Fluctuations of testosterone and cortisol levels in male dromedary camels in response to behavioral and management situations.

Background: Biostimulation is a management practice that improves the reproductive parameters, potentiates the desire, and improves the reproductive efficiency during the short breeding season in camels. Aim: This study aims to investigate the concurrent changes in hormonal profiles in response to management and behavioral situations on camel farms in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total of 10 male and 50 female camels were used in this study. The hormonal profile of male camels was evaluated weekly starting from December to August. Results: The results show that both serum testosterone and cortisol levels increased (p < 0.01) from December to March compared to April to August. A strong negative correlation was observed between testosterone levels and temperature (r = -0.81, p < 0.05), and a similarly robust negative correlation was found between cortisol levels and temperature (r = -0.83, p < 0.05). The dominant rutting males showed higher levels of testosterone than the submissive males. Serum testosterone levels increased (p < 0.01) in males out of rutting after hearing the sounds of other couples before and during mating. Conclusion: Hearing sounds emitted during mating increases the testosterone output, and improves the libido of male camels during the nonrutting period. It is important to keep two individually housed males for mating purposes. One male joins the herd alone in winter (winter rutter), and the other joins in spring (spring rutter), this could keep the libido extended rutting and improve the reproductive performance in camel herds.

An Investigation on the Effects of Partial Replacement of Rapeseed Cake in Ayrshire Dairy Heifers' Diets with By-Product Source of Animal Protein on Body Weight Dynamics, Nutrient Balancing, and Blood Biochemical Markers.

Recently, the secondary use of by-products of the processing industry resulting from the production of poultry meat, which can be included in animal diets, has become a popular topic in the feed industry. For studying the effects of partial replacement of rapeseed cake (RC) with the by-product source of animal protein concentrate Agro-Matic (PCAM) on growth dynamics, nutrient absorption and nitrogen balance, as well as blood biochemical parameters during the growing period, a total of 48 Russian Ayrshire dairy heifers were selected for this experiment and they were divided into three experimental groups (16 in each group, including the control group). The heifers of the control group were fed the basal diet which contained rapeseed cake (30%), while the second (RC + PCAM) and third groups (PCAM + RC) were fed the basal diet after replacing a part of the rapeseed cake with 2.25% and 4.5% of protein concentrate Agro-Matic respectively. The results showed that the weight of heifers treated with PCAM at 3 months of age exceeded the control by 2.3 kg (p > 0.05) in group 2 by 4.4 kg (p < 0.05). Similar results were obtained at the age of 6 months of raising. Feeding 4.50% protein concentrate Agro-Matic has a positive effect on the digestibility of nutrients; in particular, there was a significant increase in the digestibility of crude protein in the PCAM + RC group (77.23 vs. 73.42%) compared with the control group. Moreover, a similar trend was found in the digestibility of nitrogen in the diet. At the age of 3 months, heifers showed a significant decrease in the concentration of ketone bodies in the second group (1.82 vs. 2.20 mmol/L) relative to the control group. Urea was significantly lower in the RC + PCAM group (5.05 vs. 6.62 mmol/L) relative to the PCAM + RC group, while acid capacity (alkaline reserve) was higher by 2.41% (p < 0.05) relative to the control. In the 10th month of age, a positive effect on the blood of heifers was observed, as in the second and the third experimental groups, ß-globulin and phosphorus increased (p < 0.05), while in the second group aspartate aminotransferase decreased (p < 0.05). Consequently, replacing the rapeseed cake with the protein concentrate Agro-Matic revealed an improvement in the dynamics of growth, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance, and it has an effect on improving some biochemical parameters of the blood.

Polymorphisms of the PRLR Gene and Their Association with Milk Production Traits in Egyptian Buffaloes.

Prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRLR) were considered as potential genetic markers for milk production and quality traits in cattle. However, little information is available regarding PRLR genetic diversity and association studies with milk traits in Egyptian water buffaloes. Therefore, the present study was conducted to search for mutations in PRLR and determine their associations with milk performance in these animals. Exon3 (E3) and E10 of PRLR were screened for polymorphisms using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and sequencing in 400 buffaloes. The associations between haplotypes and milk production (fat%, protein%, lactose%, and solid%) traits as well as mRNA and protein levels of PRL and PRLR were studied. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in E10 were detected: g.11685G>A (p.Ala494Thr) and g.11773T>C (p.Val523Aal). The G and T alleles were wild (ancestral) alleles, while the A and C alleles were mutant alleles. These SNPs resulted in four haplotypes; AC, AT, GC, and GT. Buffaloes with wild GT haplotypes showed significantly higher milk yield, fat% and protein%, mRNA and protein levels of PRL and PRLR in milk somatic cells than other animals. Animals carrying mutant AC haplotype had inferior milk traits and lowest levels of associated mRNAs and proteins. With these results, we could conclude that the selection of buffaloes with wild GT haplotypes for g.11685G>A and g.11773T>C SNPs of the PRLR gene might improve the milk production traits of Egyptian water buffaloes.

Investigation of total immunoglobulin G concentration, heavy chain antibody levels, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in female camels and their newborn calves.

Camels belong to a group of animals, where the structure of placenta does not allow intrauterine transfer of maternal immunoglobulins to the fetus and maternal immunity is exclusively transferred by colostrum to the newborn calf. There are few studies on the passive transfer of maternal immunity in the dromedary camel. This study determined total immunoglobulin G concentration, heavy chain antibody (HCAbs) levels, and neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) in female camels and their newborn calves. For this, samples were collected from nine she-camels (blood and colostrum) and their calves (blood). IgG concentration and HCAb level were determined in mother serum and colostrum as well as in calf serum using ELISA. The NLR was calculated after the estimation of relative fractions of neutrophils and lymphocytes in collected blood samples using a blood cell analyzer. Both IgG and HCAbs were higher concentrated in camel colostrum than in mother serum. At parturition and before the first colostrum intake, calf serum did not contain any measurable concentration of IgG and only low levels of HCAbs. After colostrum consumption, a rise in IgG and HCAb levels was observed in calf serum. For total IgG, a minimum was reached on day 30 postnatum. While a significant increase in IgG concentration was seen on day 60 postnatum, no significant rise was measured in HCAbs at that age. Only post-colostrum IgG levels in calf serum correlated positively with IgG levels in mother colostrum. Directly after birth, newborn calves showed significantly higher NLR than their mothers. This indicates a pro-inflammatory nature of the calf immune response. The decrease of the NLR on day 60 postnatum may argue for the maturation of the calf immune response at this age.

Ginger and Its Derivatives as Promising Alternatives to Antibiotics in Poultry Feed.

Poultry enterprises have sustained rapid development through the last three decennaries. For which reason, higher utilization of antibacterial, either as therapeutic or growth promoting agents, has been accepted. Owing to the concern of developing bacterial resistance among populations towards antibiotic generations, accumulation of antibacterial remaining's in chicken products and elevating shopper request for outcomes without antibacterial remaining's, looking for unconventional solutions that could exchange antibacterial without influencing productiveness or product characters. Using natural alternatives including ginger, garlic prebiotics, organic acids, plant extracts, etheric oils and immune stimulants have been applied to advance the performance, hold poultry productiveness, prevent and control the enteric pathogens and minimize the antibacterial utilization in the poultry production in recent years. The use of a single replacement or ideal assemblage of different choices besides good supervision and livestock welfare may play a basic role in maximizing benefits and preserving poultry productiveness. The object of this review was to support an outline of the recent knowledge on the use of the natural replacements (ginger and its derivatives) in poultry feed as feed additives and their effects on poultry performance, egg and meat quality, health as well as the economic efficiency.