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The study objective was to investigate the effect of three levels of nanoclay minerals (1%, 1.5% and 2%) on growth performance, internal organs and blood biochemistry of broiler chickens compared to vaccines and antibiotics. An experiment of nine dietary treatments was conducted for over than 36 days. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were fed diet without nanoclay minerals and served as control group (positive with vaccines and antibiotics (C1), positive with vaccines only (C2) and negative without any of them (C3). Treatments groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were fed the same diet with the above-mentioned levels once a week or once in 2 weeks. 2% nanoclay minerals fed at the two intervals significantly improved broilers' performance in terms of live body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio compared to control groups. Concerning blood biochemistry, high-density lipoprotein which known to be beneficial for humans increased (P < .05) by feeding 1.5% nanoclay minerals at the two ages compared to control groups and other treatments. In conclusion, the present results indicate that nanoclay minerals in particular levels and doses improve the growth performance of broiler chickens. Nanotechnology as a new tool has the potential to improve broiler production. ARTICLE HISTORY

The aim of this experiment was to determine the age at puberty of both ram and ewe lambs of three genotypes: Awassi (A), Charollais x Awassi (CA), and Romanov x Awassi (RA) F 1 crosses. Twenty, six-month old lambs (10 from each sex) from each genotype were used. Ram and ewe lambs were kept in separate groups from the beginning until the end of the experiment. Birth weight and weaning weight were recorded for all animals. Body weights and body condition scores were recorded at monthly intervals between 6.5 and 12 months of age. Blood samples were collected weekly from ewe lambs and fortnightly from ram lambs to monitor progesterone and testosterone profiles, respectively. Semen characteristics and scrotal circumferences (SC) were evaluated fortnightly. Weight at puberty in ewe and ram lambs were not significantly different among the three genotypes and ranged around 35 kg and 42 kg, respectively. In ewe lambs, age at puberty was significantly higher (P< 0.01) in A (280±11.5 d) than in RA (232±11 d) and CA (255±11.5 d). Age at puberty of ram lambs was also significantly different (P < 0.01) among the three genotypes being higher in A (243±5 d) than in CA (223±5 d) and RA (226±5 d) ram lambs. Semen parameters improved with age in all genotypes. The RA ram lambs had greater semen concentration and lower abnormal spermatozoa than the other two genotypes (P< 0.05). Results of the present study indicate that crossing Awassi ewes with either Charollais or Romanov sires tends to improve reproductive characteristics of the F 1 crossbreds through advancing age at puberty in both ram and ewe lambs. (255 ± 11,5 d). Anche nei maschi l'età alla pubertà è risultata significativamente diversa (P < 0,01) tra i

The objective of the study was to compare sexual performance of pure and crossbred rams, and to evaluate whether prior exposure of rams to short-tailed females would enhance their mating ability when later exposed to fat-tailed females. Twenty-two virgin, yearling Awassi (A; n = 7), F(1) Charollais x Awassi (CA; n = 7) and F(1) Romanov x Awassi (RA; n = 8) rams were subjected to sexual performance tests on six 20-min occasions. Each ram was individually exposed to two short-tailed oestrous ewes for three 20-min occasions on three consecutive days. Following 1 day of rest, the same 3-day procedure was repeated for each ram with fat-tailed ewes. Leg kicking bout frequency increased in CA and RA rams and decreased in A rams, when they were exposed to fat-tailed compared with short-tailed ewes. No differences in anogenital sniffing were observed among rams exposed to either short-tailed or fat-tailed ewes. However, greater (p < 0.001) anogenital sniffing bouts were recorded, when rams were exposed to short-tailed females. Upon exposure to fat-tailed ewes, CA and RA rams experienced a marked increase in mounting frequency compared with a slight increase in mounting of A rams (p < 0.001). The ability of Awassi rams to raise the fat tail of Awassi ewes was greater (p < 0.001) than CA and RA rams. Mating was improved in A while declining in CA and RA, when they were exposed to fat-tailed compared with short-tailed ewes (p < 0.001). Based on the results of the current study, it seems that all yearling rams were capable of mating with short-tailed ewes, whereas only Awassi rams managed to mate with fat-tailed ewes. It appears that brief exposures of yearling crossbred rams to short-tailed ewes do not improve their mating ability when later exposed to fat-tailed ewes.

The experiment was conducted on Isa Brown laying hens to study the effects of sea buckthorn fruit residues on hen performance and quality of eggs. The total number of 1440 eighteen-week-old pullets Isa Brown was divided into two groups (720 each) including 24 subgroups (30 hens). The experimental group was fed diets in which 5% of the wheat was replaced by sea buckthorn fruit residues. The control group was fed diets without any colour additives. Egg production and intensity of laying hens were evaluated in seven periods, from 127 to 322 days of age. In our study, a significant effect (P ≤ .05) of sea buckthorn fruit residues on total number of laid eggs and egg yolk colour was detected. However, a non-significant effect of sea buckthorn was found on hen performance or egg quality including egg weight, yolk weight, eggshell strength, shape index of egg, eggshell thickness, Haugh units, eggshell colour and blood spot, albumen weight, proportion and Haugh units. Results of our study showed the beneficial effect of feeding sea buckthorn fruit residues on total number of laid eggs and egg yolk colour which is a great concern for egg consumers.ARTICLE HISTORY