Early feed restriction programs designed for reducing body fat in broiler chickens rely on the phenomenon called compensatory growth to produce final body weight equal to controls and success of each feed restriction program is measured based on complete compensatory growth and the amount of body fat. Compensatory growth is defined as a recovery from a growth deficit resulting from a limited nutrient intake. Plavnik and co-workers in a series of studies showed that restricting metabolisable energy intake to providing only maintenance requirement for a short period early in the life of broilers resulted to a reduction in carcass and abdominal fats without affecting overall growth until 56 day of age. This means that there is potential to underfeed broilers for some time, without affecting weight at normal market age. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of severity of diet dilution (energy and protein) and duration of early feed restriction on body weight and abdominal fat of male broiler chickens.

Feed grains available in Britain contain low concentrations of natural selenium. As the grains in most cases do not cover the requirements of the animals, selenium supplementation of diets is a standard practice in feed manufacturing. Selenium supply to the breeder hens impacts the selenium content of the egg, the developing embryo and therefore the antioxidant status of the chick at hatch (Surai, 2000). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selenium from Sel-Plex® (Alltech Inc.) on the transfer of selenium into the egg of broiler breeder hens under commercial conditions.

The need to provide protein at a low cost to consumers in Nigeria, has stimulated continued search for more suitable combination of known nutrients, and for new additives which will increase the efficiency and growth rate and therefore level of production of poultry birds. These widespread efforts have led to the present use of growth promoters (variously called growth permitters, growth enhancers, biostimulators). Growth promoters are antimicrobials, synthetic agents or mixtures of these. They directly or indirectly enhance digestion and hence anabolism. They remove pathological conditions and therefore cause growth promotion. This study reports the use of one of such commercial growth promoters recently introduced into the poultry market in Nigeria on the performance of broilers

Ovarian follicles are the most important steroids producing structures of the avian ovary. The ovary of a mature goose generally contains 7-9 large preovulatory follicles arranged in a follicular hierarchy, several postovulatory follicles, and numerous small follicles, which have not entered the follicular hierarchy. It has been reported that in avian preovulatory follicles biosynthesis of sex steroid changes during maturation (Gomez et al., 1998; Lee et al., 1998). The cell theory for steroid production suggested that granular layer of preovulatory follicles primarily produce progesterone that are required as substrate for the production of androgen and estradiol by theca layer (Huang et al., 1979). The recently multiple-cell theory of steroidogenic suggest that theca layer can also synthesize progesterone, androgen and estradiol independent of granulosa layer (Nitta et al., 1991).

The microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tracts of poultry play a key role in normal digestive processes and in maintaining animal health. Disease- and stress-induced changes in the physicochemical environment in the gastrointestinal tract, or simple changes in feed management practices can significantly influence the microbial populations and their effects on animal performance and health. In the last five decades, increased knowledge of the factors that influence the activities of microorganisms in the alimentary tract has helped to define the critical role of these symbiotic organisms. Probiotics, competitive exclusion and direct-fed microbial feed supplements can be used as a strategic tool for managing these microbial populations. The aim of this trial was study of effect of different levels of bacterial probiotic on broilers performance and some of blood factors.

It is recognised that feeding grass alone cannot satisfy the nutritional needs of breeding sheep and this consequently can impair their health and production. However, if grass is fed together with a suitable supplement that is specifically formulated to compensate for the nutrient deficiency of that grass then its utilisation followed by animal performance can be improved. This study examined the effect of feeding ad libitum an Extra High Energy (16MJ ME/kg DM) supplement (Crystalyx®) containing sugars, oil, protein (12%) and minerals on the performance of breeding ewes when grazing grass outdoor pre-joining and during first 3 months of post-joining with rams.

In the basque country, in the spring, dairy ewes can spend a limited number of hours between 4 and 8 hours on pasture (Oregui et al., 1997). Besides grazing, ewes receive a supplementation of concentrates and forages in parlour. Therefore the characteristics of this supplementation are very important. In this sense, there is evidence that an increase in rumen undegradable protein could lead to an increase in milk production (Santos et al., 1998). In recent years, it has been shown the potential of tannins to decrease protein degradation in the rumen (Hervas. 2001). However, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the effect of increasing the content of rumen undegradable protein of the concentrate in a production system like the one in the basque country.

The use of leguminous forages is an alternative of protein supplementation in animal diets. Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is lifelong leguminous forage that can be directly grazed or harvested, offered fresh, hay or silage to animals. Many leguminous show anti-nutritional factors that may reduce the use of these plants in animal diets. Condensed tannin (CT) is one common anti-nutritional factor present in the leucaena. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of Leucaena leucocephala in Santa Inês sheep diets on intake and digestibility parameters.

Traditionally goats are indeed important in Iran especially for milk and fibers. This country has nearly 5000000 cashmere producing goat, which produce approximately 1500 metric ton of raw cashmere. So research on environmental factors which have effect on cashmere production, is very vital to economy of the country. Raeini breed is the most productive Cashmere goat in Iran. However, There are no detailed descriptions of the effects of nutrition on cashmere characteristics in Raeini goat. There is some debate on the effects of nutrition on cashmere growth. In some studies cashmere growth does not respond to increased feed intake above maintenance. While some reviewers have concluded that nutrition does influence cashmere growth (McGregor, 1998). The objective of this study was to describe the effects of feeding level on the cashmere growth of Raeini female goats at two different ages.

The digestibility values of forages have long been recognised as an important parameter affecting both milk yield and growth of ruminants. Several methods (in vivo and in vitro) are used to determine digestibility of forages. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of chemical composition of silages on the in vivo and in vitro DMD of maize silages.

Native herbaceous browses at Northeast of Brazil have a dry tolerance and have been used as animal feed. Some of those plants have anti nutritional compounds such as tannins that can interfere on their intake and digestibility. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been used in gas-based techniques for assessing anti nutritional factors in tanniniferous plants for ruminants. The objective of this work was to compare the tannin bioassay technique using the semi-automated (Reading Pressure Technique - RPT) and manual (syringe) gas production techniques to evaluate the tannin effect upon in vitro rumen fermentation, using PEG as an inhibitor of tannin effects.

Mixed perennial ryegrass and white clover swards are often used as the basis of upland sheep grazing systems. This study’s objective was to examine voluntary herbage intake and diet selection in 30 lactating Scottish-Blackface ewes grazing mixed perennial ryegrass (PRG) and white clover (WC) swards supplemented with or without protein. The work was part of a wider study of nutrition and parasitology in organic sheep systems.

The nutritive values of animal feed are dependents on plant species, stages of maturity, harvesting and preparation methods. Legumes provide maximum yield, high forage quality (protein, mineral and digestible energy). Legumes decrease in protein and digestible dry matter and increase in fibre as they increase in growth or in maturity (Hochensmith et al., 1997). Alfalfa (medica sativa) is world unique forage in livestock food. This study was conducted to examine the chemical composition and nutrient digestibility of Hamadanian alfalfa forage at different growth stage on two local Iranian sheep and goat breeds.

The close association of calcium and phosphorus in bone, and the narrow relationship between these minerals makes this subject always an important aim of study for researches on animal nutrition (Braithwaite, 1984). The utilization of alternative sources of calcium has been studied in Brazil in the last years however there is a lack of information about the effects of these sources on phosphorus metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate phosphorus metabolism in sheep fed four different sources of calcium through determination of true absorption and endogenous faecal loss of phosphorus by using the isotope dilution technique (Vitti et al., 2000).

Secondary copper deficiency in ruminant animals is induced by high dietary levels of molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe) or sulphur (S). Within the rumen, sulphur reacts with Mo to form a series of thiomolybdate molecules (TM) which may chelate copper. This reduces copper absorption or if TM is absorbed, inhibits copper metallo-enzyme activities. Parental administration of TM has resulted in an increase in Cu to the brain and an increase in Mo to the pituitaries (Haywood et al., 1998). This redistribution may alter neurological, endocrine and reproductive function. However, there are no reports on effects of endogenously produced TM on brain or pituitary trace element accumulation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary Mo or Fe on copper status and mineral retention in the pituitary gland and ovary of growing lambs.

In tropical countries, especially in Brazil, ruminants commonly are fed forage diets which are adequate in calcium but deficient in phosphorus, giving an inadequate Ca: P ratio. Thus, it is important to understand the effects of Ca level on phosphorus homeostasis control and to obtain more information on phosphorus utilization. The objective of this study is to provide information which may be useful to improve the understanding of the P homeostasis control in sheep fed various Ca levels, and to obtain more information on dietary Ca level effect on P utilization.

Lambs are born hypoimmunocompetent as the placenta prevents the transfer of maternal immunity to the foetus of the ruminant. Colostrum is the source of imunoglobulins for the young lamb and any interference with the absorption of immunoglobulins from colostrum would have important consequences for lamb liveability in early life. Recent experiments at this institute found that when ewes had access to mineral blocks in late pregnancy the absorption of immunoglobulin (IgG) by their offspring was reduced (Keane 2001). This author also stated that the lamb was preprogrammed in-utero for lowered IgG absorption efficiency. The aim of this experiment was to determine whether it was the mineral or molasses component of the mineral block which caused the reduced IgG absorption by the lamb.

Nutrient deficiencies, such as sulfur (S), that reduce the activities of rumen microorganisms are liable to reduce food intake (McDonald et al., 1995). Hegarty et al (1994) found that a depression of appetite and digestibility in sheep deprived of sulfur. The amount of sulfur needed to optimize the rumen environment is dependent on several factors such as the level of dietary sulfur and the availability of the effective ruminal degradable nitrogen, ERDN (Underwood and Suttle, 1999). Therefore, this trial was conducted to assess the influence of different ERDN:S ratios on the dry matter intake (DMI) and nutrients digestibility in the male goat of Raini breed, an Iranian native cashmere goat.

Earlier investigations have been carried out with Raini goat for maximizing the ruminal microbial protein production by determining the requirement of the dietary ERDN:S ratio. Adding a supplement which contains high level of undegradable protein (UDP) may improve the animal performance, due to the increase the of the amino acids concentration in the small intestine (Orskov, 1992). Therefore, this trial was conducted to maximize the potentiality of the growth performance and carcass characteristics of this breed by adding a protein supplement, fish meal (FM), which contains a high percent of undegradable protein.

Colour is an important component of meat quality. Because colour is associated with factors such as freshness and food safety, it is often a primary consideration of consumers when making purchasing decisions (McCaig, 2002). The aim of this work was to explore the use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy to assess colour composition on pork muscle samples from different feeding regimes.