The current study was carried out to study the effect of dietary supplementation with Aloe Vera leaves powder (AVLP) as natural feed additives on growth performance, carcass characteristics and immune response of broiler chickens. Ross unsexed one day old (75 gm) broiler chicks (n=90) were randomly divided into five experimental groups; each group with three replicates (18 chicks/group; 6 chicks/replicate). Diets supplemented with AVLP at rates of 0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 % and the last group supplemented with antibiotic (Oxytetracyclin 1 g/kg diet) for 42 days. Body weights and feed residues were monitored weekly. At the end of the trial, three birds/group were euthanized and then blood samples were collected, moreover carcass dressing and visceral organs were collected and weighed. Results revealed that AVLP had no significant (P>0.05) effects on growth performance of broiler chicken. All treated groups showed non-significant (P>0.05) effect on internal organ weights and carcass traits. Diets supplemented with 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 % of AVLP stimulate the immunity by increasing the phagocytic capacity and antibody titre against Newcastle disease virus when compared with the control group. These results indicated that addition of AVLP in broiler chicken's diets has no adverse effects on growth performance beside it improves the humoral and the cellular immunity.

Concrete developed from light expanded clay aggregate (LECA) and glass fiber has good performance, durability, and sustainability. Towards this, the experimental investigation was designed to study cubes, cylinders, and simply supported beams. Four mixtures had LECA volume of 0%, 75%, 85%, and 95% as coarse aggregate replacement and glass fiber content volume of 2% (N, L75, L85, and L95), and the other two mixtures had 75% LECA and glass fiber content of 1% and 1.5% (L75-F1 and L75-F1.5). Results compared to normal concrete showed the weight reduction of samples while adding more glass fiber caused slump reduction in contrast to LECA. Increasing glass fiber volume in the mixture had a negative influence on tensile strength while causing compressive strength enhancement. Moment resistance and energy absorption capacity of L85 were enhanced by 7.5% and 10.3%, respectively. For L75-F1 specimens, the beam stiffness and ductility were enhanced by 14.8% and 14.3%, respectively.

No abstract

No abstract