Effects of lighting programme and early feed restriction on performance, some stress parameters and quality characteristics of breast meat in broilers

This study was conducted to determine effects of lighting program and early feed restriction on performance, stress and meat quality characteristics in broilers. Broilers (320) were randomly assigned to 4 groups based on lighting program (23 h lighting, 1 h dark or 16 h light, 8 h dark/day) and feeding program (ad lib. or feed restriction) with 4 replicates. Broilers in feed restricted group received feed as 50% of daily ad lib. consumption recommendations from 8 to 14 days of age. Final body weight, heterophil-lymphocyte ratio (H/L), tonic immobility (TI) duration and the percentages of total SFA of breast meat were lower, whereas the percentages of PUFA and PUFA/SFA were higher for broilers in feed restricted group than those fed ad lib. H-L ratio and TI duration of broilers exposed to 16L:8D were lower than those exposed to continuous lighting. In conclusion, early feed restriction negatively affected growth performance of broilers. However, broilers subjected to early feed restriction had less fat deposition and healthier fatty acid profile in breast meat and also they had less stress level, compared to ad lib. fed broilers. Lighting program of 16L:8D decreased the stress situation of broilers without any negative effect on production performance and meat quality characteristics

Levels of selected minerals, nitric oxide, and vitamins in aborted Sakis sheep raised under semitropical conditions

The serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc and iron and of nitric oxide, retinol, and β-carotene were determined in Sakiz ewes that had experienced an abortion and in healthy controls. Ten healthy and 25 aborted Sakiz sheep were selected from Afyon zone in western Turkey. Their ages ranged between 2 and 4 years weighing between 40 and 60 kg at the time of experiment. All of the abortions occurred in October. The concentrations of retinol, β-carotene, phosphorus, and zinc were significantly lower and those of calcium and nitric oxide were increased in aborted ewes relative to healthy controls. The serum levels of iron, copper, and magnesium were not significantly different among the two groups. In conclusion, abortion is an important problem in commercially important species of ruminants in many regions in the tropics including of western Turkey. Deficiencies of retinol, β-carotene, phosphorus and zinc, and the increase of calcium and nitric oxide concentration may play an important role in the etiology of abortion in ewes. Prophylactic measures such as vitamin and mineral supplementation may be of help to prevent or reduce the incidence of abortion in sheep

Changes in Serum Mineral Concentrations, Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in Horses with Pica

The aim of this study was to compare hematological, some biochemical parameters, and serum trace element concentrations in horses with or without pica. Fifteen horses with pica (group I) and another 15 healthy horses without pica (group II) were used. The hematological parameters were not changed between the two groups. In group I, hemoglobin values were lower than those of group II. However, the difference in hemoglobin values between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05). Serum iron and copper concentrations and the copper/zinc ratio were lower in group I than those of group II (P 0.05). It was concluded that serum iron and copper deficiency may play an important role for the etiology of pica in horses. Prophylactic use of iron and copper supplements in horses may be beneficial to prevent pica

TRACE ELEMENTS AND BIOCHEMICAL AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN COWS WITH DOWNER SYNDROME

The objective of this study was to investigate the serum concentrations of iron, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, and copper/zinc ratio in Downer cows. The study was performed on 20 recumbent Downer cows and 20 healthy cows. The serum concentrations of iron (P=0.002) and copper (P=0.035) were lower in Downer cows compared with the healthy cows. Serum zinc concentrations, although not significantly (P=0.162), were also lower in Downer cows compared with the healthy cows. Cows with Downer syndrome had greater concentrations of serum AST (P<0.001), LDH (P=0.003), and CK (P<0.001). Other biochemical parameters remained unchanged. RBC (P=0.026), Hb (P=0.029), and MCV (P<0.001) in cows with Downer syndrome had lower values compared with those of healthy ones. However, WBC in cows with Downer syndrome had greater values (P<0.001) compared with those of healthy ones. Other haematological parameters remained similar between Downer cows and healthy cows. It was concluded that serum iron and copper concentrations may play an important role for the aetiology and/or pathogenesis of Downer cows. These elements may be supplemented for the prevention and therapy of recumbency in cows

Eff ects of Heat Conditioning and Dietary Ascorbic Acid Supplementation on Heat shock Protein 70 Expression, Blood Parameters and Fear-Related Behavior in Broilers Subjected to Heat Stress

ABSTRACT Background: Heat stress is one of the most important environmental factors. Exposure of broilers to high temperature causes signifi cant changes in physiological response. Early heat conditioning induces the heat tolerance of broiler chickens at later growth stage prior to marketing. Ascorbic acid supplementation has been reported to may alleviate the negative effects of heat stress on the performance of broilers. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of heat conditioning and dietary ascorbic acid supplementation on heat shock protein 70 expression, blood parameters and fear-related behavior in broilers subjected to heat stress. Material, Methods &amp; Results: A total of 320 male broilers were used as the material of this study. Broilers were randomly assigned to four treatments. Each group contained four replicates with 20 chicks in each pen. Until the 21 days of age, all animals were raised at comfort temperature. The brooding temperature was maintained at approximately 32 o C for the fi rst 3 days and then decreased 3 o C weekly until 21 days. Broilers in control group were kept under thermo-neutral conditions (24 o C) and fed with the basal diet throughout experimental period. Other three groups were exposed to heat stress from 22 to 42 days of age. Heat stress was applied by exposing the broilers to a temperature of 35 o C for 6 h/day between 10:00 h and 16:00 h. Ascorbic acid supplemented group was fed a diet supplemented with 500 mg of L-ascorbic acid/kg ration and exposed to heat stress from 22 to 42 days of age. Heat conditioned group was exposed to a temperature of 36 o C for 24 h at the age of 5 days; fed with basal diet and exposed to heat stress from 22 to 42 days of age. Heat stress group was fed with the basal diet, no subjected to heat conditioning and exposed to heat stress from 22 to 42 days of age. The broilers in heat stress group had higher body temperature, H/L, TI duration, serum corticosterone, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations and Hsp 70 expression in brain, liver and kidney tissues, but lower antibody titer against NDV than those in control group. The lower H/L, TI duration, serum corticosterone, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations and Hsp 70 expression in brain, liver and kidney, whereas the higher antibody titer against NDV were obtained in heat conditioned and ascorbic acid supplemented diet fed groups, compared with heat stress group. Discussion: The results obtained in this study showed that heat stress caused to increase in H/L ratio, TI duration, body temperature, serum corticosterone, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations and Hsp 70 expression in brain, liver and kidney, whereas it decreased antibody titer against to NDV. Heat conditioning and dietary ascorbic acid supplementation decreased H/L ratio, TI duration, serum corticosterone concentration and Hsp 70 expression and also increased antibody titer against to NDV, indicating the lower stress level in these groups. From these results, it can be said that heat conditioning and ascorbic acid supplementation alleviated the negative effects of heat stress in broilers. Heat conditioning was more effective than ascorbic acid supplementation in alleviating the adverse effects of heat stress on brain, liver and kidney tissues. In conclusion, heat conditioning of broilers by exposure to 3

Serum biochemistry and native protein electrophoresis in diarrheic calves with arthritis

In this study, serum biochemistry and native protein electrophoresis in newborn calves with diarrhea and arthritis, were performed in order to evaluate the changes along with clinical findings for their possible application in the diagnosis and prognosis of disease. Based on clinical examination, animals were allotied into two groups comprising either diseased or healthy animals. Urea, creatinine, ALT, AST, LDH, albumin, total protein, glucose, total cholesterol, uric acid and iron levels were determined in the sera. Serum protein native polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (nPAGE) was performed followed by protein band ratio estimation supported with densitometry at 596 nm. Differences between the average mean of healthy and diseased animals were compared statistically (Kruskal-Walley test). In this study a decrease in serum glucose and cholesterol values (p&lt;0.001), increase in urea, LDH levels and α1-and α2-globulin levels (p&lt;0.01 and p&lt;0.05 respectively) were found to be associated with the disease. As a result, the observed significant changes in biochemical parameters and clinical investigation in calves, suggesting acute inflammation causing the decrease in glucose and increase in α-globulins, may be of prognostic value