Effect of catechins on fattening performance, meat quality, some antioxidant and blood parameters and fattening costs in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of green tea (Camellia sinensis) catechins in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Quail were fed with a basal diet, and the treatment groups were fed on the basal diet with 1.25 or 2.50 g/kg catechin supplementation for 30 d. Fattening performance and meat quality of the quail were estimated. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), plasma and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) and some serum biochemical parameters were measured. The results showed that catechin supplementation did not affect live weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, carcass dressing or the nutrient composition of breast and thigh meats. The water holding capacity (WHC) of breast meat was increased in the 2.50 g/kg catechin treatment. Catechin supplementation increased the serum TAS, but decreased plasma MDA and liver MDA concentration as well as serum glucose and total cholesterol levels. Serum triglyceride and total protein levels were not affected by catechin supplementation. In conclusion, catechins have effective antioxidant hypoglycaemic and hypocholesterolaemic properties, as well as having the potential to increase meat quality in fattening quail. On the other hand, catechin supplementation did not have any negative effect on the fattening performance, meat nutrient composition and fattening costs in fattening quail.

Effect of etodolac hydrazone, a new compound synthesised from etodolac, on spermatozoon quality, testicular lipid peroxidation, apoptosis and spermatozoon DNA integrity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of etodolac hydrazone (EH), a new compound synthesised from etodolac, on spermatozoon quality, testicular lipid peroxidation, apoptosis and spermatozoon DNA integrity in rats. Group 1 (n = 8) received 1 ml dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) daily (Control); group 2 (n = 8) was treated with 5 mg kg(-1)  day(-1) EH, dissolved in 1 ml DMSO (EH-5); and group 3 (n = 8) was treated with 10 mg kg(-1)  day(-1) EH, dissolved in 1 ml DMSO (EH-10). All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 8 weeks. Both doses of EH administration caused significant decreases in absolute and relative weights of testis, whole epididymis, right cauda epididymis, and spermatozoon motility, spermatozoon count in comparison with the control group. Only 10 mg kg(-1)  day(-1) EH administration caused significant decreases in absolute and relative weights of seminal vesicles and serum testosterone level, and significant increases in testicular lipid peroxidation level, and numbers of TUNEL+ apoptotic germ cells and spermatozoa with damaged DNA along with some histopathological damages when compared to the control group. However, body and ventral prostate weight, and testicular antioxidant markers (glutathione, glutathione-peroxidase and catalase), were unaffected significantly by both doses of EH administration. In conclusion, two different doses of EH, in particular its high dose, damage to testicular spermatogenic cells and spermatozoon DNA and, it decreases spermatozoon motility, count and testosterone level in healthy rats.

Antioxidative effects of cysteamine, hyaluronan and fetuin on post-thaw semen quality, DNA integrity and oxidative stress parameters in the Brown Swiss bull.

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of antioxidants including cysteamine (2.5, 7.5 mm), hyaluronan (0.25, 1 mg ml(-1) ) and fetuin (5, 10 mg ml(-1) ) in the freezing of Brown Swiss bull semen. The best percentages of CASA motilities were achieved with 10 mg ml(-1) of fetuin and 2.5 mm of cysteamine. For sperm morphology, 10 mg ml(-1) of fetuin and 2.5 mm of cysteamine had better protective effects (P < 0.001). The results of hypo-osmotic swelling test showed that the percentage values of membrane integrity in all the groups, excluding that supplemented with 5 mg ml(-1) of fetuin, were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.001). Results obtained for the DNA damage of sperm cells demonstrated that 0.25 mg ml(-1) of hyaluronan, and 2.5 and 7.5 mm of cysteamine led to lower rates of spermatozoa with damaged DNA, compared with the control group (P < 0.001). The maintenance of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase antioxidant activities following freeze-thawing with 2.5 and 7.5 mm of cysteamine and 10 mg ml(-1) of fetuin was demonstrated to be at a higher level in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). Malondialdehyde formation was found to be lower in the groups supplemented with 0.25 mg ml(-1) of hyaluronan and 7.5 mm of cysteamine after the freeze-thawing process (P < 0.001).

Effects of curcumin and dithioerythritol on frozen-thawed bovine semen.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of curcumin and dithioerythritol added into bull semen extender on sperm parameters, lipid peroxidation, total glutathione and antioxidant potential levels of bull spermatozoa following the freeze/thawing process. Twenty-seven ejaculates obtained from three bulls were included in the study. Each ejaculate that was splitted into five equal groups and diluted in a Tris-based extender containing curcumin (0.5 and 2 mM), dithioerythritol (0.5 and 2 mM) and no additive (control) was cooled to 5 °C and frozen in 0.25-ml French straws. The extender supplemented with 0.5 mMdose of curcumin led to lower percentage of total abnormality (20.40 ± 2.36%) when compared to the control (30.60 ± 1.47%, P < 0.05). Curcumin and dithioerythritol at 0.5 mM provided a greater protective effect in the membrane functional integrity (54.40 ± 2.09% and 50.00 ± 2.68%), in comparison with control (37.20 ± 1.77%, P < 0.001). Supplementation with antioxidants did not significantly affect the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant potential levels, while the maintenance of total glutathione levels in curcumin 0.5 mM was demonstrated to be higher than that of control, following the freeze/thawing (P < 0.05). Supplementation with these antioxidants prior to the cryopreservation process may be recommended to facilitate the enhancement of sperm cryopreservation techniques.

Estimating the total cost of bovine fasciolosis in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to estimate the total cost of bovine fasciolosis under three different scenarios (expected, optimistic and pessimistic scenarios) in Turkey. The weighted mean prevalence of infection was calculated as 1·9% and the financial losses were estimated in US$ at 2010 current prices. The total costs of bovine fasciolosis per infected beef cattle and dairy cow were estimated as 223·7 US$ (201·3-246·1, under optimistic-pessimistic scenarios) and 430·7 US$ (387·6-473·7), respectively. Total cost of the disease was estimated as 7·4 million US$ (6·1-8·8) for beef cattle and 35·4 million US$ (28·9-42·6) for dairy cows. The nation-wide total cost of the disease in Turkey for 2010 was estimated to be 42·8 million US$ (35·1-51·4). Most of the losses arise from reduced meat yield, fertility and milk yield, and smaller losses are due to condemnation of livers and disease control expenditures. As a result, the quantity of these losses may help the farmers and policy makers to give the better decision for controlling and eradication of the animal diseases in Turkey.

Financial effects of the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks on the Turkish broiler producers.

This research aimed at assessing the financial effects of the 2005 to 2006 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks on Turkish broiler enterprises. The data were obtained from an interview survey carried out in 499 enterprises randomly selected from 14 provinces that accounted for 79% of the national broiler production. The research revealed that the contracted broiler producers lost on average 1.38 cycles of production and their management fee reduced by 14.7% in 8 mo after the outbreaks. As a result, the broiler production and the enterprise income declined by 34.8 and 44.3%, respectively. The bank loan of the producers rose by 161%. A total of 93% of the producers did not do any other supplementary work during the idle production period in spite of the fact that broiler production was the only business of 36% of them. Furthermore, more than half of the producers (56%) stated that they were considering expanding their business, but suspended this idea due to the outbreak. Approximately 87% of the producers increased the biosecurity measures after the outbreaks. The nationwide effects of the avian influenza outbreaks on the contracted broilers farms were estimated to be US$100.8 million (US$7,967/broiler house). The futures of the contracted broiler producers are fully dependent upon those of the integrated firms. Any negative effects on the latter appeared to be transferred directly to the former. However, the government neglected the integrated firms in the avian influenza compensation programs.

Effects of different extenders and centrifugation/washing on postthaw microscopic-oxidative stress parameters and fertilizing ability of Angora buck sperm.

The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of extender type and centrifugation/washing prior to cryopreservation on the postthaw sperm parameters, lipid peroxidation, and superoxide dismutase activity of Angora buck (Capra hircus ancryrensis) sperm. Ejaculates collected from three Angora bucks were used in this study. Two consecutive ejaculates from each buck were pooled and split into equal parts in four Falcon tubes. Two tubes were diluted at 37 degrees C and then centrifuged to remove semen plasma. After centrifugation, two sediment parts were diluted with a Tris-based extender and commercial Bioxcell extender, respectively. The remaining two parts, which were not centrifuged/washed, were diluted with the above-mentioned extenders, respectively. Diluted samples were cooled to 5 degrees C and frozen in 0.25-mL French straws to be stored in liquid nitrogen. Frozen straws were thawed individually at 37 degrees C for 20 sec in a water bath for evaluation. The semen part with centrifugation/washing in the Bioxcell extender (BC) demonstrated a higher rate of subjective motility (58.1+/-3.0%) compared with that of groups with (TC) or without (T) centrifugation/washing in the Tris-based extender (P<0.01). Angora buck sperm frozen with (BC) or without (B) centrifugation/washing in the Bioxcell extender demonstrated higher percentages of motility (60.6+/-2.7% and 54.3+/-4.8%, respectively) compared with that of groups T and TC. The postthaw progressive motility rate (22.3+/-2.7%) was significantly greater for semen parts diluted in B compared with that of other groups. BC gave rise to a lower value of average path velocity (90.0+/-5.2 microm/sec) compared with that of other groups (P<0.01). For straight linear velocity and linearity index, the highest values (103.2+/-4.7 microm/sec, 47.5+/-1.6% and 94.8+/-3.0 microm/sec, 44.8+/-1.1%, respectively) were obtained from B and TC (P<0.001). For sperm acrosome and total abnormalities, TC gave the highest values (11.2+/-0.6% and 26.6+/-1.5%, respectively, P<0.01). In the group frozen in BC, the percentage of membrane integrity assessed by hypo-osmotic swelling test was higher (61.2+/-2.2%) than that of the other groups (P<0.001). With respect to fertility results based on 35-d pregnancy rates, BC gave a higher rate (76.5%) than that of TC (27.8%, P<0.05). Malondialdehyde formation was found to be lower (1.64+/-0.26 nmol/L) in BC than in the other groups after the freeze-thawing process (P<0.001). In the semen part frozen in BC, superoxide dismutase activity was higher (0.18+/-0.02 U/mg protein) compared with that of the other groups (P<0.05). Further studies are required to obtain more precise results for the characterization of oxidative stress parameters and fertilizing ability in cryopreserved buck spermatozoa.