeds are very important for controlling inbreeding depression at 9 and 12 months of age. Choosing appropriate mating strategies in the herd to control and reduce inbreeding is important and should be considered.