Rong Zhang^a,b*, Wancun Chang^b, Jian-Yong Han^b

^aInstitute of Neurobiology
Fudan University
220 Han-Dan Road, Shanghai, 200433

Peoples Republic of China

^bKey Laboratory of Animal & Plant Genetic Improvement & Bio-technology
The Ministry of Agriculture
Jinan, 250000,

Peoples Republic of China

(Revised received July 17, 2004; accepted August 28, 2004)

Abstract

Zhang, R., Chang, W. and Han, J-Y. 2004. Culture of rabbit embryonic germ cells derived from primordial germ cells. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 61-66.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) were developed as new material for isolation and cloning of embryonic stem (ES) cells, which were designated as embryonic germ cells (EG) to distinguish their tissue origin. The collected PGCs were cultured on feeder layers obtained from mitotically inactivated mouse or rabbit fibroblasts in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with soluble recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor (20 ng/ml), stem cell factor (30 ng/ml), forskolin (20 ng/ml). Two stable undifferentiated EG cell lines were established and were passed to fresh feeders every week for maintenance of their undifferentiated state. The established EG cell lines were pluripotent and were capable of forming embryonic bodies which differentiated into varied cell types including autorhythmic cells without efficient feeder layers. By comparison of growth behaviors of EG cells, we found that homogenous are superior to heterogenous fetal fibroblast feeder layers to support the EG growth.

Key words: Embryonic germ cells (EG), primordial germ cells (PGCs), pluripotent, rabbits.

S.K. Maiti, Naveen Kumar, G.R. Singh, A.M. Pawde, M. Hoque, R. Singh

Division of Surgery
Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Izatnagar-243 122, India

(Received June 22, 2004; accepted September 29, 2004)

Abstract

Maiti, S.K., Kumar, N., Singh, G.R., Pawde, A.M., Hoque, M. and Singh, R. 2004. Effect of ultrasound therapy on muscular injury in rabbits. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 67-72.

The effect of ultrasound therapy on the healing of muscular injury was studied in 12 adult New Zealand white rabbits divided equally into two groups. A longitudinal incision of 8-10 cm long was made in the middle of biceps femoris muscle under Ketamine-Xylazine anesthesia. The muscle was bluntly separated until the underlying femur was visible. The incised muscle and skin were sutured and treated by standard procedure. Ultrasound therapy at the rate of 0.5 w/cm² was given daily for 5 min starting 48 h after injury for 7 days in group A. The inflammatory swelling, lameness, pain, respiration and rectal temperature rose significantly for the first 3 consecutive days in both the groups. Resolution of inflammatory swelling, pain and weight bearing was earlier in group A followed by group B. There was complete bridging of incised wounds with persistent and moderate fibroblastic and angioblastic activity in test group. The degree of regeneration of muscle fibers was quicker in therapy group than control. Special staining of muscle biopsy samples further confirmed the clinical, ultrasonographical and histiopathological findings that ultrasound therapy helped healing.

Key words: Muscular injury, rabbit, ultrasonographical examination, ultrasound therapy.

M. Denli*, F. Okan, A.N. Uluocak

Çukurova University
Animal Science Department
01330, Adana, Turkey

(Revised received September 10, 2004; accepted September 20, 2004)

Abstract

Denli, M., Okan, F. and Uluocak, A.N. 2004. Effect of dietary black seed (Nigella sativa L.) extract supplementation on laying performance and egg quality of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 73-76.

To measure the influence of dietary black seed extracts on performance and egg quality characteristics in laying quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) from 9-21 weeks of age, a total 45 layer quail (8 weeks,
226.3 g), were randomly distributed into three groups. The black seed extracts were supplemented at 0, 1 and 2 g/kg in a standard layer diet and each of the three test diets was offered ad libitum to birds housed individually in laying cages from 9 to 21 weeks of age. The egg production, feed efficiency, egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness, albumen height, albumen length and yolk height were higher in the group consuming 1 g/kg black seed extracts (P<0.05). However, there were no differences for live weight changes, feed intake, shape index, albumen weight, albumen width and yolk calibre among birds fed treatment diets (P>0.05). Use of 1 g/kg black seed extract is recommended for laying quails.

Key words: Black seed extracts, Nigella sativa. laying quails, Coturnix coturnix japonica, performance, egg production, egg quality characteristics.

Hailu Dadi^1*, S.J. Schoeman², G.F. Jordaan²

¹Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Centre
P.O. Box 35, Ziway, Ethiopia

²Department of Animal Sciences
University of Stellenbosch
Private Bag XI
Matieland, 7602, South Africa

(Revised received July 3, 2004; accepted August 6, 2004)

Abstract

Dadi, H. Schoeman, S.J. and Jordaan, G.F. 2004. Estimation of (co)variance components and genetic parameters of growth traits in beef cattle. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 77-82.

Variance components and genetic parameters of birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW) and average daily gain (ADG) in a multibreed beef cattle population were estimated by Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) procedures. Four different unitrait animal models were fitted ranging from a simple model with the animal direct effects as the only random effect to the model allowing for both genetic and permanent maternal environmental effects. The simple model excluding maternal effects most likely inflated direct heritability estimates. The model that included direct genetic and permanent maternal environmental effects generally best described the data analysed. Estimates of permanent maternal environmental effects were 0.15 (BW), 0.24 (WW) and 0.24 (ADG), the effects were the important factor determining WW and ADG. Direct and maternal genetic correlations were 0.61, -0.53 and -0.79 for BW, WW and ADG, respectively under the model accounted both for maternal genetic and permanent maternal environmental effects.

Key words: Multibreed cattle, heritability, genetic correlation, permanent environment.

Omer Cevdet Bilgin^1*, Nurinisa Esenbuga², Muhlis Macit³, Mevlut Karaoglu³

¹Biometry and Genetics
²Animal Husbandry
³Feed and Animal Nutrition
Atatürk University, College of Agriculture, Erzurum, Turkey

(Received November 15, 2003; accepted August 16, 2004)

Abstract

Bilgin, O.C., Esenbuga, N., Macit, M. and Karaoglu, M. 2004. Estimation of variance components and heritabilities of growth characteristics in Morkaraman lambs using different statistical methods. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 83-88.

Henderson's method 3, maximum likelihood (ML), restricted maximum likelihood (REML) and minimum variance quadratic unbiased estimation (MIVQUE) methods were used to estimate variance components and to predict heritabilities of birth weight, weaning weight and daily weight gain until weaning in Morkaraman lambs. The different variance components methods gave similar results. The moderately-high estimate of heritability for weaning weight, demonstrates an opportunity for improvement of this trait through genetic selection.

Key words: Variance components, heritability, growth traits, Morkaraman lambs.

S.C. Bölükbasi¹, M. Güzel², M.S. Aktas³

¹Atatürk University, Faculty of Agriculture
Department of Animal Science
25240, Erzurum, Turkey

²Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Veterinary
Department of Internal Medicine
Hatay, Turkey

³Atatürk University, Faculty of Veterinary
Department of Internal Medicine
25240, Erzurum, Turkey

(Revised received September 6, 2004; accepted October 1, 2004)

Abstract

Bölükbasi, S.C., Güzel, M. and Aktas, M.S. 2004. Effect of early feed restriction on ascites induced by cold temperatures and growth performance in broilers. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 89-92.

To investigate the effect of early feed restriction on ascites induced by cold temperatures and subsequent effect on growth performance of young broiler chickens, a total of 200 male day-old broiler chickens were divided into two groups. One group of birds received feed ad libitum for 6 wk, whereas the birds of the other group received 60% less feed from day 7 to 14. After day 21 of the experiment, half of the chickens from each group were moved to house with 16C. In the control group, however, early feed restriction decreased the incidence of ascites. The feed restricted birds had lower body weight and feed consumption than ad libitum chickens. Incidence of ascites as well as mortality due to ascites was decreased in feed restricted group. It was concluded that early feed restriction is effective to prevent ascites due to cold stress.

Key words: Ascites, broiler, feed restriction, cold temperature.

M. Mellado^*, A. Olvera, J. Dueñez, A. Rodríguez

University Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro
Department of Nutrition and Feeds
Saltillo, Coah. 25315, Mexico

(Received March 19, 2004; accepted November 6, 2004)

Abstract

Mellado, M., Olvera, A., Dueñez, J. and Rodríguez, A. 2004. Effects of continuous or rotational grazing on goat diets in a desert rangeland. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 93-100.

A one-year experiment with continuous (traditional grazing around a permanent pen, n= 160 goats) and rotational (grazing around 2 pens, 1.2 km apart, n= 150 goats) grazing was performed in a desert grassland to evaluate the effect of grazing on diet composition and selection in relation to ground cover. Diet composition was determined using microhistological analysis of fresh fecal samples. Continuous grazing resulted in a lower proportion (41.8 vs 65.4% on average throughout the year, P<0.01) of shrubs in the goats diet. Except for the summer, goats in the continuous treatment pasture relied more (P<0.05) on forbs than goats in the rotational treatment (53.1 vs 33.0%, on average throughout the year). The proportion of grasses in the goats' diet did not vary between grazing treatment during the dry season, but during the rainy season goats on the continuously grazed pasture selected more (P<0.01) grasses (7.3 vs 0.7%, average for summer and autumn) than goats in the rotational treatment. Larrea tridentata, the dominating species in the community, was the only plant selected at levels below its ground cover. Results indicate that, under these conditions, goat production would be favoured by alternating the stay of goat flocks between two pens in different sites on the range as goats would depend more on evergreen browse species throughout the year, whereas goats on the traditional grazing system are forced to rely heavily on forbs that made goats more vulnerable to under nutrition during dry periods.

Key words: Grazing management, diet composition, rangeland, forage selectivity.

K. Ganesh Kumar¹, Sanjeev Kumar**

Molecular Genetics Laboratory
Central Avian Research Institute
Izatnagar-243 122, India

(Received April 16, 2004; accepted August 7, 2004)

Abstract

Kumar, K.G. and Kumar, S. 2004. PCR-RFLP in complement component C5 and interleukin 12 genes in Indian pigs. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 101-105.

This study was conducted to find the presence of polymorphic sites, which have been previously reported in commercial breeds of pigs, in Indian pigs since these are relatively more resistant to diseases. The site covering the polymorphic site was amplified with gene specific primers and the amplicons were digested with specific restriction enzymes. IL 12p40 gene polymorphism in intron 4 was found to be highly polymorphic in Indian pigs similar to commercial breeds of pig, whereas C5 gene had only 2 polymorphic sites out of 4 reported earlier. The study indicated that European breeds and Indian pigs were genetically distant.

Key words: Indian pigs, PCR-RFLP, complement component C5, IL-12.

Abule Ebro¹, I.V. Nsahlai², Alemu Yami³, N.N. Umunna⁴

¹Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Centre
P.O. Box 35, Zeway, Ethiopia

²SASA, University of KwaZulu Natal
Republic of South Africa

³Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre
P.O. Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

(Revised received August 11, 2004; accepted September 4, 2004)

Abstract

Ebro, A., Nsahlai, I.V., Yami, A. and Umunna, N.N. 2004. Effect of supplementing graded levels of forage legumes on performance of crossbred calves fed Tef (Eragrostis tef) straw. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 107-112.

To examine the effect of feeding graded levels of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and lablab hay (Lablab purpureus) on feed intake, weight gain, digestibility and utilization of nutrients, Friesian x Boran (Zebu) crossbred calves were fed ad libitum tef straw alone or supplemented with three levels (0.5, 1 and 1.5% of body weight) of either cowpea or lablab hay. Fifty-six and 28 calves were used for the growth and digestibility studies, respectively. Supplementation increased total dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen, gross energy and digestible energy intakes. Furthermore, increasing levels of supplementation increased average daily gain, nitrogen digestibility and nitrogen retention. Cowpea and lablab did not differ (P>0.05) from each other and thus are equally efficient in improving feed intake, nutrient digestibility and utilization for growth. Supplementation of calves with cowpea or lablab hay at levels lower than 1% of body weight may not substitute for the basal roughage.

Key words: Tef straw, forage legumes, weight gain, nutrient digestibility, nutrient utilization.

A. Dodologlu, B. Emsen, F. Genc

Department of Animal Science
College of Agriculture, Atatürk University
25240, Erzurum Turkey

(Received February 6, 2004; accepted August 17, 2004)

Abstract

Dodologlu, A., Emsen, B. and Genc, F. 2004. Comparison of some characteristics of queen honey bees
(Apis mellifera L.) reared by using doolittle method and natural queen cells. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 113-115.

This study was conducted to examine some characteristics of queen bees raised by using Doolittle method and natural queen cells in Erzurum conditions. The average lengths of the sealed queen cells, queen weights at emergence, diameters of spermatheca and numbers of spermatozoid were higher in case of honey bees reared by Doolittle method as compared to natural queen cell method. However, the differences between the two methods regarding pre-oviposition period were not significant. It is concluded that queen bees reared by grafting method (Doolittle method) were superior to queen bees reared by using natural queen cells.

Key words: Queen, queen features, Doolittle method.

S. Deori, Harendra Kumar*, M.C. Yadav, M. Rawat**, S.K. Srivastava

Division of Animal Reproduction
Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Izatnagar-243 122, India

(Received February 9, 2004; accepted August 7, 2004)

Abstract

Deori, S., Kumar, H., Yadav, M.C., Rawat, M. and Srivastava, S.K. 2004. Intrauterine administration of bacterial modulins : An alternative therapy for endometritis. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 117-121.

To study recovery of endometritis in cows following intrauterine administration of certain bacterial modulins prepared in laboratory, twenty-four cows with endometritis were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each. The animals of group-I were given 100 µg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of E. coli (Sigma Chemicals Co., USA), group-II animals received LPS of E. coli isolated from endometritis cows in laboratory (ILPS) using same dose and group-III bacteria free filtrate (BFF) of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from endometritis cows in the laboratory on the day of estrus. The control group animals received saline at similar times. There was a significant increase in total leucocyte count and the polymorphonuclear cells. The levels of immunoglobulins were higher in groups of animals that received LPS preparations but not in BFF-treated animals. A significant (P<0.05) reduction in bacterial load was observed in all treatment groups at subsequent estrus. The overall conception rate tended to be higher in group-I as compared to group-II and III. This study demonstrated therapeutic efficacy of laboratory preparations of LPS of E. coli and BFF of Staphylococcus aureus in endometritis stimulating the mechanisms of uterine defense as evident by increased influx of PMN cells and immunoglobulin levels in uterine fluid of treated animals.

Key words: Lipopolysaccharide, bacteria-free filtrate, endometritis, cows.

S.V. Hosseini^1*, D. Mehrabani², A.R. Tavakolian³, N. Tanideh⁴

¹Gastro-entero-hepatology Research Center
Division of Colorectal Surgery
Department of Surgery, Nemazee Hospital

²Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute
Medicinal and Natural Products
Chemistry Research Center

³Department of Anesthesiology

⁴Laboratory Animal Research Center

School of Medicine
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Shiraz 71345-1853 Iran

(Revised received June 30, 2004; accepted August 2, 2004)

Abstract

Hosseini, S.V., Mehrabani, D., Tavakolian, A.R. and Tanideh, N. 2004. Role of an anti-inflammatory drug in prevention of intra-abdominal adhesions : An experimental study on guinea pigs. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 123-125.

To study the effect of an anti-inflammatory drug (colchicin) on the induced adhesions in peritoneal cavity, adhesion bands were induced in 30 Short-Hair England guinea pigs by introducing talc-saline solution (10cc-10%). The animals were then randomly divided into two equal groups, the experimental and control. Colchicin was administered orally to the experimental group, whereas no drug was given to the control group. The animals were euthenized after 6 weeks and the adhesion bands in both groups were classified using the Nair classification and compared. Entire control group developed substantial adhesions, whereas, in experimental group only 26.7% developed substantial adhesions. Thus, 0.02 mg/kg colchicin could prevent/reduce the formation and severity of talc induced adhesion bands.

Key words: Peritoneal adhesion bands, colchicin, intestinal obstruction, talc-induced.