Muhammad Subhan Qureshi

Anticoccidial effect of mananoligosacharide against experimentally induced coccidiosis in broiler

The aim of this study was to find the effect of mananoligosacharide (MOS) in comparison with amprolium hydrochloride on performance and integrity of gut in experimentally induced coccidiosis in broiler. A total of 300, day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) was randomly allocated to four treatments. Each group was further divided into five replicates of 15 birds each. Group A was kept as control; group B was contaminated with Eimeria tenella, while groups C and D were infected with E. tenella and treated with MOS (0.8xa0g/kg feed) and anticoccidial drug, amprolium hydrochloride (12xa0g/100xa0l water), respectively. The results showed that weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly higher (Pu2009<u20090.05) in infected + MOS-treated group compared to the other groups. The result of oocyte per gram (OPG) was significantly higher (Pu2009<u20090.05) in the group infected with coccidiosis during 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th day post infection (dpi). Furthermore, the OPG was significantly lower (Pu2009<u20090.05) in infected groups treated with MOS and amprolium at the studied periods (5, 7, and 10xa0dpi). At 12xa0dpi, the infected group treated with MOS showed significantly lower OPG compared to the other groups suggesting the effectiveness of MOS in comparison to amprolium. The result of pinpoint hemorrhages, thickness of cecal wall, bloody fecal contents, and mucoid contents in the cecum were significant highly (Pu2009<u20090.05) in birds fed with infected oocytes. It was also noted that the differences were not significant in these parameters between amprolium and MOS-treated birds showing the effectiveness of the prebiotic agent. It was concluded from the results of the present study that MOS improved growth performance and reversed the lesions of E. tenella.

Changes in postpartum metabolites and resumption of ovarian cyclicity in primiparous and multiparous dairy cows

The postpartum period in high-yielding dairy cows creates an enormous drain of nutrients in favor of milk yield which antagonizes the resumption of ovulatory cycles. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate the association of changes in postpartum serum metabolites with resumption of ovarian cyclicity. A total of 24 clinically healthy, freshly parturated primiparous (P-1) and multiparous (P-2) Holstein Frisian cows was selected. Cows were further divided on the basis of body condition score (BCS) 1 and 2 having BCS 3 or above 3, respectively. Weekly blood samples were collected and serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, progesterone, and cortisol concentrations were determined for a period of 7xa0weeks. The glucose concentration was significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) higher in cows in P-2 during week 7. Cows in parity 2 had significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) high cholesterol during week 6 and 7. The serum triglyceride concentration in multiparous animals having BCS-2 during week 6 was increased significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05). Serum cortisol was significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) high in P-1 during week 1 and 2 and significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) high in P-2 during week 7. Serum progesterone was significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) higher in cows during week 7 in P-2 having BCS-2. The increased serum progesterone concentration during postpartum period was associated with decreased levels of serum cortisol and more availability of cholesterol and glucose. The multiparous cows maintained the postpartum blood metabolite concentration and showed better adaptability to reproductive cyclicity during the postpartum period as compared to primiparous cows.

Postpartum endocrine activities, metabolic attributes and milk yield are influenced by thermal stress in crossbred dairy cows

This study was conducted on 30 freshly parturated multiparous crossbred dairy cows possessing three levels of Holstein Frisian genetic makeup (62.5, 75.0, and 87.5%). Data on temperature humidity index (THI) were classified into comfortable (≤ 71), mild stress (72–79), moderate stress (80–89), and stressful (≥90) zone. Results showed that serum cortisol concentration increased significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) in cows during stressful condition irrespective of genetic makeup compared to the other zones. Daily milk yield (DMY) was significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) lower in cows during stressful condition. Triglyceride was significantly higher in cows with genetic makeup 87.5% compared to the others, while total serum protein was significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) higher in cows during both moderate and stressful conditions. The mean concentration of cortisol and protein increased linearly from comfort to the stressful condition, while mean serum triglyceride, glucose, progesterone (P4), and luteinizing hormone (LH) decreased by moving from comfort to stressful conditions. Results also indicated that higher cortisol level in higher grade crossbred cows was adversely associated with LH concentration and milk yield under thermal stress conditions. Greater triglyceride in high-grade crossbred (87.5%) cows indicates higher fat mobilization reflecting a negative energy balance. We concluded that heat stress increased blood cortisol and protein, and reduced milk yield in dairy cows irresptive of the genetic makeup. In addition, there was no significant difference in blood metabolites and daily milk yield in the different levels of genetic makeup cows.

The effect of vitamin E and selenium on physiological, hormonal and antioxidant status of Damani and Balkhi sheep submitted to heat stress

The present study was conducted to find the effect of vitamin E and selenium (Se) on physiological, hormonal and antioxidant status of Damani and Balkhi sheep under high ambient temperature. Forty Damani and Balkhi healthy multiparous, non-pregnant sheep having similar initial body weight were selected. The sheep in each breed were further equally divided into control and treated groups. The sheep were fed a dietary plan recommended by the National Research Council (Nutrient requirements of small ruminants: sheep, goats, cervids, and new world camelids, National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2007). In addition, the sheep in the treated groups were supplemented with Se (0.3xa0mg) and vitamin E (50xa0mg) per kg of diet for 4xa0weeks. The results indicated that respiration and pulse rate decreased significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) on day 28 compared to the first day of the study in the treatment groups. The concentration of T3 and T4 was significantly (Pxa0<xa00.01) high in Damani sheep compared to Balkhi. In addition, except follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and progesterone, T3 and T4 were significantly (Pxa0<xa00.01) high in the treated sheep compared to the control. Malondialdehyde (MDA), cortisol and heat-shock protein (HSP-70) increased significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) in Balkhi sheep compared to Damani. In the treated sheep, MDA, cortisol and HSP-70 were significantly (Pxa0<xa00.01) low, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly (Pxa0<xa00.01) high in the treatment sheep. It was concluded that vitamin E and Se at the present doses improved the physiological, hormonal and antioxidant status in Damani and Balkhi sheep. In addition, Damani sheep were more tolerant to heat stress than Balkhi sheep.