BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF SEED BULLS WHEN USING MINERAL SUPPLEMENT BASED ON MARAL ANTLER PRESS-CAKE

The seed bulls used for artificial insemination should be in good health, have outstanding genetic characteristics, have high sexual activity, and the biological products ob-tained from them should have high quality indices. One of the possible methods of increasing semen production is the introduction of dietary supplements into the diet. The intro-duction of new feed and biologically active supplements into the diet may cause both positive and negative changes in metabolic processes. Monitoring the biochemical status of blood allows detecting not only metabolic disorders in highly productive animals but also a lack of vitamins, mac-ro-and microelements. The research goal was to study the effect of a natural biostimulant (mineral supplement) made from maral antler press-cake on the blood biochemical indices ofBlack Pied seed bulls in the breeding company AO “Plempredpriyatiye Barnaulskoye”. Along with the basic diet, the seed bulls of the trial group received the natural biostimulant (mineral supplement) based on maral antler press-cake; the daily dose -15.0 g per head, for 30 days with 10 days’ interval after each application. The supple-ment was thoroughly mixed with compound feed before feeding. The mineral supplement is of powder form and contains a complex of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other biologically active substances. The use of a mineral supplement increased the amount of total protein and al-bumin by 7.15% and 18.3%, respectively. The blood glu-cose level in the seed bulls of the trial group was higher by 12% and cholesterol by 17.1% than in the blood of the con-trol group animals. Cholesterol of the seed bulls may be used as a structural material or a precursor in the synthesis of sex steroid hormones. The level of total calcium, alkaline reserve at the end of the experiment increased in the seed bulls when using the mineral supplement made from maral antler press-cake in the diet by 4.8% and 8.1%, respective-ly, as compared to the control group.

Effects of Chronic Thermal Stress on Performance, Energy Metabolism, Antioxidant Activity, Brain Serotonin, and Blood Biochemical Indices of Broiler Chickens

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of chronic thermal stress on the performance, energy metabolism, liver CoQ10, brain serotonin, and blood parameters of broiler chickens. In total, 100 one-day-old chicks were divided into two equal groups of five replicates. At 22 days of age and thereafter, the first group (TN) was maintained at a thermoneutral condition (23 ± 1 °C), while the second group (TS) was subjected to 8 h of thermal stress (34 °C). The heat-stressed group showed significantly lower ADFI but higher FCR than the thermoneutral group (p = 0.030 and 0.041, respectively). The TS group showed significantly higher serum cholesterol, ALT, and AST (p = 0.033, 0.024, and 0.010, respectively). Meanwhile, the TS group showed lower serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, and Na+ than the TN group (p = 0.001, 0.025, 0.032, and 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, the TS group showed significantly lower SOD and catalase in heart tissues (p = 0.005 and 0.001, respectively). The TS group showed significantly lower liver ATP than the TN group (p = 0.005). Meanwhile, chronic thermal stress significantly increased the levels of ADP and AMP in the liver tissues of broiler chickens (p = 0.004 and 0.029, respectively). The TS group showed significantly lower brain serotonin (p = 0.004) and liver CoQ10 (p = 0.001) than the TN group. It could be concluded that thermal stress disturbed the antioxidant defense system and energy metabolism and exhausted ATP levels in the liver tissues of broiler chickens. Interestingly, chronic thermal stress reduced the level of brain serotonin and the activity of CoQ10 in liver tissues.

Transport and Recovery of Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) Sedated with MS-222 and Eugenol: Effects on Intermediary Metabolism and Osmoregulation

This study focused on the anesthetic waterless keep-alive transport technique for turbot. MS-222 and eugenol were used to anesthetize turbot and then the waterless keep-alive transport was conducted. The blood physiological changes and flesh quality changes of turbot were evaluated after cooling and during the simulated waterless transport. The results show that the temperature lowered from 13 to 2 °C, resulting in a decrease in moisture, fat and protein contents of all samples. Compared to the control turbot, the turbots treated with MS-222 and eugenol presented higher pH and glycogen content. During the simulated waterless transport, the pH, ATP and glycogen contents in MS-222- and eugenol-treated turbots decreased and the IMP and lactate levels increased. For the blood biochemical indices, blood glucose, cortisol and urea nitrogen increased with the increase in transport time in MS-222- and eugenol-treated turbots. At sampling time, the changes in blood physiological indices were significantly higher in the control samples than those in the MS-222- and eugenol-treated samples. The results indicate that the turbot samples treated with MS-222 or eugenol could reduce stress during cooling and simulated waterless transport.

The Effect of the Antimicrobial Peptide Plectasin on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Health, and Immune Function of Yellow-Feathered Chickens

The goal of the study was to test the effects of an antibiotic substitute, plectasin, on the growth performance, immune function, intestinal morphology and structure, intestinal microflora, ileal mucosal layer construction and tight junctions, ileal immune-related cytokines, and blood biochemical indices of yellow-feathered chickens. A total of 1,500 one-day-old yellow-feathered chicks were randomly divided into four dietary treatment groups with five replicates in each group and 75 yellow-feathered chicks in each replication, as follows: basal diet (group A); basal diet supplemented with 10 mg enramycin/kg of diet (group B), basal diet supplemented with 100 mg plectasin/kg of diet (group C), and basal diet supplemented with 200 mg plectasin/kg of diet (group D). It was found that the dietary antimicrobial peptide plectasin could improve the ADG and had better F/G for the overall period of 1–63 days. Dietary plectasin can enhance H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antibody levels of yellow-feathered chickens at 21, and 35 days of age. Dietary plectasin can enhance the intestine structure, inhibit Escherichia coli and proinflammatory cytokines in the ileum, and ameliorate the blood biochemical indices of yellow-feathered chickens at 21 days of age. This study indicates that the antimicrobial peptide plectasin has beneficial effects on the growth performance, intestinal health and immune function of yellow-feathered chickens.

Effects of Soy Protein Concentrate in Starter Phase Diet on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemical Indices, Carcass Traits, Immune Organ Indices and Meat Quality of Broilers

Soybean meal (SBM) is high in antinutritional factors (ANFs), which is not conducive to the starter growth of broilers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of soy protein concentrate (SPC) in starter diet on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, immune organ indices and blood biochemical indices of broilers. A total of 384 1-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) male broilers (46.05 ± 0.37 g) with similar body weight were randomly divided into 4 groups with 8 replicates in each group and 12 broilers in each replicate. The experiment was divided into three phases: in starter phase (1–10 d), birds were fed a corn-SBM-based basal mash diet (control) and the basal diet was supplemented with SPC at 4% (SPC4), 8% (SPC8), 12% (SPC12). In the grower phase (11–21 d) and the finisher phase (22–42 d), the birds in all four treatment groups were fed the same diets. The results showed that the body weight was significantly increased in the SPC8 and SPC12 groups of broilers at 10 d and 42 d (p < 0.05). The average daily gain was significantly increased in the SPC12 group of broilers at 1–10 d and 1–42 d (p < 0.05). The average daily feed intake was significantly increased in the SPC8 and SPC12 groups of broilers at 1-10 d (p < 0.05). The feed conversion rates at 1–42 d (p = 0.055) tended to decline in the SPC12 group. The carcass yield and the thymus indices were significantly increased in the SPC12 group of broilers at 42 d (p < 0.05). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) tended to decline in SPC12 group at 10 d (p = 0.055) and total protein (TP) tended to increase in the SPC12 group at 42 d (p = 0.080). The contents of total cholesterol (T-CHO) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly elevated in the SPC12 group of broilers at 42 d (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 12% SPC as a starter diet can be recommended due to the positive effects on broilers.

HE GROWTH RATE AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF PIGS WHEN USING LIPOKAR FEED SUPPLEMENT

The studies were conducted in 2015 on Large Whitepigs of the breeding farm of the AO “Linevskiy plemzavod” (Altai Region, Smolenskiy District). The research goal was to determine the growth rate and blood biochemical indices of pigs when using LipoKar feed supplement.According to the design of the experiment, the animals of the control group were fed the basic dietonly. In the trial group, the sows received LipoKar feed supplement for 20 days startingfrom the 85th day of pregnancy. Then, the piglets born from them were also fed LipoKar feed supplement during the nursery period for 40 days in a 10 days’ interval. The dosages of the feed supplement were as following: for pregnant sows -2.1 g perhead per day; for young animals -0.8 g per head per day. The following effects of using LipoKar feed supplementwere found in the trial group: increasing piglet live weight from 4.2% to 11.7% (p < 0.001), average daily live weight gains -from 3.4% to 18.6% (p < 0.05); total protein, vitamin A and alkaline re-servein blood serum by 15.5% (p < 0.001), 9.2% (p < 0.05) and 20.9% (p < 0.001), respectively

Influence of creep diet on blood profile of West African dwarf lambs raised in humid tropical environment

A 70-day feeding trial was carried out to determine the influence of creep diets onhaematological and biochemical blood profile of West African dwarf lambs maintained in a humid tropical environment. Nine lambs at 6 weeks of age were completely randomized into three equal groups and each subsequently subjected to one of three nutritional regimens from 6 to 16 weeks post-partum (point of weaning). Lambs in group 1 (control) suckled their dams only (diet A). Groups 2 and 3 lambs, were in addition to suckling, given supplementary rations formulated to contain 10.0% Soya bean and groundnut cakes (diets B and C) in concentrate mix, respectively. Animals in supplemented groups were offered concentrate diets at 3% of their body weights throughout the trial. Except for MCH, PCV and MCHC, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in values of other haematological parameters measured. AST and creatinine values were however similar (P>0.05), but significant differences (P<0.05) existed in values of other blood biochemical indices measured. Results of this study showed that creep feeding of lambs stabilizes haematological and biochemical blood profile which is indicative of normal health and nutritional status of the animals.