علي مهدي صاحب الكعبي

Prevention of Newcastle disease has received a lot of interest across the world. The high productivity performance of the commercial chickens’ breeds has negative effects on the immune system and animal welfare. As a result, the current study aimed to investigate the benefits of adding Artemisia powder at levels of 0.5% and 1% to broilers’ feed as a growth and health promoter. A total of 120 commercial broiler chickens were grown on the floor in a chicken house and separated into three groups, including one control and two treatment groups. Each group contained 40 chickens subdivided into two replicates. The three groups, namely G1 (chickens without Artemisia powder, as a control group), G2, and G3 in which chickens were fed with basal diet plus 0.5% and 1% Artemisia powder, respectively, were differentiated based on their diet throughout 35 days of the experiment. The measured parameters included the immune response to Newcastle disease vaccine, blood biochemical parameters, and growth performance as well as relative weight for the spleen and bursa of Fabricius. A diet containing 1% Artemisia powder significantly improved antibody titer against Newcastle disease, body weight, and weight gain. Thus, the addition of 1% of Artemisia powder to the broiler’s diet can improve immune response against Newcastle disease and growth performance.

Ali Mahdi Sahib, Khaleel Z. Al-Alo, Hayder R. Abed, Kaveh veisi, Seroprevalence of Newcastle disease antibodies in vaccinated broiler and layers, Onl J Vet Res, 26 (8): 593-598, 2022. We report effect of vaccination on Newcastle virus antibody titers under field conditions in 55 broilers and layers. Birds were vaccinated alpha-herpesvirus, Massachusetts with or without Lasota, Lukert and pox, subcutaneously, intramuscular, by spray or drinking water at 1 to 119 days of age. Wing vein blood was aspirated at 30 days in broilers and 140 days for serum Newcastle virus antibody detected by ELISA assay. We found 71% prevalence in broilers and 91% in layers with no significant difference between them. However mean antibody titers in layers were 33890.3 ± 930.3 but in broilers only 1407.6 ± 31.7, a 24 fold difference (P < 0.01). Maximum titers in broiler were 1736 and in layers 43218 (P < 0.05). Results suggest that age and repeat vaccinations in layers account for much higher titer response to Newcastle virus.

Iraqi native chickens are noted for their ability to tolerate a wide variety of infectious diseases as well as high temperatures. The basic physiological routes, including proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and apoptosis, are intricately regulated by a dense signaling network that is elicited by cytokines, growth factors or polypeptide hormones. Among those polypeptide/hormone-induced signals, the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) family is chiefly important. However, the present study attempts to identify associations between physiological parameters and polymorphism of TGF-β3 gene in local chicken. Seventy five female birds were used in this study. A single nucleotide polymorphism was identified at 9361 position in the exons 3-6 region of TGF-β3 by using PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing technique. The restriction enzyme BsrI has been used to detect the target region (1078 bp) in the TGF-β3 gene. The genotypic frequencies were 57.33, 24 and 18.67% for AA and CA and CC genotypes respectively. While, the allele frequency of genes A and C were 0.69 and 0.31%, respectively. Generally, during the last period of rearing we demonstrated a more positive correlation (p>0.05) among blood values such as RBC, Hb, WBC, H/L ratio, total protein and gamma globulin with CA genotype. In conclusion, the TGF-β3 gene could be used as a candidate gene of QTL for improving physiological traits in local chickens.

Local chickens in Iraq are characterized by low production efficiency. In fact, phenotypic traits such as growth rate is influenced by genes and environmental factors. However, the present study attempts to identify associations between growth rate and polymorphism of TGF-β3 gene in Iraqi local chicken. Seventy-five male birds were used in this study. The restriction enzyme BsrI has been used to detect the target region (1078 bp) in the TGF-β3 gene. A SNP was identified at 9361 position in the exons 3-6 region of TGF-β3 by using a DNA sequencing technique. The genotypic frequencies were 66.67, 17.33 and 16% for AA and CA and CC genotypes respectively. While, the allele frequency of gene A and C were 0.75 and 0.25%, respectively. Generally, during the last period of rearing we noted the best improved significantly (p>0.05) for body weight was recorded in the CA genotype of TGF-β3 gene. In conclusion, the TGF-β3 gene may have broad effects on growth and development. At the same time, polymorphism may be used as a candidate genes of QTL to improve body weight in local chickens.

Iraqi native chickens have tasty meat and eggs; however, they are characterized by low production efficiency. In fact, phenotypic traits, such as growth rate, are influenced by genes and environmental factors. During health and disease, a variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, motility, adhesion, migration, apoptosis, and immune response regulate the TGF-β genes. The enhancement in body weight can be reached through mass selection, whereas feed conversion ratio (FCR) is relatively more difficult to improve. This means, selecting for body weight has been submitted as an effective way of indirectly improving feed conversion ratio. Therefore, the present study attempts to identify associations between productive traits and polymorphism of TGF-β2 gene in local Iraqi chicken. Seventy-five male birds were used in this study. The restriction enzyme RsaI has been used to detect the target region (284 bp) in the TGF-β2 gene. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was identified at the position 62 in the exon 1 region of TGF-β2 by using PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing technique. The genotypic frequencies were 46.7, 40, and 13.3% for CC and TC and TT genotypes, respectively. While the allele frequency of C and T were 0.67 and 0.33%, respectively. Generally, during the last period of rearing the best significant (P<0.05) improve in the body weight, weight gain and FCR were recorded in the TT genotype of the TGF-β2 gene. In conclusion, a functional sequence in the genome could be attributed to the mutation. Therefore, genotype of the TGF-β2 gene could be exploited to select the best individual as a parent to the next generations for improving of growth rate in

Reaching to the highest body weight in return for each unit of feed consumption is the aim of raising commercial poultries these days. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of incorporating Taraxacum officinale, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their combination powder as a growth promoter in turkey feed. A total of 40 turkey toms (black strain) at age 49 days old were randomly assigned to four equally treated groups (10 birds per treatment) with two replicates (5 birds per replicate),as following: The first group (T1) was fed on basal diet as a control group (without additive). While, second group (T2) and third group (T3) were daily fed on basal diet containing 0.25 % Taraxacum officinale and Saccharomyces cerevisiae respectively. On the other hands, four group (T4) was daily fed on basal diet containing 0.5 % mixture of Taraxacum officinale and Saccharomyces cerevisiae during period of experiment (28 days). Body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were calculated on weekly basis. Generally, The results indicate that no significant improvement in measurements of productive performance. In conclusion, meat production in turkey had no effect by Taraxacum officinale (as prebiotic), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (as probiotic) and their combination powder (as symbiotic).

ستقام دورة بعنوان رعاية طيور السمان لخريجي الطب البيطري في شهر الرابع 2023