Comparative Study of Growth Patterns for Three Strains of Broiler Chickens Using Mathematical Models

The aim of the current study was to investigate the growth pattern of three genetic strains of broiler chickens including Ross 308, Cobb and Arbor Acres by mathematical models. For this purpose, the body weight of 500 broilers for each strain was recorded weekly. Gompertz, Logistic and Richards functions were considered for data fitting. Three functions were compared by adjusted determination coefficient (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE). For all three models, R2 had high values, ranging from 0.987 to 0.999. The difference among the fitted functions by RMSE was significant compared to the R2. The Richards function had more appropriate description for the growth curve of the Cobb strain, because of having the minimum RMSE, 61.57 compared to 85.43 and 66.61, for Gompertz and Logistic functions, respectively. However, the Gompertz function with the maximum R2, and the minimum RMSE, 73.32 and 3237, respectively, was the most suitable function to describe the growth curve of Arbor Acres strain

Effects of supplemental conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) on fresh and post‐thaw sperm quality of Holstein bulls

P. 459-467This study was designed to investigate the effects of feeding‐protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the semen production and sperm freezability in Holstein bulls. Twelve bulls were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 6 per group). Bulls received the normal diet (control group) or the normal diet top‐dressed with 50 g of CLA (treated group) for 10 weeks. The control group received 40 g/day calcium soap of fatty acid. Fresh and post‐thaw semen quality was assessed on ejaculates collected at the 0, 4, 6, 8 and 10 week of supplementation. Semen evaluations including sperm concentration, motion characteristics (subjective and computer‐assisted), viability (Eosin–Nigrosin), membrane integrity (hypo‐osmotic swelling test) and abnormality were conducted. Semen volume, sperm concentration and total sperm output were not affected by dietary treatment (p > .05). The proportion of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology in fresh semen significantly increased (p < .05) in the CLA‐fed group compared to control group. Also, in CLA‐fed group, the proportion of post‐thaw spermatozoa with abnormal morphology at week 10 of trial was significantly higher in CLA than control group (p < .05). Progressive motility tended to be increased in the CLA‐fed group, although dietary supplementation did not affect other CASA parameters or viability in fresh and frozen‐thawed sperm. In this study, CLA supplementation had little positive effect on fresh or post‐thaw sperm quality of Holstein bulls.S