JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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This experiment was carried out to determine the relationship of plasma triglycerides and carcass dry matter with abdominal fat. One of the problems of broiler is carcass fatness, especially abdominal fat due to rapid growth of broilers which is not the consumer preference. Six hundred one-day-old commercial broiler chicks (Lohman) were divided into 40 groups, 15 chicks per group. Each one of the 10 experimental diets, in which barley was substituted for corn at levels of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40%, was fed to 4 groups of chicks for 56 days. All diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. Rice hulls was used to make diets isoenergetic. At days 42, 49 and 56, one male and one female were selected from each pen and after blood sampling, the birds were killed, eviscerated and percentages of carcass and amount of abdominal fats were measured. Blood samples were used to determine plasma triglycerides, cholesterol and total lipids. The results showed that increasing abdominal fat reduced carcass moisture content. Correlation between abdominal fat and plasma triglycerides was positive and significant (p<0.05). Correlation between abdominal fat and carcass moisture was negative and significant (P<0.01). The regression equations indicated that abdominal fat can be estimated from plasma triglycerides and carcass moisture content. The equations also indicated that using several parameters for estimating abdominal fat is better than single parameter estimation.

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In a completely randomized design, 600 commercial day old broiler chickens were used to study the possibility of replacing corn with barley. Each of 10 experimental diets in which corn was replaced with barley at levels of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 percent, with and without tallow, were given to 4 replicates of 15 chickens each. At 42, 49 and 56th days of age, one male and one female from each pen were killed. Body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected by different levels of barley at 42th day of age. Increasing the level of barley had not effect on body weight gain at 56th day of age. Feed conversion ratio improved slightly due to addition of 4% tallow to the diets containing different levels of barley. Abdominal fat was increased due to added tallow in males and females. Increasing slaughter age increased abdominal fat in both sexes. Difference in abdominal fat in females was more than males.

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This experiment was carried out to study the effect of ionophore drugs (Salinomycin, Lasalocid and their combinations) on the performance of broiler chicks. Also their relationships with methionine (three levels) were evaluated. 1215 one-day-old commercial broiler chicks (Arian) were divided into 81 groups, 15 chicks per group, and tested in a completely randomized design with a 3×3×3 factorial experiment. Three drug types with three levels (0.0, the recommended level and 1.5 times the recommended level) of drugs and three levels (0.0, 0.1% and 0.2%) of supplemental methionine were used.

 The results indicated that the effect of sex on plasma cholesterol and triglyceride, percentage of bone ash and percentage of abdominal fat was significant (P<0.0l). Drug type had no effect on the characteristics under study. Drug level influenced percentage of bone ash, percentage of eviscerated carcass, and percentage of abdominal fat significantly (P<0.0l), (P<0.01) and (P<0.00l), respectively. Also methionine level influenced cholesterol and triglyceride (P<0.0l) significantly. Interaction effect of drug type and drug level on plasma cholesterol and triglyceride was significant (P<0.05). Interaction effect of drug and methionine level on cholesterol and triglyceride was significant (P<0.0l). The results showed that levels of this drug influenced carcass composition and also supplemental methionine had no influence on the modulating effect of these drugs on carcass composition.

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This experiment was carried out to study the effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and urea on chemical composition, nutritive value and rumen fermentation characteristics of whole-crop barley. In a completely randomized design with cross over arrangement, 4 Suffolk male lambs were used. Whole-crop barley was either treated with LAB solution (35% dry matter) at the rate of 2 L/ton herbage fresh weight or urea (55% dry matter) at the rate of 40 Kg/ton dry matter herbage and ensiled for 60 days. Low dry matter silages had lower pH and higher residual water soluble carbohydrates, ammonia-N, lactic acid and ethanol and higher lactate:acetate ratios. LAB resulted in higher lactic acid content and lactate:acetate ratios. DM (P<0.001), OM (P<0.01), NDF (P<0.05), ADF (P<0.01) and total nitrogen (TN) digestibility increased with additives. Mean rumen ammonia-N concentration and pH significantly (P<0.05) increased with urea-treated silages. Rumen propionate concentration was significantly (P<0.01) higher with LAB-treated silages than with urea-treated ones. The results indicated that the addition of LAB at the rate of 2 L/ton fresh weight to whole-crop barley at 35% dry matter enhanced fermentation and nutritive value.

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An experiment was conducted to determine growth and carcass characteristics of male broilers subjected to early feed restriction. Restricted birds were fed equivalent to 1/5*BW^0.67 Kcal/day/bird between days 7 and 14. On days 0 to 7 and 14 to 56, all chickens received feed ad-libitum. Diets of feed-restricted birds were supplemented with 15% higher methionin and cystine recommended by NRC (1994) during refeeding in starter and grower periods. No significant differences were observed for liver, breast, heart, carcass and liver fat between early restricted birds and ad-libitum control at 56 days of age. Body weight for restricted broilers were significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of controls in 56 days. However, restricted broilers had significantly lower total-feed to gain ratio than the unrestricted control. Restricted broilers that received diets high in total sulfur amino acids in starter and grower periods had singnificantly lower abdominal fat pad than control birds.

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In order to study the effects of different protein feeds on honey bees (Apis mellifera L), experiments were conducted in a completely randomized block design with 15 treatments and 4 replicates. The nutritional effects of different treatments on caged bees were studied through recording half-life time (50% mortality). Pollen substitutes were soybean flour, soybean meal, bread yeast, wheat gluten, soybean flour + soybean meal, soybean flour + bread yeast, soybean flour + wheat gluten, soybean meal + wheat gluten, and wheat gluten + bread yeast. Pollen supplements were wheat gluten + pollen , soybean flour + pollen, soybean meal + pollen, bread yeast + pollen and two controls as pollen and honey. The nutritional effects of different protein sources provided by pollen substitutes and supplements were recorded on the amount of carcass protein and fatbody of honey bee workers in experimental colonies. The wheat gluten supplement and the soybean substitute showed the longest (60.58 days) and the shortest (10.53 days) half-life time of worker bees, respectively. The amount of food consumption in different treatments was not significantly different (P>0.05). The greatest DM of worker bees (dry matter of carcass) was related to soybean (34%) and the least related to yeast supplement (31.54%), which were significantly different (P<0.05). The highest carcass protein belonged to wheat gluten supplement (22.57%) and the lowest was related to yeast supplement (20.01%). The greatest carcass fat was related to soybean supplement (4.75%) and the lowest to wheat gluten supplement (3.84%). Results of the present experiments showed that soybean flour, soybean meal, wheat gluten and bread yeast can be used in pollen supplement and substitute cakes.

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Dehydration of Mazafati Rutab is a method to prevent its spoilage. Dehydration is necessary for Mazafati Rutab because it contains too much moisture. If the moisture content of Mazafati Rutab is decreased properly, it need not be stored under refrigeration. The present study was carried out in an attempt to decrease the moisture content in order to increase the shelf life of Mazafati dates. Samples were dehydrated in a drying room at different drying times and 50-55 ^oC. The moisture content and quality characteristics of Mazafati dates such as acidity and sensory evaluation (texture, flavour and overall acceptability) were determined at 3-hour intervals and also drying curve of the fruit was drawn. Relative humidity in the drying room was 10-15%. During the drying process, the acidity content gradually increased due to the activity of microorganisms but organoleptic properties decreased especially affer 12 hours of drying time and at moisture levels less than 22%. Finally, drying time of 9-12 hours and acceptable moisture content of 22% were recommended. Dates with over 22% moisture levels are an easy target for microbial attack but the desirable quality of the fruit decreases at moisture levels below 22%.

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The present experiment evaluated the effects of fat (Kilka fish oil) levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) in the diet (35% constant protein) on performance of rainbow trout. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design, with 4 replicates, 200 grower fish with an average weight of 200±11 gr, each. They were randomly divided into 20 groups of 10 fish per group reared in separate pens. Fish were acclimated to the experimental conditions for 10 days before treatments began and then the experiment was performed over a period of 8 weeks. Measured criteria were weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), condition factor (CF) and flesh chemical composition (fat, protein, ash), and fat stored in liver. Results showed that the diet with 15 percent fat content had significantly (P<0.05) better WG and FCR than other diets, but no significant differences were observed for SGR and CF. Diets with 15 and 20 percent fat contents caused the highest fat content in meat and liver and showed significant differences (P<0.05) with the meat and liver fat content in fish fed fat-free diets. Diet with 15 percent fat content caused significantly (P<0.05) lowest protein content in meat. No significant differences were observed in the ash content of the flesh. From the results of the present study, the level of 15 percent Kilka fish oil is recommended for the rainbow trout diet.

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An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of substituting alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa) with Gundelia tournefortii hay (a range forage in Fars Province) in the ration of fattening lambs. Alfalfa hay was substituted with Gundelia tournefortii harvested at the final stages of flowering at various ratios (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% dry matter basis) in the ration of fattening lambs. The rations (iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic) were pelleted and each ration was fed for 75 days to 12 Shirazi Grey ram lambs with an average age of 136 days. The lambs were slaughtered and their feedlot performance and carcass characteristics were measured. Substituting alfalfa hay with Gundelia tournefortii hay did not significantly affect the mean daily weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, dressing percentage, internal fat weight, carcass meat content, or meat DM and CP contents (p>0.05). However, backfat depth was significantly different among various rations (p<0.01). At present costs, the inclusion of Gundelia tournefortii in the ration of fattening lambs seemed to be cost-effective the cost of one kg DM of ration was 1266, 1155, 1050, 924, and 787 Rials for rations 1 to 5, respectively.

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The meat productions are the most popular among different food products. On of the serious problems of this kind of products may be the change of the physical and chemical properties. The Restriction of the use of synthetic antioxidants have prompted the extensive research on the effect of the natural antioxidant and replacement of synthetic antioxidant with the natural ones. In this study, the effect of α-tochopherol (vitamin E) and propyl gallate on German sausage was evaluated. Four different German sausages were formulated and prepared in 30 Kg batches as follows: control without antioxidant, sausages plus α- tochopherol (200 or 500 ppm) and sausages plus propyl gallate (200 ppm). Twelve Kg of the samples were filled into cellulosic casings and the other 18 Kg in polyamidic casings. All samples were cooked. One third of the packed samples were stored at (4˚C ± 1) for 10 days and the rest were stored at (– 18 ˚C ± 1) for 6 months. The extent of autoxidation for samples were determind by peroxid and TBA values. During the storage period, autoxidation rates of control samples were more than other treatments. Propyl gallate was more effective in reduction of autoxidation than α- tochopherol treatments. Addition of 500 ppm vitamin E was more effective than 200 ppm. Significant differences were observed among treatments (P< 0.05). The study of the shear strength of the stored susages at the (4 ºC ±1) for the 10 days indicated that the most shear strength is seen in the cellulosic casing samples. The same results obtained for the stored samples at the (-18 ºC ±1) for the 6 months.

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Improvement of feed efficiency in dairy farming economically has a great importance. In this study, the genetic parameters of net energy efficiency and its relationships with milk yield, 3.2% fat corrected milk, body weight, gross income and income over feed costs were investigated, by the 2589 monthly records collected from the 723 lactating cows in the 3 herds. The different requirements of energy were estimated, by the National Research Council (NRC) models. A general linear model was employed for determining significant factors affecting each trait. The genetic parameters were estimated by a multivariate analysis with the derivative free approach of restricted maximum likelihood algorithm. The animal models contained the fixed effects of herd-year-season, parity number and stage of lactation, the regression coefficients of each trait on the dietary levels of rumen undegradable protein and metabolizable energy, and the random effects of animal additive genetic, permanent environment and residuals. The heritability of milk yield, 3.2 percent fat corrected milk, body weight, net energy efficiency, gross income and income over feed cost, were estimates 0.31, 0.32, 0.30, 0.34, 0.24 and 0.29 respectively. The results of this study indicated that the direct selection for net energy efficiency might genetically improve the feed efficiency. It also seems that the selection for fat corrected milk may be effective for the indirect improvement of feed efficiency and economic performance of dairy cows.

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Using a deterministic model for dairy herd according to milk pricing system in Iran, the economic weights of milk production, fat percentage, protein percentage and herd life with minimized cost were identified, while restricted total input and total costs were variable in animal unit. By data simulation and the data obtained from 3 different dairy herds in Iran, the sensitivity of economic values with the assumption of 20% change in forage and concentrate price, forage to concentrate ratio, feed-cost, non-feed cost, base price of milk, free-market price of milk, average milk production, fat percentage, protein percentage and herd life were estimated. In the base condition, the economic weights of milk production, fat and protein percentage and herd life in three herds were -0.55, -0.24, -0.54 -34, -20, -11 -34, -37, -33 -0.37, 0.67, -0.39, respectively. The effect of change in different factors of production system on economic weights of three farms was variable. The economic weights of milk production, fat percentage, protein percentage and herd life had the most sensitivity to change in the average milk productoin, base price of milk and herd life, respectively.

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For milk fat modification, after decantation of its serum, it was fractionated at three temperature rates (30-35, 17-22 and 5-10 ºC) and times (6, 13.5, and 18 hours). After each stage, the solid phase or stearine fraction was separated from liquid phase or olein fraction by centrifugation at 1600 rpm for 15 minutes. The olein fraction was then used in the second step of fractionation. This process was repeated three times until the low, medium and high melting fractions (LMF, MMF and HMF, respectively) were isolated to 27 fractions. Iodine value (by Wejs’ method) and solid fat content (SFC by NMR) of these fractions were measured and compared. The results, showed significant differences between in IV and SFC for LMF with MMF and HMF (3-6 units or 10-20% for IV and 3-14% for SFC) it was also found that LMF, MMF and HMF could be used in ice cream, Danish pastry and ice cream coating formulations, respectively.

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In this study external fat-tail dimensions (upper, middle and lower width, length, length of gap, depth and upper circumference) and fat-tail weights collected on 724 Lori-Bakhtiari sheep were used to study external fat-tail dimensions and their relationships with fat-tail weights. Sheep were 3 months to 6 years old and slaughtered at the industrial slaughter house of Joneghan in Chaharmohal and Bakhtiari province in 2003. The mean of fat-tail dimensions were estimated as 15.83, 23.85, 24.73, 26.52, 14.96, 14.12 and 52.59 cm for upper width, middle width, lower width, length, length of gap, depth and upper circumference, respectively. Fat-tail weight varied from 0.10 to 20.60 with overall mean of 2.71 kg. Fat-tail percentage varied from 1.18 to 37.18 with overall mean of 11.87 percent. The effects of fixed factors of age, sex and body condition of sheep on all of traits were highly significant (p<0.0001). The least square means of all traits except fat-tail percentage were increased with increasing age of sheep. Lowest least square mean (± s.e) of 2.12 ± 0.25 kg fat-tail weight and 7.91 ± 0.72% fat-tail were observed for sheep having body condition score of 1 and the highest least square mean with fat-tail weight of 9.84 ± 0.56 kg and fat-tail percentage of 20.59 ± 1.63 were observed for sheep having body condition score of 5. Estimation of correlation coefficients among external fat-tail dimensions and fat-tail weight were positive and varied from 0.60 between upper fat-tail width and fat-tail weight to 0.83 between upper circomference of fat-tail and fat-tail weight. Upper circumference of fat-tail accounted for %69.5 of variation of fat-tail weight. This study showed that fat-tail weight in live sheep of Lori-Bakhtiari could be estimated using external fat-tail dimensions with very high accuracy (r = 0.904).

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Stress tests are commonly applied in shrimp hatcheries to estimate the quality of postlarvae to be used during growout. The highest larval survival rate during culture and in shrimp stress tests has been reported when specimens are offered a diet containing high levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids ( HUFA ) . Also vitamin C has positive effect to resistance and survival of larvae . In this study in postlarvae stage 1 in the salinity stress tests (10 and 20 ppt ) the highest survival rate was observed in treatment 3 ( 56.667 % and 90.00 % ) which was enriched with highly unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin C . As for the second, treatment 2 ( 43.333 % and 76.667 % ) which was solely enriched with highly unsaturated fatty acids showed significant differences at a level of ( P < 0.05 ) with treatment 3 . The difference between these two treatments and treatment 1( larvae fed rotifers cultured on Chlorella sp. ) and control ( larvae fed newly hatched Artemia nauplii ) was also significant . No significant difference was observed in formalin stress test ( 100 ppm ) in this stage between treatments 3 ( 86.667 % ) and 2 ( 80.00 % ) which shows the highest survival rate . But difference between them with treatment 1( 60.00 % ) which was unenriched and control ( 53.333 % ) was significant . Also, in postlarvae stage 5 in the salinity stress tests (10and20 ppt) the highest survival rate was observed in treatment 3 ( 56.667 % and 83.333 % ) and later treatment 2 ( 40.00 % and 70.00 % ) which showed significant difference . In this stage , the survival rate the treatment control ( 60.00 % and 86.667 % ) and treatment 3 showed no significant difference but they showed significant differences with treatment 1 and 2 .The lowest survival rate was observed in treatment 1( 26.667 % and 56.667 % ) . And the highest survival rate was observed in formalin stress test ( 100 ppm ) in this stage in treatments control , 3 and 2 ( 76.667 % , 73.333 % and 70.00 % ) among which there were no significant differences . However, the difference between these three treatments with treatment 1 ( 53.333 % ) was significant .

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  Experiments were conducted to study the effects of temperature and chemical treatments on the vase life of cut Asiatic hybrid lily cultivar Pisa, with sixteen chemical treatments using factorial design with 3 replication arrangements. Lilium cut flowers were harvested when the first flower colored fully. Following chemical treatments, they were grouped in different combinations before storage. The treatments included sucrose, 8- hydroxy quinoline sulfate (HQS), citric acid (CA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), kinetine (KI) and distilled water as control. Lilium cut flowers were pulsed for 24 hours in different solutions, then brought out and kept in the distilled water at temperatures of 4^°C and 22 ^° C .Effects of applied treatments were evaluated on different characteristics like vase life, the amount of water absorbed, flower diameter, total soluble solids and fresh weight. Results showed that the temperature of 4^°C had the most effect on vase life, keeping the quality of lilium cut flowers. The results also displayed that the chemical treatments kinetine + sucrose had the most effect on vase life and percentage of sucrose, gibberellic acid + kinetine delayed yellowing of the foliage, 8- hydroxy quinoline absorbed the most amount of water, and treatments sucrose + kinetine , gibberellic acid + 8- hydroxy quinoline sulfate and gibberellic acid + citric acid were most effective in increasing the flowers diameter.

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Transport and filtering of pathogenic bacteria through porous media and groundwater resources are important and، therefore the effect of various factors on bacteria transport and filtering has been given a great attention nowadays. In this study، effects of calcium sulfate and carbonate on Psedomonas fluorescens filtration and filtering parameters were investigated in saturated sand columns under steady-state flow. The calcium carbonate levels included 0، 5، 10 and 20 %w/w and calcium sulfate levels consisted of 0، 5 and 10 % w/w which were thoroughly mixed with sand (0.15-0.25 mm). The experiment was considered factorial in completely randomized design with three replicates. The treated sands were poured into pyrex cylinders with length of 20 cm and diameter of 7 cm. Then، steady-state saturated flow with constant flux was applied to the columns. When the steady-state flow was established، the bacteria suspension with concentration of 10⁶ CFU cm^-3 (C0) was injected as step input into the columns. The leaching then was continued up to 5 times of pore volume (PV). The effluent concentration of the bacteria (C) was measured at 0.25 PV intervals. Then، the sand columns were divided into 0-5، 5-10، 10-15 and 15-20 cm layers in order to measure the filtered bacteria in each layer. The results showed that the effects of calcium carbonate on retaining of the bacteria in the 5-10 and 10-15 cm layers were significant at 1% level. It was significant at 5% for the 15-20 cm layer. The effect of calcium sulfate was also significant at 5% for the 10-15 cm and 15-20 cm layers. The interactive effects of treatments on bacteria adsorption was significant for the 5-10، 10-15 and 15-20 cm layers. The retained concentration profile and the filtration coefficient were significantly affected by the treatments، showing higher bacteria adsorption at lower depths and predominance of physical filtering. The results showed the high filtering capacity of carbonate and sulfate minerals which could ultimately reduce bacteria transport in saturated porous media towards groundwater resources.

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Seventy- two 26-weakk-old white leghorn layers (w-36) were fed commercial diets containing 0, 2 and 4 fish oil and the diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Hens were randomly assigned to 3 treatment diets, with 3 replicates and 8 layers in each. The experiment was conducted over a period of 12 weeks in order to study the effects of feeding fish oil on fatty acid composition of egg yolks. The yolk of eggs was extracted and cholesterol content was determined in each period. Statistical analysis of results was performed using the general linear procedure (GLM) of the SAS and means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test. As a result, saturated fatty acid (myristic, palemitic and stearic acid), ω-7 (palemitoleat) and ω -9 (oleat) and arashidonat in egg yolk was not significantly (P>0.05) different among treatments, but the linoleat and ω -6 fatty acid were decreased in all FO treatments (P<0.05). The linolenic acid did not vary in treatments but the other ω -3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoate and docosahexaenoate) were increased in FO treatments and there was a statistically significant difference between treatments (P<0.05). The ω -6/ ω -3 ratio was decreased from 18 in control to 3.8 and 2.31 at 2 and 4% treatments, respectively(P<0.05).

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This research investigated the effects of super absorbentpolymers on root characteristics of Avena fatua under two soil textures and three irrigation regimes. The study was arranged according to a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Hydrogel compositions included three types of super absorbents (Aquasorb, Boloorab A and Stockosorb) with two levels of 5 and 10 g/kg of soil, plus a control level. The studied traits were shoot height, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, ratio of root/shoot, root length, root perimeter and root volume of Avena fatua. ANOVA showed that the effect of soil texture was significant (p<0.01) for all studied traits. Mean comparison stated that 10g/kg of Aquasorb with 100% irrigation in sandy loam texture and 5g/kg of Stockosorb with 100% irrigation in loamy texture had the most significant and best results, compared with the control treatments. The results revealed that production of dense root network and root aggregation stimulated by super absorbent polymers, increased root contacts with moisture and led to significant increment in root traits like length, perimeter and volume by preparing water. In addition, selecting the type and concentration of super absorbent polymers depends on soil texture, considering the difference between the best results in two soil textures.
 

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