No abstract

Present investigation was carried out to estimate the correlation and regression coefficientestimates between some growth performance traits of Harnai sheep. The available data was collected andmaintained at Multipurpose Sheep Research Centre Yetabad, District Loralia, Balochistan, Pakistan. Thedata regarding growth traits including birth weight, yearling weight, weaning weight and fleeces weightwas analysed for the estimation of correlation and regression coefficient. In present study the results forcorrelation and regression coefficient estimates were observed low to positive between some growthperformance traits of Harnai sheep. Due to low results for correlation and regression coefficient, it isconcluded that mass selection is advisable for achieving better performance in growth traits of Harnaisheep.

Numbers of 300 day-old broiler chickens through a CRD design with 5 treatments, 3 replicates and 20 chicks in each pen were used to evaluate the effect of thyme (T), licorice (L), thyme + licorice (TL), and enzyme supplemented (E) diets on performance, immune and carcass characteristics. According to the results, performance traits, immune indices, and carcass traits in herbal medicine and enzyme supplemented diets were improved significantly than control diet (P < 0.05). Weight gain and FCR in T and E groups were significantly higher and lower than other groups respectively (P < 0.05). Internal organs such as abdominal fat and liver weight as indicators of lipogenesis rate were decreased in T, L, and TL diets than control or E diet significantly (P < 0.05). Immune organs such as burse and spleen weight as indicators of immune situation were increased in TL diet than other treatments significantly (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that thyme and licorice singly or in combination as organic herbal medicine can affect performance, carcass and immune characteristics. Also an improved immune organ such as burse or 106spleen in this study indicates that this herbal medicine can promote the immune situation and efficacy of health and livability.

A pilot scale project of 4 weeks feeding trial using 1500 broiler chicks was conducted in a commercial poultry shed, hired for this purpose to study the comparative growth performance of a flock raised on levabon supplemented feed to that raised on the same feed without levabon (control). A total 1500 broiler chicks were divided in to 3 groups, control and treated (1g/kg and 1.5g/kg). Each group was further divided in to 10 replicates, containing 50 birds per replicate. Feed intake was not influenced by supplementation of levabon during this experiment (p>0.005), however slightly higher numerical values were observed in treated group. While overall weight gain and feed conversion ratio was significantly Higher (p>0.05) in birds fed on Levabon supplemented feed (1.5g/kg) as compared to the control group (feed without levabon). Dressing percentage, giblet weight was not significantly influenced by dietary treatment of Levabon (autolysed yeast), mortality was significantly reduced by supplementation of levabon (p>0.05) during this trail. The net income per bird was significantly higher in treatment group than control. This study suggests the inclusion of autolysed yeast in broiler diet for getting better performance of broiler chicken.

Present research was carried out to investigate the genetic characteristics of Pak-Awassi Sheep with respect to the growth performance traits and estimation of the genetic parameters. The 10 years (2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013) data regarding the growth performance traits of Pak-Awassi sheep maintained at livestock experimental station Nabisr, Umar Kot, Sindh were utilized for the current study. The result for genetic parameters heritability for birth weight and yearling weight was observed low, while correlation and regression coefficient was observed medium and positive for birth weight and yearling weight. The effect of season was observed significantly higher on lambing rate of Pak-Awasi sheep. It is concluded that winter season has significant effect on lambing rate, while the low heritable traits can be improved with better management and selection practices.