TRISODIUM CITRATE USE IN DAIRY COWS AND EFFECTS ON DAILY MILK YIELD AND QUALITY

The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of trisodium citrate can reduce milk somatic cell counts and consequently increase the milk yield and quality in dairy cows on third and fourth lactation. Twelve holstein cows were divided into 2 groups, 5 of them were chosen as trial which have received orally 30 mg trisodium citrate per kg of body weight in diluted form daily during 7 days. Apart from daily milk yield , milk sampling was performed before, after and during trisodium citrate treatment in both trial and control groups. Individual milk protein, fat, total dry matter, milk pH, somatic cell counts and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) were measured in each of milk samples. There was no significant difference regarding daily milk yield, fat, protein, dry matter of milk and milk ORP values between 2 groups. But somatic cell counts were significantly lower in trisodium citrate-given group during experimental period. In conclusion, trisodium citrate may be useful for improving milk quality regarding somatic cell counts

Effect of micronized zeolite addition to lamb concentrate feeds on growth performance and some blood chemistry and metabolites

This study was conducted to determine the effects of the addition of micronized zeolite (MZ) on the fattening performance, blood parameters, faecal ash and nitrogen levels of lambs fed concentrate feeds intensively. For two months 25 four-month-old Merino x Ile de France crossbred male lambs (21.1 ± 1.32 kg live weight) were fed 100 g alfalfa hay and a mixed concentrate diet containing 0%, 1%, 2% or 3% additional MZ. At the end of the study, bodyweight gain and feed consumption were not affected by the treatments. Similarly, the addition of up to 2% MZ to the diet did not affect slaughter weight, hot carcass or cold carcass weights, but they decreased at 3% MZ inclusion. No differences were observed between the groups in terms of blood urea nitrogen, plasma glucose, serum creatinine, triglyceride, sodium, potassium and chlorine concentration. However, serum total protein, calcium and phosphorus concentrations were affected by MZ supplementation. The addition of MZ to the ration did not affect the faecal dry matter content and total nitrogen level, yet it increased the ash content of the faeces. Consequently, it was demonstrated that the addition of up to 2% MZ to lamb grower feed does not have a negative impact on performance and carcass yield of the animals, but affects serum total protein, calcium and phosphorus concentrations

HEPES buffer in ovary-transportation medium influences developmental competence of cattle oocytes

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of ovary transportation in a semi-complex medium containing HEPES at different temperatures on the developmental competence and the quality of in vitro-produced embryos. The cattle ovaries were transported in normal saline (NS), phosphate buffer saline (PBS), K simplex optimization medium (KSOM), Chatot-Ziomek-Bavister medium (CZB) and Charles Rosenkrans medium (CR1) at various temperatures (38 ºC, 25 ºC and 4 ºC). The developmental competence of retrieved cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) was evaluated by maturation, fertilization, morula and blastocyst formation and numbers of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells. The COC maturation rate was affected by medium and temperature. It was found that 4 ºC resulted in a higher maturation (81.0 ± 4.75) rate than other transportation temperatures. The CR1 (80.5 ± 6.66) and KSOM (80.2 ± 6.15) gave a better maturation rate than the others. Fertilization rate, which was evaluated by cleavage rate, was not affected by transportation temperature. However, the transporting medium had a significant effect on the fertilization rate. Moreover, CR1 (43.6 ± 4.60), KSOM (43.2 ± 4.86) and CZB (41.1 ± 4.86) media gave higher percentages of cleaved embryos. There was no significant difference in morula and blastocyst formation rate or in ICM and TE cell counts regarding transportation factors. In conclusion, the transport of ovaries in CR1 at 4 ºC is effective for maintaining early developmental competence of cattle oocytes.Keywords: Cattle embryo, in vitro embryo production, ovary transportatio

IMMUNIZING NORDUZ GOATS AGAINST INHIBIN**

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of active inhibin immunization on follicular development and prolificacy in Norduz goats. Two times inhibin α- subunit 1-32 porcine was used for preparation of vaccine. It was observed that goats were successfully immunized against inhibin, following ultrasonographic inspection and antibody binding test. High number of follicles were developed in immunized goats. But, active immunization does not improve prolificacy in Norduz goats