Antioxidant status and immune responses of growing camels supplemented a long-acting multi-trace minerals rumen bolus

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a long-acting trance mineral rumen bolus supplementation on enzymatic and haematological profiles, antioxidant status and immune responses of growing camels under natural grazing conditions. Fifteen 6-month-old growing male camels were used in a 150-day trial. Animals were individually housed in a shaded pen and randomly assigned to receive 0 (CON), one (TMB1) or two (TMB2) long-acting trance mineral rumen bolus. Blood samples were collected from all camels on days 1, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 to measure enzymatic concentrations in serum, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma and haematological variables in whole blood. Camels were injected intradermally with 0.25 mg phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) on days 90 and 140, and then the cell-mediated immune response to this antigen was measured at 0 and 24 h after injection. Animals were immunised intravenously on days 90 and 105 with 2 ml suspension of sheep red blood cells to measure total antibody titres in serum. Using TMB supplement (1 or 2 boluses) resulted in an increase in the plasma concentration of TAC (p < 0.04) and improvement in immune responses in terms of increased skinfold thickness after 24 h of PHA injection (p < 0.01) and total primary serum antibody titres (p < 0.04). Different levels, sources, and synergistic combinations of trace minerals can be used in further studies to elucidate the most advantageous regarding productive variables, availability and cost for camel industry

Differentiation of free-ranging chicken using discriminant analysis of phenotypic traits

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigated the differentiation of five different chicken ecotypes - Center, North, South, West, and East - of Saudi Arabia using discriminate analysis. The analysis was based on nine important morphological and phenotypic traits: body color, beak color, earlobe color, eye color, shank color, comb color, comb type, comb size, and feather distribution. There was a strong significant relationship between the phenotype and effect of geographic height in terms of comb type and earlobe color in males as well as body, beak, eye, and shank color. In particular, the comb type and earlobe color differentiated the ecotypes of males. Among the females, the beak, earlobe, eye, shank color, and feather distribution had more differentiating power. Moreover, the discriminant analysis revealed that the five ecotypes were grouped into three clusters; the Center and the North in one cluster, the West and the South ecotypes in the second for males, and the East ecotype in the last cluster. The female dendogram branching was similar to the male dendrogram branching, except that the Center ecotype was grouped with the North instead of the South. The East ecotype was highly discriminated from the other ecotypes. Nevertheless, the potential of recent individual migration between ecotypes was also noted. Accordingly, the results of the utilized traits in this study might be effective in characterization and conservation of the genetic resources of the Saudi chicken

Differentiation of free-ranging chicken using discriminant analysis of phenotypic traits

<div><p>ABSTRACT In this study, we investigated the differentiation of five different chicken ecotypes - Center, North, South, West, and East - of Saudi Arabia using discriminate analysis. The analysis was based on nine important morphological and phenotypic traits: body color, beak color, earlobe color, eye color, shank color, comb color, comb type, comb size, and feather distribution. There was a strong significant relationship between the phenotype and effect of geographic height in terms of comb type and earlobe color in males as well as body, beak, eye, and shank color. In particular, the comb type and earlobe color differentiated the ecotypes of males. Among the females, the beak, earlobe, eye, shank color, and feather distribution had more differentiating power. Moreover, the discriminant analysis revealed that the five ecotypes were grouped into three clusters; the Center and the North in one cluster, the West and the South ecotypes in the second for males, and the East ecotype in the last cluster. The female dendogram branching was similar to the male dendrogram branching, except that the Center ecotype was grouped with the North instead of the South. The East ecotype was highly discriminated from the other ecotypes. Nevertheless, the potential of recent individual migration between ecotypes was also noted. Accordingly, the results of the utilized traits in this study might be effective in characterization and conservation of the genetic resources of the Saudi chicken.</p></div