Ruminant parasites are found in all parts of the world, including the tropical and subtropical regions. Mazandaran province (northern Iran) is one of the areas prone to the activity of gastrointestinal parasites in ruminants. This study was performed in 2020, in order to identify common parasites of cattle gastrointestinal tract, the percentage of the infection, the effect of seasons, and livestock on the amount of infection and determine the severity of infection. In this study, seven genera of gastrointestinal parasites including Strongyloides, Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Cooperia, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum, and Chabertia were identified among 240 cattle. Overall, 34.58% of cows were infected with different kinds of parasites. Based on the average percentage of livestock infected with gastrointestinal parasites across different seasons, winter had the lowest percentage (18.33%) compared to other seasons, which has a statistically significant difference ( P < 0.05 ). Also, we observe that the female cattle’s infection rate, in comparison with males, had no significant difference ( P < 0.05 ). Moreover, 67.17% of the cattle had a moderate level of infection. Despite the fact that farmers use antiparasitic drugs, helminthic infections in cattle are still high. In conclusion, the lack of proper implementation of helminthic infection control programs as well as antiparasitic drug resistance in this area can be a key element for the high prevalence of livestock helminthic infection in these areas.

A worldwide concern about the development of antimicrobial resistance led to the banning of the use of antibiotics as growth promoters. This research was carried out to investigate the effect of butyric acid glycerides and salinomycin sodium on serum lipids and carcass characteristics in Ross 308 broiler chickens. 800 broiler chickens were raised for 42 days. The experiment was conducted in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with 4 replicates of 25 broilers each. The experimental factors were butyric acid glycerides in two levels (0 and 0.3% of the diet), salinomycin sodium-an anticoccidial drug in two levels (0 and 0.5% of the diet) and litter moisture in two levels (normal litter with average moisture of 35% and wet litter with average moisture of 75%). The level serum cholesterol decreased at 14 and 35 days of age, but this reduction was only significant at 35 days of age (p<0.05). The use of butyric acid glycerides in diet caused a significant increase in blood triglycerides at 14 days of age (p<0.05). The effect of the experimental treatments on carcass percentage, thigh, abdominal fat, pregastric and gizzard, pancreas and intestine were significant (p<0.05). Using butyric acid glycerides caused a significant increase in carcass percentage and a significant reduction in intestine weight (p<0.05). Salinomycin sodium caused a significant increase in carcass percentage and a significant reduction in the percentage of pregastric and gizzard, and also pancreas (p<0.05).

A concern about enhancing the natural defense mechanisms of animals and reducing the massive use of antibiotics led to the banning of studies in this field. So, this research was done to investigate the effect of butyric acid glycerides and salinomycin sodium on the performance of the broiler chickens (strain Ross 308). A total of 800 chickens were reared for 42 days. A 3 factor statistical design was conducted with 4 replicates, and each factor contained 2 levels (25 broilers in each pen). The factors were butyric acid glycerides (0 and 0.3% of diet), salinomycin sodium -an anticoccidial drug (0 and 0.5% of diet) -and litter moisture (normal litter with average moisture of 35% and wet litter with average moisture of 75%). Data were collected and analyzed by SAS with GLM procedure. The results showed that butyric acid glycerides had no significant effect on feed intake. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected by the mentioned factors. The effect of the treatments on the number of Eimeria oocytes excreta in the second and fourth week of breeding and feed intake were significant (p<0.05). Diet acidification with butyric acid glycerides caused an increase in ash, calcium and phosphorus of the chicken tibia, but this increase was not significant (p>0.05). Considering the result of this experiment, the use of butyric acid glycerides and salinomycin sodium in the aforementioned levels had no positive effect on the performance of broiler chickens (p>0.05).