<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The study evaluated the nutritive potentials of 8 cultivars of sweet sorghum and their suitability as ruminant feedstuff. The sorghum cultivars were grown and harvested, each cultivar divided into 2 portions (whole plants and leaves), thereafter ensiled with the view of assessing their nutritive potentials vis-à-vis eco-friendliness for improved/sustained ruminant production. Nutrients and anti-nutrient compositions were assessed. Organic matter digestibility (OMD), methane gas production (CH4), short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and metabolizable energy (ME) were evaluated using <italic>in vitro</italic> gas production technique. Data generated were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. From the results, parameters assessed were significantly (P&lt;0.05) improved among the treatments. Ensiling significantly improved the nutritive qualities with respect to the cultivars. The assayed phytochemicals were at tolerable levels and would not hinder nutrients absorption, if fed to ruminants. Further, the <italic>in vitro</italic> degradability study revealed that whole plant of Samsorg-14 sweet sorghum cultivar and its silage have the best nutritive qualities (CP (7.66%; 9.16%), OMD (37.20%; 37.74%), SCFA (0.32; 0.36 umol/200MgDM), ME (4.91; 4.99 MJ/kgDM), respectively. Hence, Samsorg-14 sweet sorghum cultivar was the best of all the cultivars and could serve as protein/energy source in ruminants’ diet vis-à-vis its methanogenesis, which invariably could contribute to greenhouse gas emission.
</abstract>

Nutritional potentialities of sweet sorghum plant parts in ruminant production system

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The study evaluated the effect of feeding triticale on proximate composition, amino acids (AA) profile and nutritional value of meat (breast and thigh) of broiler chickens. A 5-weeks trial (1-35d) was conducted on Cobb 500 broilers (n=400), allotted into two dietary groups with five replicates (40 birds/replicate) and fed control (C, corn-soybean meal) and triticale (T, corn-triticale-soybean meal) diets. Broilers meat’s proximate composition and energy value showed no significant differences between treatments. Feeding triticale significantly increased (P&lt;0.05) breast muscle concentrations of arginine, valine and phenylalanine, while the methionine and alanine decreased (P&lt;0.05) and did not affect the total AA, essential, non-essential or flavor AA. Concerning the thigh muscle AA profile, partial corn replacing with triticale decreased (P&lt;0.05) the content of isoleucine, leucine, serine and alanine, without altering the total AA, EAA, NEAA, flavor AA or their ratio. The limiting AA in both muscle types was leucine, irrespective of diet. The EAA index and net protein value revealed no significant differences between diets or muscle types. In conclusion, partial corn replacement in broilers’ diets with triticale did not adversely affect the proximate meat composition and positively impacted broilers’ nutritional meat protein quality.
</abstract>

Alterations in meat nutrient composition in response to a partial replacement of corn with triticale in the broiler diet

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Four apparently healthy Syrian Awassi rams were used for one year. Jugular blood samples were collected from the rams once a week to determine some essential blood components (13) using a Veterinary Haematology Analyzer. The overall means were: 8.92 × 103/mm3 for White Blood Cells (WBC), 5.91% for Lymphocytes (LYM), 1.00 % for Monocytes (MON), 2.62% for Granulocytes (GRA), 7.94 × 103/mm3 for Red Blood Cells (RBC), 10.24 g/dL for Haemoglobin (Hb), 30.93% for Haematocrit (HCT), 39.12fL for Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), 12.57 pg for Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH), 33.10g/dL for Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), 16.34 % for Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW), 577.3 ×103/mm3 for Platelet Counts (PLT) and 3.99 fL for Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), with variations in the values among individuals. There were differences in the value means among the months of the year in some components, where the overall means of WBC, LYM, MON, GRA, HGB, MCH and MCHC were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in winter as compared to summer months, whereas, MCV means were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in summer as compared to winter months, whereas there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in the means of RBC, RDW, PLT or MPV among summer and winter months.
</abstract>

Preliminary study regarding the effect of season on haematological parameters in Syrian Awassi rams

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

This study investigated the effects of dietary <italic>Syzygium aromaticum</italic> supplementation on egg qualities, egg cholesterol and reproductive morphometry of laying hens. Three experimental diets were formulated containing 0.00%, 0.25% and 0.50% <italic>Syzygium aromaticum</italic> leaf meal (SLM). One hundred and fifty (20 weeks old) Isa-Brown birds were randomly assigned to three-treatment group which comprised 50 birds replicated five times with 10 birds each. Six eggs were collected from each replicate three days to the end of the 1st cycle of laying (4 weeks), 2nd and 3rd cycles and properly labelled for egg qualities assessment. At the end of the 12 weeks feeding trial, 45 birds (3 birds per replicate, that is, 15 birds per treatment) were slaughtered and dissected to evaluate their reproductive parameters. The result showed positive dietary effect (P&lt;0.05) on shell thickness, yolk height, yolk index and egg mass. Cholesterol level of whole eggs, egg yolk and albumen were significantly lowered. Weight of entire reproductive tract and ovary as well as length of infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus and vagina were significantly increased by dietary SLM. Conclusively, clove supplementation at 0.25% and 0.50% could be adopted for improved egg shell thickness and low-cholesterol eggs in poultry production
</abstract>

Department of Animal Production and Health

Department of Animal Health and Production Technology

Dietary clove leaf meal supplementation: influence on egg qualities and reproductive morphometry of domestic laying birds

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The purpose of the present study was to asses specific gene markers associated with the sheep milk production in Teleorman Black Head ewes. For the proper selection of the best candidates for milk production, the genetic markers such as <italic>CSN3</italic>, <italic>BLG</italic> and <italic>PRL</italic> were selected. To detect <italic>CSN3</italic>, <italic>PRL</italic> and <italic>BLG</italic> polymorphisms, genomic DNA was isolated from blood samples collected from 50 ewes. ASA-PCR and PCR-RFLP methods were used for genotyping of animals; the genotypes frequencies and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were estimated using R software. In our samples, for <italic>CSN3</italic> gene were identified two genotypes (CC and CT), the most frequent being CT genotype (94%). For <italic>PRL</italic> gene, were identified three genotypes (AA, AB and BB), AA and BB genotypes being the most frequent (36% and 40% respectively). Also, three genotypes were identified for <italic>BLG</italic> gene (AA, AB and BB), with an increased frequency of AB genotype (44%). These preliminary data will be correlated in the next experiments with phenotypic data, generating important tools for genetic selection of the Teleorman Black Head sheep population.
</abstract>

Genetic evaluation of Teleorman Black Head ewes using genes polymorphism for improving milk traits

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The aim of this study was to determine if total replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with a rapeseed by-product (RS-by) in the diets of Romanian Black Spotted (RBS) and Montbéliarde (MB) breeds will cause changes of the biochemical profile in lactating cows. Thirty-two healthy multiparous dairy cows, mid-lactation stage, were randomly assigned to four homogeneous groups (2 RBS and 2 MB) of 8 cows each for 42 days of experiment. Groups received the same basal diet (maize silage and alfalfa hay) and two types of compound feed: control (with 12.5% SBM) and experimental (with 12.5% RS-by). Individual blood samples were collected at the end of the trial from the mammary vein and plasma biochemical parameters were determined. The main effects of feed, breed and their interaction were statistically analyzed with SPSS software. Plasma energy parameters were not affected by the dietary treatments, but glucose was higher in MB breed. Total protein and urea were significantly higher (7.99 vs. 6.93 g/dL; 18.50 vs. 15.31 mg/dL) in control compared to the experimental group; urea was also influenced by the feed x breed interaction. Magnesium was significantly higher (1.98 vs.1.59 mg/dL) in the experimental group. Alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly higher (35.75 vs. 29.00 U/L; 43.62 vs. 36.40 U/L) in the control group. The mineral or enzimatic analytes were not affected by animal breed. The majority of the parameters ranged between the normal limits.
</abstract>

Plasma biochemical profile of dairy cows, with respect to diet and breed

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The gastrointestinal tract microbiota composition can be radically different among pigs with regards to their health, age, feed intake, breed, and local conditions making its investigation into an important and multifaceted tool for evaluating the effects of new breeding and feeding schemes and animal welfare. For a long time, scientists have relied upon classical microbiology techniques to identify the makeup of bacterial populations from the gastrointestinal tract. Since their conceptions, high throughput sequencing and other molecular techniques contributed immensely in better understanding the pig gut microbiota and its makeup. Since many techniques to identify and quantify the microbiota are based on bacterial gene targets, they can, be used to determine the relation between different bacterial taxons and developmental processes, how it influences the host metabolism or diseases impact. In our review, we offer an overview of the different methods employed in the assay of the gut microbiota of pigs along with differences and pitfalls.
</abstract>

The pig gut microbiota analysis techniques, a comparison

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The paper investigated the effect of some dietary antioxidant’s combinations on nutrient digestibility in heat-stressed broilers. The experimental study was conducted for 28 days on 120 Cobb 500 broilers (14 days of age) assigned into 4 groups (30 chicks/group) in cages and exposed to heat stress conditions (32 °C). The control group was fed a control diet (C) and the experimental groups were fed diets including 200 µg/kg diet chromium picolinate and: 0.25 g vitamin C (VC)/kg diet (Cr-VC), 0.025 g Zn/kg diet (Cr- Zn), and 10 g creeping wood sorrel powder (CWS)/kg diet (Cr-CWS). Our results showed that dietary combinations of supplemented antioxidants for chickens under heat stress had a positive effect on the digestibility of nutrients and nutrient deposits in liver tissue. Dietary combined effect of Cr and vitamin C or Cr and Zn potentiates the Fe deposition in broilers’ liver while Cr-Zn improved the apparent digestibility of crude protein, crude fat, Fe and Zn.
</abstract>

Effect of dietary supplementation of some antioxidant combinations on nutrient digestibility in heat-stressed broilers

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

A meta-analysis on the effect of gamma irradiation on lipid oxidation products in raw chicken meat subjected to different temperatures of storage and packageing was carried out. A total of 11 studies were examined in regard to the peroxide value (POV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The high heterogeneity in the studies was decisive for the selection of the random effects model applied on the raw mean difference (effect size) for the analysis of the data. The results of the meta-analysis showed that gamma irradiation increased the contents of the primary (POV) and secondary products (TBARS) of lipid oxidation in the raw chicken meat (P&lt;0.001). Further, meta-regression and the examined covariates indicated significant influence of the dose of radiation on the formation of POV (P&lt;0.001), whereas TBARS contents tended to depend on the package of the meat. In most of the studies included in the meta-analysis, the contents of the lipid oxidation products remained in acceptable levels and the treatment with gamma rays did not affect negatively the high nutritive value of the meat.
</abstract>

Effect of gamma irradiation on the primary and secondary products of lipid oxidation in raw chicken meat, stored under different temperatures and packaging – a meta-analysis

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The aim of study was the estimation of the genetic parameters of somatic cell score of Romanian Black and White cattle population. Test-day records of somatic cell count (SCC) of 305 days lactation were from Romanian Black and White cattle population from experimental farm of our institute. The mean of somatic cell count of milk in the first lactation of Romanian Black and White cows was 291966.89. The genetic parameters were estimates with random regression test-day animal model. The heritability for somatic cell score (SCS) ranged from 0.0473 to 0.147. The breeding values for the best cows for somatic cell score were between -35.566 and -191.358. The genetic correlations between somatic cell count milk records test-day were positive. The phenotypic and genetic correlations between somatic cell count and milk yield were negative.
</abstract>

Estimation of the genetic parameters for Somatic Cell Scores in the first lactation of Romanian Black and White cattle

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 26 (2023): Issue 2 (October 2023)

Volume 26 (2023): Issue 1 (June 2023)

Volume 25 (2022): Issue 2 (December 2022)

Volume 25 (2022): Issue 1 (June 2022)

Volume 24 (2021): Issue 2 (December 2021)

Volume 24 (2021): Issue 1 (June 2021)

Volume 23 (2020): Issue 2 (December 2020)

Volume 23 (2020): Issue 1 (June 2020)

Archiva Zootechnica

 Aims   Archiva Zootehnica (AZ) is an international and interdisciplinary open access journal published in English, owned by INCDBNA Balotesti. AZ publishes original research articles, reviews, communications and short notes that offer substantial new insight into a broad range of fundamental and applied research topics in animal production and related domains.   AZ aims to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical research in as much detail as possible. Full experimental details and/or method of study, must be provided for research articles. Archiva Zootehnica does not publish the results of tests of commercial products that do not provide any fundamental scientific advances.   Scope   This journal covers all aspects of life sciences. Articles typically report research on cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry; however, studies involving other farm animals as well as laboratory animal species or studies performed on cell cultures that address fundamental questions related to livestock, will be considered for publication. In addition to original research articles, sound review articles are also accepted. There is no restriction on the length of the papers. The readers of AZ typically represent the research and education environment, the industry (farm specialists, food and feed processors) and the government (extension services, decision makers).   Research fields of interest include but are not limited to:    Farm animal nutrition and feeding   Animal physiology   Animal genetic resources management (genetic improvement, reproduction, etc.)   Animal products quality and their influence on the processing traits and on consumer health   Inter-relation nutrition - animal/human health   Animal welfare   Use of animals as models for animal nutrition/physiology   Food and feed quality and safety   Sustainable animal production and its environmental impact   Any other subjects that are relevant to animal production    Publication of a paper in AZ is free of charges.   Peer Review Process   AZ applies a single-blind peer review process. All submissions will be evaluated first by an Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor who will checks suitability for the publication in AZ. Then, the manuscripts (original papers or reviews) considered in scope of the Journal and with a good quality will be sent by email and using Sciendo platform by the Assistant Editor to two / three external reviewers selected on their competences from our reviewer’s data base. Invitations to review are sent by e-mail to selected reviewers, including the manuscript abstract and the due time for the review. It usually takes five weeks from when the article is sent out for review to the first decision. Upon reviewers’ recommendations, the manuscript can be accepted, sent back to author for minor or major revisions or rejected. After the revision of the manuscript by the authors, the Assistant Editor will send again the manuscript for R1 revision. The final decision about the publication/rejection of a manuscript belong to the Editor-in-Chief / Managing Editor who will decide whether an article will be published, rejected or postponed for the next issue.   Ethics   All articles submitted to AZ will be checked using the iThenticate and the manuscripts that are detected to have a high Similarity Index Percentage will be returned to the authors without further peer review. AZ will publish an official retraction of the paper for suspected plagiarism in a published article. The mechanism follows the guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which can be accessed at https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines   Archiving   Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.   Plagiarism Policy   The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 