Dystocia in Friesian cows and its effects on postpartum reproductive performance and milk production

A total of 1,243 records for 585 dairy Friesian cows from 1997–2004 were used to study the factors affecting dystocia and its effects on reproductive performance and milk production. The overall incidence of dystocia was 6.9%. The percentage of dystocia decreased with increasing live body weight, age, and parity of cows (P < 0.05); however, it increased with increasing birth weight of calves (P < 0.05). The highest percentage of dystocia was detected in winter season, but the least percentage was in summer season (P < 0.05). The percentage of incidence of dystocia was significantly (P < 0.05) higher with winter feeding compared to summer ration (8.2% vs. 5.1%). The percentage of incidence of dystocia was significantly (P < 0.05) higher with twinning than single calving (15.5% vs. 6.5%), while not significantly affected by the sex of born calves. Incidence of dystocia had adverse effects on reproductive performance and milk yield. The service interval, service period, days open, and calving interval were significantly (P < 0.05) longer in cows afflicted with dystocia compared to normal cows. The conception rate was lower (P < 0.05), but the number of service per conception was higher (P < 0.05) in cows afflicted with dystocia compared to normal cows (60.5% vs. 73.0% and 3.4 vs. 2.7, respectively). Average daily milk yield was lower (P < 0.05) by 1 kg for cows with incidence of dystocia compared to normal cows

Supplementation of Microbial and Fungal Phytases to Low Protein and Energy Diets: Effects on Productive Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Blood Profiles of Broilers

To evaluate in possible use of phytases for improving the utilization of low protein and energy diets, 420, one-day-old chicks were distributed among 7 groups (5 replicates of 12 chicks/group). During the starter (1–35 day), grower (37–56 day), and finisher (57–64 day) periods, the control group fed diets containing 21.2% crude protein (CP)-2947 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME), 19.6 CP-3023 ME and 18.0 CP-3100 ME, respectively. The three low-CP groups received diets isocaloric but with −1% CP than the control, while the three low-CPME groups fed diets with −1% CP and −100 Kcal than the control. In addition, the low-CP and low-CPME groups were supplemented with 0 (low-CP_uns and low-CPME_uns), 500 U/kg of an Aspergillus niger (low-CP_AP and low-CPME_AP) or 500 FTU/kg of an Escherichia coli phytase (low-CP_EP and low-CPME_EP), respectively. Low-CP and low-CPME diets decreased (p < 0.01) the intake of feed as well as the protein and metabolizable energy conversion ratios in comparison to the control group. In general, phytases lowered (p < 0.01) the intake of feed, protein, and energy, but bacterial phytase showed a higher (p < 0.01) effect than A. niger one. The diets with low-CP and low-CPME levels decreased (p < 0.01) the amount of the excreta nitrogen. The supplementation of phytases had similar effects on digestibility of nutrients, carcass traits, bone mineralization and blood biochemistry. The supplementation of A. niger increased abdominal fat deposition of compared low-CPME diet compared to low-CPME_uns diet. All diets showed similar production index allowing the use of low-CPME diet when phytases was supplemented

The Effect of Supplementation of Enzyme on Laying and Reproductive Performance in Japanese Quail Hens Fed Nigella Seed Meal

The effect of dietary enzyme (Optizyme) on the performance of Japanese quail hens fed isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% of Nigella seed meal (NSM) as a protein source was studied. A corn-soybean meal diet was used as a control diet. Eight groups of birds having 8 replicates consisting of 2 females and 1 male were used, and productive and reproductive traits and egg quality were measured. Hens fed 10% NSM produced significantly more eggs than those fed 0, 20 and 30% NSM diets. Shell thickness was also significantly higher in the 10% NSM group. Supplementation of enzyme significantly improved egg production and tended to improve shell thickness when a 20% NSM diet was fed, but not when 30% NSM was given. Furthermore, the enzyme significantly improved the fertility rate when fed a 20% NSM diet, but not in the groups fed a 30% NSM diet. From these observations, Japanese quail hens can be fed diet containing 10% NSM. Moreover, this level can be increased to 20% when supplemented with enzyme

Effect of dietary protein concentrations, amino acids and conjugated linoleic acid supplementations on productive performance and lipid metabolism of broiler chicks

The study investigated the effect of low-crude protein (CP), essential aminoacids (EAAs) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on broiler growth performance. From 1 to 6 days of age, 196 male broiler chicks fed the same basal diet containing 22.5% of crude protein. From 7-28 days the chicks were assigned to 7 treatments (4 replicates, 7 birds/replicate). The control group fed a 21.5% CP diet, supplemented with dl-methionine (Met) and l-lysine (Lys). The low-CP diet (19% CP) was supplemented with Met + Lys (2EAAs group) or with Met, Lys, l-arginine, l-tryptophan and l-threonine (5EAAs group); 2EAAs and 5EAAs groups were also supplemented with 0, 2 or 4% CLA. The body weight gain (BWG) was the biggest (p < .01) in the control group; 2EAAs and 2EAAs 4% CLA groups had lower BWG than the three groups fed 5EAAs diets. Diet 5EAAs +2% CLA induced lower (p < .01) feed conversion ratio (FCR) than 5EAAs +4% CLA and also showed the lowest (p < .01) protein intake. Reducing CP in broiler diet increased (p < .01) the digestibility of CP. The total protein content of plasma was greater (p < .01) in 2EAAs +4%CLA and 5EAAs +4%CLA than in the control. Decreasing the protein content of the diet from 21.5 to 19.0% penalised the growth performance of broilers from 7 to 28 days of age and the administration of CLA at 2 or 4% was not able to support growth. However, addition of 5EAAs without or with 2 or 4% of CLA resulted in recovery of FCR and PCR