Impact of lactation stage on milk composition and blood biochemical and hematological parameters of dairy Baladi goats

The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of lactation stage on milk composition, hematological and biochemical parameters of dairy Baladi goats under Egyptian conditions. Forty-eight Baladi goats (32.8 ± 2.9 kg of BW) were enrolled in the current study. The lactation period has been divided into three stages; early (DIM less than 80 days), Mid (DIM 80–140 days), and Late (DIM over 140 days). Baladi goats had decreased daily-MY at a rate of 18.4% and 31.9% at mid and late stages of lactation, compared with early stage, respectively (p = 0.001). Furthermore, lactose% decreased significantly with progress of lactation (p = 0.017). Total solids%, however, decreased significantly at early stage of lactation in comparison with mid and late stages (p = 0.022). On the contrary, no significant differences were found in protein, fat and SNF percentages at different stages of lactation (p = 0.836, 0.625 and 0.281, respectively). Serum glucose and total protein were significantly reduced at late stage of lactation in comparison with early and mid stages (p = 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). On the contrary, no significant differences were found for erythrocytes count, hemoglobin, serum cholesterol, catalase and triiodothyronine at different stages of lactation. There were high and positive correlations between daily-MY and serum total protein (r = 0.87, P < 0.01) and triiodothyronine (r = 0.41, P < 0.01). However, negative estimates were reported between daily-MY and triglycerides (r = −0.55, P < 0.01) and cholesterol (r = −0.33, P < 0.05). Our results indicate that dairy Baladi goats produce milk with relatively stable protein, fat and solid not fat (SNF) contents at the different stages of lactation, encouraging the continuous utilization of their milk in processing. Also, dairy Baladi goats seem able to maintain the most vital biochemical parameters. Keywords: Dairy goat, Lactation stage, Biochemical trait

Genetic Polymorphism of Prolactin, Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor 1B and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Genes in Two Selected Lines of Japanese Quail

Abstract: Quail is the smallest avian species raised for meat and egg production. It has several advantages as a laboratory bird for biological and biomedical investigations. In this study, we performed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) . DNA was extracted from blood samples using commercial kits and amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Nucleotide polymorphisms between two selected lines were detected by DNA sequencing. Five nucleotide changes in PRL and BMPR-1B genes were identified and there was no nucleotide difference in IGF-1 gene between egg and meat selected lines. The further study was required to find mutation in other site of IGF-1 and the SNPs discovered in this study provided suitable markers for association studies of candidate genes with important economic traits in Japanese quail

Effects on some immunological traits after crossing three rabbit breeds in Egypt

The authors evaluate the effect of crossing three purebred rabbit breeds in a complete 3 × 3 diallel crossbreeding experiment (New Zealand White, V-line and Gabali) on certain immunological traits, including IgG titre. Sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) were administered at 8 weeks of age and boosted at 10 weeks of age. V-line/Gabali crossbreeds gave the highest significant (p<0.05) level of serum total protein at 8 and 12 weeks of age (4.71 and 7.70 g/dl, respectively). Its reciprocal crossbreed Gabali/V-line resulted in the highest estimate of serum globulin at 8 weeks of age (2.07 g/dl). V-line/Gabali crossbreeds showed the highest positive heterosis percentage (H%) of total protein, albumin and globulin at 8 weeks of age (27.98, 30.28 and 25.00, respectively). However, its reciprocal crossbreeds, Gabali/V-line, revealed negative estimates for total protein and albumin at the same age (–4.07 and –29.80). V-line/Gabali crossbreeds gave the highest titre (3.167) and positive H% (0.69) of IgG to the second dose of SRBCs. On the contrary, the highest negative estimate to the second dose was recorded in Gabali/New Zealand White crossbreeds (–2.49). Using the Gabali breed as the female line gave superior results for most immunological parameters

Detection of SNPs in growth hormone and insulin like growth factor -1 genes in two divergently selected lines of Japanese quail

The Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is used for producing both meat and egg in many countries and as a model for animal research purposes. Two lines of Japanese quail that were differentiated by high body weight (HBW) and low body weight (LBW) had been improved by selection for body weight at four weeks of age. The objective of this study was to detect single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in Growth hormone (GH) and Insulin like Growth Factor -1 (IGF-1) genes in the two Japanese quails selected lines which based on the weight of the body at four weeks of age. DNA has been extracted from fifty blood samples by commercial kits and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA sequencing revealed nucleotide polymorphisms between the two Japanese quails selected lines. The results of this investigation revealed that, one nucleotide change (T/C) in the intron 2 of GH gene. However, there were no nucleotide differences in IGF-1gene between the two selected lines. It concluded that, the SNP discovered in the GH gene may provide appropriate markers for associating researches of candidate genes with imperative economic measurements in Japanese quail. However, further studies are necessitating detecting mutation in another region of IGF-1

Effects of boldenone undecylenate on growth performance, maintenance behaviour, reproductive hormones and carcass traits of growing rabbits

The present study was done to evaluate the effect of boldenone undecylenate (BOL) on growth performance, maintenance behaviour, reproductive hormones and carcass traits of male rabbits. Sixty apparently healthy New Zealand White male rabbits, 5 weeks of age, were allotted to 3 equal groups. Each group was subdivided into 5 replicates, where the first group is control. The second group (B1) comprised rabbits that received 2 intramuscular injections of BOL (5 mg/kg) with 3 week intervals (9 and 12 weeks of age), while the third group (B2) included rabbits that received 3 intramuscular injections of BOL (5 mg/kg) with 2 week intervals (8, 10 and 12 weeks of age). The end of the trial was after 4 weeks from the last injection (16 weeks of age). The results revealed that the treated groups had a significant increase in total body weight, daily gain and feed efficiency, with a significant decrease in feed conversion ratio (FCR). Ingestive, locomotion and grooming behaviors were significantly higher in treated groups. Lateral pasture and exploratory behaviors were significantly higher in the control group. Administration of BOL resulted in a significant increase in dressing % and a significant decrease in testes %. Groups treated with BOL had a significantly (P<0.05) decreased serum testosterone level, simultaneously with a significantly increased estradiol level. The results indicate that BOL improves performance and carcass traits. Furthermore, there are hormonal-behavioral correlations through enhancement of ingestive and locomotion behaviors of treated animals

Effects of divergent selection for growth on egg quality traits in Japanese quail

The experiment was designed to investigate the impact of selection for increased body mass on external and internal egg quality traits of Japanese quail. Three hundred and sixty Japanese quail, divergently selected over three generations for different body mass at 4 weeks of age, were used. Quail were homogeneously divided into three groups each consisting of 120 birds: high body mass (HBM), low body mass (LBM) and Control. ANOVA was used to detect the effect of selection on egg quality. In addition, correlation between external and internal egg quality traits was measured. Our results revealed thatHBMquail laid heavier eggs (P = 0.03 compared with LBM but not significantly different with Control quail) with a higher external (shell thickness, shell weight, eggshell ratio and eggshell density, P = 0.0001) and internal egg quality score (albumen weight, P = 0.003; albumen ratio, P = 0.01; albumen height, yolk height, yolk index and Haugh unit, P = 0.0001) when compared with both the Control and LBM. The egg surface area and yolk diameter were significantly higher in HBM when compared with the LBM but not with the Control line. Egg weight was positively correlated with albumen weight (r = 0.54, P = 0.0001), albumen ratio (r = 0.14, P = 0.05), yolk height (r = 0.27, P = 0.0001), yolk weight (r = 0.23, P = 0.002), yolk diameter (r = 0.14, P = 0.05) and yolk index (r = 0.21, P = 0.005) but was negatively correlated with yolk ratio (r = –0.16, P = 0.03). Our results indicate that selection for higher body mass might result in heavier eggs and superior egg quality

Performance, Blood Lipid Profile, and the Expression of Growth Hormone Receptor (GHR) and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) Genes in Purebred and Crossbred Quail Lines

The aim was to evaluate the performance, blood lipid profile, and the relative expression of growth-related genes in purebred white and brown quail lines and their crossbred lines. A total of 240 one-day-old Japanese quail chicks of white and brown line, their crossbred line (WBQ: male white &times; female brown), and reciprocal crossbred line (BWQ: male brown &times; female white) were divided into four equal groups (60 birds each). The white quail line showed significantly higher final body weight, daily gain, and feed intake compared with the other quail lines (p &lt; 0.001). Meanwhile, both crossbred quail lines (WBQ and BWQ) showed significantly lower FCR compared with both purebred quail lines (p = 0.001). Both crossbred quail lines showed greater dressing percentages compared with both purebred quail lines (p = 0.038). The brown quail line showed significantly (p = 0.05) higher levels of serum triglycerides and VLDL compared with the white and BWQ lines. The WBQ crossbred line exhibited significantly higher mRNA expression of GHR and IGF-1 genes compared with other quail lines (p &lt; 0.001). Both crossbred lines (WBQ and BWQ) exhibited negative heterosis percentages for body weight (&minus;4.39 and &minus;3.90%, respectively) and feed intake (&minus;10.87 and &minus;14.59%, respectively). Meanwhile, heterosis percentages for FCR (&minus;6.46 and &minus;9.25%, respectively) and dressing percentage (7.54 and 6.38%, respectively) were improved in both crossbred lines. The WBQ line showed high heterosis percentages for the expression of GHR and IGF-1 genes (52.28 and 88.81%, respectively). In conclusion, the WBQ line exhibited significantly greater dressing percentage and better FCR, as well as higher mRNA expression of GHR and IGF-1 genes. These results may be helpful to improve breeding programs and to develop commercial lines of meat-type Japanese quail