Category Archives: Animal production

Some Biological Aspects of Golden Fish Carassius auratus from Tigris River, Tikrit/Iraq

Ameer Suood Alwan*(1) and Nehad Khorseed Wahab(2)

(1). Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture. Iraq.

(2). Animal production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tikrit University, Tikrit, Iraq.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Ameer Suood Alwan. E-Mail: ameer.suood@yahoo.com).

Received: 02/07/2019                                Accepted: 02/10/2019

Abstract

Some biological aspects of golden fish Carassius auratus from Tigris River within Tikrit region studied from September 2013 to June 2014. Two hundred twenty-two fish (twenty-five males and one hundred ninety-seven females), their total length ranged from 11.5 to 29.0 cm and their total weight ranged between 19.36 to 399.76 g were caught. Regression coefficient (b) for the logarithmic relationship between length and weight was 3.22, 3.28 and 3.20 for males, females and both sexes, respectively. Condition factor (K) was 1.48, 1.50 and 1.49 for males, females and both sexes respectively. Condition factor increased with length for fish and differ between months. The highest gonad somatic index for males was 3.57 and it valued for females 9.24 in February. The spawning period extended from February to June. Sex ratio (males: females) tended toward females by 1:7.88 as well as in all months of the study, which ranged from 1:2.33 in October and 1:17 in May. The smallest mature male was 15 cm but for female it was 12.9 cm. The actual fertility ranged from of 1719 to 22185 eggs with average 7091 eggs and relative fertility ranged from 24.07 to 162.75 with an average of 92.57 g.

Key words: Biology, Carassius auratus, Tigris River, Tikrit, Iraq.

Full Paper in Arabic: PDF

Effect of Different Levels of Aqueous Extract of Orange (Citrus sinensis) Peel on The Biochemical Blood Traits of Broiler Chicks 308

Samawal S.A. AL-Tikriti*(1) and Mustafa. N. AL-Zubaidy(1)

(1). Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tikrit University. Iraq.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Samawal Al-Tikriti. E-Mail: samawal_1976@yahoo.com).

Received: 19/10/2019                                Accepted: 07/12/2019

Abstract

A total of 120 unsexed one day broiler chicks from Ross hybrid 308 were used with an average body weight of 45 grams. This study was carried out at one of the farmers’ field in Kirkuk Governorate during the studied period started from 4/4/2015 to 9/5/2015. The chicks were divided into four treatment of 30 chicks for each treatment and distributed in (3) replicates (10 birds/replicate). Nutritional treatments were as follows: (T1) was the first treatment (as control); birds were fed on a standard diet + plain water, (T2) was rhe second treatment; birds were fed on a standard diets + water added with 2.5% of the aqueous extract of orange peel, (T3) was the third treatment; where the birds were fed a standard diet + 5% water added to the orange peel extract, (T4) was the fourth treatment; birds were fed on a standard diets + 10% water added to the orange peel water extract.  The results showed that there was a significant increase (p≤0.05) in the treated birds with (T2), (T3) and (T4) compared to the control treatment in cholesterol, glucose, lipoproteins, low density fats, triglycerides and uric acid concentrations. However, the values ​​of total protein, albumin and globulin were significantly higher in favor of supplementation treatments compared to control group.

Keywords: Broilers, Orange peel, Biochemical blood.

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Comparison Among Three Quail (Coturnix coturnix spp) Lines in Their Productive Performance

Shekhmou Hussen*(1) and Jameela Saleh(1)

(1). Department of Animal Production, Duhok University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Shekhmous Hussen; E-mail: sheikhmous68@gmail.com).

Received: 12/09/2019                                Accepted: 17/10/2019

Abstract

A total of 600 quail chicks from 3 lines (White-W, Light Brown-Lb and Dark brown-Db) were brought from Department of Animal production, Faculty of Agriculture, Sallah-Aldein University, Erbil, KR-Iraq. This work was conducted at the Poultry Farm of Animal Production Department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq. The aim of experiment was to investigate the productive performance of three quail lines under Duhok region environment during 2016. The birds were reared in cages and the feed was supplied manually and submitted ad libitum. The following characters were studied during growth and egg production stages: Live body weight (BW), body weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), sexual maturity, egg weight (EW), egg number (EN), egg mass (EM), mortality rate, fertility and hatchability. The main results from the present study could be summarized as follow: BW trait was highly significant differed (p<0.01) among the studied lines at 1, 2 and 3 weeks old; and was differed significantly (p<0.05) at 4 weeks old, where brown lines surpassed white ones. Other traits (WG, FI, FCR, EW, EN, EM, fertility and hatchability) didn’t differ significantly (p>0.05) among the studied lines at all studied ages. The lowest mortality rate was recorded to Lb line (0 %). As conclusion, the Lb line had the best productive performance.

Key words: Quail, Meat production, Egg production.

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Characterization of Growth Curve for Local Cattle Groups at Al-Yadoda Station, South of Syria

Osama Alsheblak*(1) and Khaled Alnajjar(2)

(1). Animal Wealth Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agrcultural Research GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(2). ACSAD, Damascus, Syira.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Osama Alsheblak. E-Mail: o.alsheblak@gmail.com).

Received: 03/09/2018                                Accepted: 15/10/2018

Abstract

This study was carried out at AL-Yadoda Research Station, Daraa Research Center, GCSAR, to analyze weight data of local cattle (Akshi, Shami and Golani). 101 heads of calves were weighted in several ages (birth, one and half month, three months, six months, twelve months and eighteen months) during the period from 2009 to 2011. The general liner model (GLM) was used to characterize the growth curve using growth function and to study non-genetic effects on growth traits. The analysis of variance was used to study the effect of gender, birth year, breed and interaction between gender and breed on growth traits, and Duncan test was used to compare means. Results showed that the real weight of local cow sets, from birth, 1.5-month, 3-months, 6-months,12-months and 18-months were (23.0±0.46), (40.25±0.51), (64.26±1.03), (110.8±2.24), (216.43±3.91), (277.82±1.97) kg, respectively, while expected means weight according to growth function were (23.48±0.38), (39.25±0.53), (65.69±0.74), (110.07±1.09), (184.66±1.76), (310.17±3.24) kg, respectively. Growth function constants a, b were analyzed and the estimates of growth function a, b were (14.07) kg, (0.56) kg, respectively and the value of coefficient fitting model was R2=0.98. This study proved that function is fitting to growth curve of local cattle sets in southern Syria from birth to 18-months age. Results of variance analyze showed non-significant effect of gender on (a) and (b) coefficients, model fitting to weigh increase (R2), and no-significant differences found between males and females for these coefficients. Results of variance analyze showed non-significant effect of birth year on (a) and (b) coefficients, model fitting to weigh increase (R2), and no-significant differences found between study years for these treats. Results of variance analyze showed a significant effect of breed on (a) and (b) traits, model fitting to weigh was increased (R2), and significant differences found between local cow groups (Akshi, Shami and Golani). This study proved that function was fitting to describe growth curve of local cow groups in south Syria from birth up to 18-months old, although a little number of parameters (a, b) which can be explained biological and this is very important for selection besides to some non-genetic factors effect such as (gender, year birth and breed) on growth traits.

Keyword: Local cattle groups, Growth curve, Breed, Syria.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Prevalence of Ticks in Cows and Identification of its Genera and Species in Hama Governorate (Syria)

Abdul Naser Al-Omar*(1) and Morshid Kassouha(2)

(1). Hama Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GSCAR), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hama University, Hama, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Abdul Naser Al-Omar. E-Mail: abdnaser64@gmail.com).

Received: 10/09/2018                                Accepted: 05/11/2018

Abstract

This study was carried out on 386 heads of cows in Hama governorate during the period of March 2013 till February 2014. (134) samples of ticks were collected from cows chosen randomly aiming to recognize tick’s infection and determine its genus and species, the effect of season, animal age, breeding system and the places of its localization. The ticks had been determined through morphology specifications using Stereoscope according to dependent standard identification keys. Results showed sufficient difference (p<0.01) in ticks infection rates in cows according to the season of the year, and the rate of prevalence for the whole year was (34.71%), while in summer and spring the rates were (52.94%) and (36.73) respectively, but in autumn and winter the rates were (31.11%) and (16.66%) respectively. Also, it was noticed that there were sufficient differences (p<0.05) in prevalence rates according to animals ages where the highest rate was in the age group less than two years old at a rate of (47.77%), whereas the least rate was in age group more than six years old. Also, it was noticed that there was sufficient difference (p<0.05) in prevalence rate according to breeding system where the rate was higher under semi-intensified breeding system (40.32%) in comparison to intensified breeding system (29.20%). It was also noticed sufficient difference (p<0.01) in prevalence rate according to cow’s genus whereas it was higher in females (79.1%) in comparison to males (20.89%). Result also showed three types of ticks in cows which were: Rhipicephalus Spp. with prevalence rate of (50.74%), Hylomma Spp. with prevalence rate of (44.02%) and Boophilus Spp. with prevalence rate of (5.22%). Six sorts of ticks were determined where it was noticed sufficient difference in its prevalence rate, square chi amounted to 166.985 at a significance level less than (0.01), but the most prevalence specie was Rhipicephalus Turanicus (50.74%) then Anatolicum Excavatum Hyalomma (32.83%) and Hyalomma Impelatum (7.46%) and finally Boophilus Annulatus (5.22%), whereas the prevalence of Hyalomma Marginatum Marginatum and Hyalomma Detritum Detritum was in less rates amounted to (2.23%) and (1.5%) of whole ticks isolations respectively.

Key words: Ticks, Cows, Syria.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

The Effect of Organic Chromium Supplementation on Some Productivity Parameters of Japanese Quail

Ahmed Sinan Ahmed Al-Obeidi(1) Ali Mohammed A. Rahim Al-Azzawi*(1) Mohammad Saleh Latif Al-Obaidi(1) Marwan Hashim Hasballah(1) and  Nour Hussein Alwan(1)

(1). Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Diyala University, Republic of Iraq.

(* Corresponding author: Ali Al-Azzawi, Email: Ali1993mu@yahoo.com).

Received: 03/12/2018                                Accepted: 04/07/2019

Abstract

The study was conducted in 2015 at the Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Diyala University in Iraq to determine the effect of adding different concentrations of organic chromium picolinate as additives to Japanese quail diets. 90 birds at age of 14 days and were divided into three groups according to diet (30 birds for each treatment with ten birds for each replicate). First group (T1) were fed without adding chrome (as control), second group (T2) were fed with 250 μg chrome/kg, and third group (T3) were fed with 500 μg chrome/kg.  The feed and water were added freely. Live weight, daily weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion rate were measured weekly. At the end of the study, six birds from each group were slaughtered to calculate the dressing percentage. The difference between live weights was not significant (P≤0.05) except at age of 35 days, where T3 surpassed the control treatment significantly (P≤0.05). No significant effects were observed on the daily weight gain, daily average of feed consumption and feed conversion rate at different weeks, but T3 treatment surpassed the control treatment significantly (P≤0.05) in dressing percentage.

Key words: Japanese quail, Chrome organic, Dressing percentage.

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Determination of Genetic Persistency of Milk Production on Shami Goats under Semi-Intensive Rearing System

Hadil Obaid*(1) Kamel Fatal(2) Abd Al-Naser Al-Omar(3) and Emad Al-Masri(4)

(1). Hama Agricultural Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GSCAR), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Aleppo Agricultural Research Center, (GSCAR), Damascus, Syria.

(3). Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agricultural, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Hadil Obaid. E-Mail: hadilobaid2017@gmail.com).

Received: 10/02/2018                                Accepted: 04/04/2018

Abstract

The study was conducted on Shami goat herd using milk production seasons during the period (2013-2017) at Hama Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR). A total data of 471 milking records was analyzed to study the genetic persistency of milk production of Shami goats under semi-intensive rearing system, using subtraction between genetic estimation to produce 120 days from genetic estimation to produce first 60 days of milk season.The average of milk production for the first 60 days and 120 days of the milk were (70.61±20.80) and (120.69±0.45) kg respectively. The production of the year had a significant effect on milk production at 60 days, also parity had a significant effect on milk production at 120 days of lactation period (P<0.01). while there were no significant effects of parity and kidding type on milk production at 60 days. Also, no significant effects were noticed for year production and kidding type on milk production at 120 days (P>0.05). Heritability values of milk production at 60 and 120 days were (0.18) and (0.75) respectively. The values of genetic persistence of males at 60 and 120 days reached the peak of (+40.34) and the lowest of (-39.6) kg. So, these estimates can be used to increase the economic return and improve the goat flock for milk persistency. The research concluded the possibility of improving milk persistency genetically for female Shami goat.

Keyword: Genetic persistency, Milk production, Shami goats, Heritability.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Effect Potassium Chloride Addition in Different Proportions to Drinking Water on the Production Performance of Broilers During Hot Summer

Ahmad Ibraheem AL–Banki*(1)

 (1). Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture. Al-Furat University, Deir Ezzour, Syria.

(* Corresponding author: Dr. Ahmad Ibraheem AL–Banki.  E-Mail:  deirezzour1961@gmail.com).

Received: 02/05/2018                                Accepted: 01/10/2018

Abstract

The research was carried out in poultry house of broiler rearing in Deir Al-Zour (Al-Hermoushia village) from 18/6/2018 until 30/7/2018, to investigate adding potassium chloride to drinking water on the productive performance of broiler. Three levels of potassium chloride (30, 60 and 90 mg/ L water), were used in the experiment. A total of 240 one day old broiler chicks were used. The chicks distributed randomly to the 4 treatments; each treat had 3 replications, which involved 20 chicks per each. The results showed that the body weight was significantly increased (p> 0.05), where both treats (60 and 90 mg PC/L W) recorded (2795 and 2899 g respectively at (43) days old compared with the control group (2380 g). Mortality rate decreased in the second and third treatments compared to the control. There was a significant improvement in the production index. Adding (60) and (90) mg/L showed significant increase in a cumulative feed consumption, while there was no significant increase in the treat (30 mg/ liter).

Keyword: Broiler, Heat stress, Potassium chloride, Productive performance.

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The Effect of Selenium on the Digestion Factors and Their Relationship to Egg Production Chains of Local Quail (Coturnix coturnix)

Ahmad Omar Etaki*(1) Mostafa Ahmed ALJader(1) Rabab Hassan Absi(1) Adnan Adeeb ALMarrawi(1)

(1). Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding Author: Eng. Ahmad Omar Etaki. E-mail: Ahmadetaki@hotmail.com).

Received: 10/10/2018                                Accepted: 08/12/2018

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Animal House, Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University, Syria within one year between 2017 and 2018 to determine the effect of organic selenium addition on the digestion treatments of local quail birds and its effect on egg production chains. 35 local mature quail aged 7 weeks old, were randomly distributed to 7 groups (5 birds per group) in the cages. besides the control group with no addition, but 0.3 mg/kg sodium selenite was added to the diets of groups (2, 3, 4 and 5), with the increase of (methionine-vitamin E-fat) in groups (3, 4 and 5) respectively. 0.3 mg/kg of organic selenium (in the yeast) was added to the sixth and seventh groups, and the fat was increased in the seventh group’s diet. In the 22nd week of egg production, the digestion experiment was conducted to calculate digestion factors. The results showed that the dietary parameters that were used did not affect the digestion factor of the dry matter, fiber and protein. The fat digestion coefficient was significantly increased (P≤0.05) when the concentration of vitamin E was increased in the diet. The addition of the organic selenium in the diet with additional concentrations of vitamin E significantly improved (P≤0.05 (the efficiency of the conversion of the digested protein to the egg protein and the performance of the productivity of birds by reducing the periods of interruption in egg production.

Keyword: Local quail, Organic selenium, Digestion factors, Efficiency of protein conversion.

Full Paper in Arabic: PDF

Assessment of Some Milk Production Traits on Shami Cattle under Rearing Conditions in Syria

Khaled Al-Najjar*(1) Abdulla Nouh(1) and Ali Badran(1)

(1). Animal Wealth Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Khaled Al-Najjar. E-Mail: khnajj2011@yahoo.com).

Received: 08/10/2018                                Accepted: 13/02/2019

Abstract

The Shami cows are local breeds producing milk in Syria, and adapted to environmental conditions but they are threatened with extinction and suffer of craving phenomenon to her calf. The research objective was to evaluate the productivity situation, and study some environmental factors which affect total, daily milk yield /kg, and lactation period /day. This research was carried out using the productivity data at Der-Alhajar Station, which belongs to the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), in Damascus countryside during the period (1982-2009). Total records were 2461, and Data was analyzed using statistical fixed model to estimate Least Squares Means (LSM) for the studied traits. LSM of total milk yield was 1437.64±54.99 kg. The differences among calving years were highly significant, while calving season, parity, calving age, (calving seasonÍparity) and (calving ageÍparity) had non-significant influences on total milk production trait. LSM of lactation period was 152.08±4.53 day. Effect of calving year was found to be highly significant, while calving season, parity, calving age, (calving seasonÍparity) and (calving ageÍparity) were insignificant on lactation period. LSM of daily milk yield was 8.93±0.21 kg. Calving year showed highly significant effect, parity also had a significant effect, while calving season, calving age, (calving seasonÍparity) and (calving ageÍparity) had no significant effect on daily milk yield. The research concluded that, Shami cows had low milk yield, and daily milk accompanied with short lactation period. This might due to ineffective program selection in the station. So, the study recommends to follow a selection program based on genetic values of a cow in each the studied traits.

Keyword: Shami cows, Milk production, Syria.

Full Paper in Arabic: PDF