Effects of Supplemental Epigallocatechin Gallate in the Diet of Broilers Exposed to Fluoride Intoxication.

We evaluated the effects of dietary epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the performance, biochemical parameters, and liver histopathology of fluoride-intoxicated broiler chickens. In total, 160 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross PM3 strain) were collected and assigned to four groups (40 animals each), with four replicates. The control group received a basal diet; the F group received 800 mg/kg fluoride; the EGCG group received 400 mg/kg EGCG; and the EGCG+F group received 400 mg/kg EGCG and 800 mg/kg fluoride. The live weight (LW) of F-treated chicks was significantly lower than that of the controls. In the F-treated groups, feed intake (FI) and LW values were lower, but the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was higher than those of the controls. The ratio of heart weight to LW was found to be the highest in the F-treated groups. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total oxidant status (TOS) levels in the F-treated groups were significantly higher, whereas the increase in total cholesterol levels was insignificant than those in the control group. In the EGCG+F group, AST, total cholesterol, and TOS levels decreased to a level comparable to those in the control group. Histopathological evaluation revealed that there were mild changes in the portal region in the EGCG+F group; additionally, there was an improvement in liver morphology in the EGCG+F group compared to that in the F group. Thus, EGCG has potent antioxidant and regenerative effects that can ameliorate the detrimental effects of fluoride toxicity on blood parameters and the liver.

Investigation of some morphological traits of boer X hair F1 crossbred and pure hair goat kids raised in semiintensive conditions / Investigación de algunos rasgos morfológicos en caprinos de pelaje natural raza boer X cruzados y criados en condiciones semi-intensivas

SUMMARY: The aim of the study was to determine various morphological characteristics from birth to the age of 150th day of Boer x Hair goat F1 crossbred (BH) kids and pure Hair goat (HG) kids raised in semi-intensive conditions and reveal factors such as the effects of genotype, dam age, dam's live weight, year, birth type and sex on this parameter. This study was applied between the years 2011-2012 in Çatak in the Van region and between the years 2013-2014 at the Yuzuncu Yil University Research and Practice Farm. Various body measurements; wither height, back height, rump height, sacrum height, body length, chest length, chest depth, chest circumference, circumference of leg, cannon bone circumference, chest width, front-rump width, mid-rump width were determined 29.8, 28.4, 28.7, 26.2, 28.7, 17.0, 13.3, 30.4, 26.9, 5.2, 5.9, 6.0, and 8.7 cm at birth, respectively; 43.8, 43.8, 44.6, 40.6, 43.6, 22.2, 19.3, 51.7, 41.4, 6.6, 9.2, 9.3, and 11.3 cm at 60th day, respectively; 56.1, 53.4, 54.4, 47.5, 53.3, 27.3, 24.1, 61.4, 49.6, 7.3, 10.6, 11.1, and 13.2 cm at 150th day, respectively for BH kids; 27.3, 25.9, 29.3, 25.3, 27.1, 15.9, 12.3, 29.0, 21.3, 5.1, 5.0, 5.6, and 7.4 cm at birth, respectively; 40.4, 40.1, 42.9, 37.6, 40.5, 22.3, 18.4, 48.1, 36.4, 6.0, 7.9, 9.1, and 10.8 cm at 60th day, respectively; 50.3, 49.2, 51.0, 45.7, 50.4, 27.5, 22.9, 57.3, 43.4, 6.5, 9.5, 10.7, and 11.9 cm at 150th day, respectively for HG kids. When all of the data was considered, it was concluded that the BH kids are much better than the HG kids for both morphological and zoometric values.

RESUMEN: El objetivo del estudio fue determinar varias características morfológicas desde el nacimiento hasta la edad de 150 días en caprinos Boer x Hair goat F1 crossbred (BH) y Cabra pura (HG) criados en condiciones semi-intensivas y revelar factores tales como los efectos del genotipo, la edad, el peso vivo de la el tipo de nacimiento y el sexo entre otros. Este estudio fue realizado entre los años 2011-2012 en Çatak, región de Van y entre los años 2013-2014 en la Granja de Investigación y Práctica de la Universidad Yuzuncu Yil. Se estudiaron diversas medidas corporales: Altura del talón, altura de la espalda, altura de la grupa, altura del sacro, longitud del cuerpo, longitud del pecho, profundidad del tórax, circunferencia del pecho, circunferencia de la pierna, circunferencia del hueso del cañón, ancho del pecho, ancho de la grupa delantera y anchura media de la grupa, así se determinaron 29.8, 28.4, 28.7, 26.2, 28.7, 17.0, 13.3, 30.4, 26.9, 5.2, 5.9, 6.0 y 8.7 cm al nacer, respectivamente; 43.8, 43.8, 44.6, 40.6, 43.6, 22.2, 19.3, 51.7, 41.4, 6.6, 9.2, 9.3 y 11.3 cm en el 60º día, respectivamente; 56.1, 53.4, 54.4, 47.5, 53.3, 27.3, 24.1, 61.4, 49.6, 7.3, 10.6, 11.1 y 13.2 cm en 150 días, respectivamente para niños BH; 27.3, 25.9, 29.3, 25.3, 27.1, 15.9, 12.3, 29.0, 21.3, 5.1, 5.0, 5.6 y 7.4 cm al nacimiento, respectivamente; 40,4, 40,1, 42,9, 37,6, 40,5, 22,3, 18,4, 48,1, 36,4, 6,0,7,9, 9,1 y 10,8 cm en el 60º día, respectivamente; 50.3, 49.2, 51.0, 45.7, 50.4, 27.5, 22.9, 57.3, 43.4, 6.5, 9.5, 10.7 y 11.9 cm a los 150 días, respectivamente, para cabritos HG. Cuando se consideraron todos los datos, se concluyó que los cabritos BH son mucho mejores que los cabritos HG para los valores morfológicos y zoométricos.