Animal Production

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    EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF DATE PALM (ELAEIS QUINEENSIS JACQ.) LEAVES ON THE PERFORMANCE AND SOME PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF CROSSBRED EWES
    (An-Najah National University, 2025-02-27) Shakhshir, Ali Abdo Ali
    Abstract This research comprised two experiments. The first experiment aimed to examine how various preparations of date palm leaves (DPL), including chopped, ensiled, and alkali-treated forms, affected the performance and reproductive efficiency of crossbred ewe lambs. A total of twenty female ewes were used at age of 6-7 months were fed the DPL at 15% of their diets for a period of 6 weeks. DPL was replaced similar percent of wheat hay in the control diet. The ewes were split into four experimental groups, with each group consisting of five ewes, and each ewe treated as a separate replicate. Ewes were fed as the following: Group 1 (G1) served as the control, consisting of 70% concentrate and 30% wheat straw, for the experimental groups G2 to G4, various forms of date palm leaves (DPL) were incorporated into the diets to replace half of the wheat straw. A digestion trial was conducted after 28 days of the feeding trial. Ewes were exposed to rams were conception rates and other reproductive traits were recorded. Prior to conception ewes were examined for blood parameters and a digestibility trial was performed. The results indicated that form of DPL had no significant effects on all study parameters. The second experiment consisting of 28 cross bred lactating ewes were used to examine the DPL forms on milk yield and quality, blood parameters and nutrient digestibility. The ewes were organized into four experimental groups, with each group containing seven ewes, and each ewe regarded as an individual replicate. Ewes were fed similar diets as in experiment 1. Results of experiment 2 indicated the lack of effects of forms of DPL on the tested parameters. In experiments 1 and 2 the economic efficiency of feeding DPL was examined. In conclusion, incorporating date palm leaves (DPL), whether in their raw or treated forms (ensiled or alkali-treated), offers significant benefits by lowering feed costs and contributing to environmental protection. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal treatment and inclusion levels for these diets.
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    INCORPORATING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ADENOSINE WITH TRIS- EGG YOLK AND ANDROMED®DILUENTS USED IN FREEZING SEMEN OF RAMS
    (An-Najah National University, 2025-01-30) Khaleel , Mousa
    Background: Cryopreservation of ram semen is a pivotal technique in ovine genetic improvement strategies. It accelerates the transmission of superior genetic material to low-productivity flocks, enables the long-term preservation of valuable genetic resources, and mitigates geographical constraints in artificial insemination programs. However, ovine semen cryopreservation still faces challenges related to quality, as ram sperm cells are particularly vulnerable to thermal stress and oxidative damage during freezing. Adenosine, a purine nucleoside, has been shown to enhance cellular metabolism and antioxidant defense; however, its potential application in ovine semen cryopreservation remains underexplored. Aims: This study aims to elucidate the protective effects of adenosine at different concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%) on sperm motility, viability, thermal resistance, membrane integrity, and morphology throughout the freezing process. Additionally, the study compares the efficacy of Andromed® and Tris-egg yolk extenders in maintaining sperm quality. Methods: Semen was collected from six mature Assaf rams aged 3 to 4 years and diluted with adenosine-enriched Andromed® and Tris-egg yolk diluents. Semen samples were evaluated for motility, viability, thermal resistance, membrane integrity, and morphology at three key stages of the freezing process. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA to evaluate the effects of adenosine concentration and extender type. Results: Adenosine significantly improved sperm quality at all freezing stages (P < 0.05), with 0.75% yielding the most favorable results. Moreover, Andromed® outperformed Tris-egg yolk in preserving frozen ovine sperm quality (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The incorporation of adenosine into semen extenders, particularly at 0.75%, significantly enhanced the quality of frozen ovine semen. Furthermore, Andromed® proved to be more effective than Tris-egg yolk as freezing extender. These findings provide valuable insights into the application of adenosine in cryopreservation and contribute to improved reproductive efficiency in ovines.
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    ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF AVIAN PATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATES RECOVERED FROM BROILERS’ FARMS IN NORTHERN PALESTINE
    (An-Najah National University, 2024-10-31) Bzour, Mahmoud
    Background: Colibacillosis is a disease caused by a certain type of Escherichia coli called the avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), which leads to significant losses for the poultry sector and shows zoonotic potential and acts as a source of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors for other E. coli. Objectives: This work aimed to assess resistance phenotype, virulence genes, and phylogenetic groups in APEC isolates recovered from broilers’ farms in northern Palestine. As well as to clarify whether the virulence factors are directly associated with antibiotic resistance or, instead, dependent on a phylogenetic group distribution. Methodology: A total of the 65 APEC isolates were recovered from diseased chicken with typical colibacillosis symptoms from broilers’ farms located in the northern region of Palestine, during the period from May to July 2024. Classical and molecular techniques were used to identify these strains. The disk diffusion method was used to detect antibiotic resistance. Phylotyping and virulence genotyping of these APEC isolates were carried out by polymerase chain reaction. Results: This study revealed a high detection rate of APEC strains (100%) in chicken. The most APEC strains 56/65 (86.2%) assigned to group D. Other strains were related to groups B2 (5/65, 7.7%), B1 (3/65, 4.6%) and A (1/65, 1.5%). Antibiotic resistance ranged from 27.7% for PolymyxinsE (Colistin) to 100% for Amoxicillin. Polymyxins E (Colistin) and Fosfomycin were the most effective drugs. It was found that the most common virulence factor was iroN which was tested in 61 isolates (93.8%). While, 56 (86.2%), 42 (64.6%), 40 (61.5%), 37 (56.9%), 24 (36.9%), 23 (35.4%),16 (24.6%), 13 (20.0%), 0 (0.0%) and 0 (0.0%) isolates were positive for hlyF, iutA, Tsh, ColV, papGII, Iss, papGI, papC, papGIII and ompT genes, respectively. The APEC strains in Palestine exhibit a wide variety of resistance patterns and genetic variation. Conclusion: These results serve as an outline for development of efficient intervention plans for the management of APEC in broiler breeders and broiler farms. Controlling APEC infections is essential for public health, especially when APEC isolates can pass on virulence and resistance factors to other pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli that are particular to humans.
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    AFLATOXIN B1 LEVELS IN CORN IN CORN (ZEA MAIZE) AND SOYBEAN (GLYCCINEMAX L.MERR.)-BASED FEED IN NORTHERN PALESTINE
    (An-Najah National University, 2023-12-20) Hamdan, Elahm
    Aflatoxin is a by-product of the metabolism of aspergillus fungi has severe health risks as indicated by many researchers. This study is aiming to examine the existence of aflatoxin B1 in two crops; corn and soybean which is the major raw material in poultry feeding concentrates. Both ingredients are imported and inter the manufacturing process in local factories. In this study 42 samples of corn and soybean were collected from siloes of concentrates processing factories for animal feeding located in Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm districts. The samples were collected in October, 2021. The samples were kept in cool dark containers and then sent to the lab analysis to test the concentration of Aflatoxin B1 according to the procedure of RIDASCREEN® Aflatoxin B1 30/15. The results indicated that aflatoxin B1 was detected in 80%, 100%, and 100% of the corn samples from Jenin, Nablus and Tulkarm consequently. While in soybean the existence of aflatoxin B1 was found in 60%, 85.7%, and 100% of the samples in Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm consequently. In corn samples; the overall average AFB1 concentration was 0.69 µg/kg, the average concentration is 0.64 µg/kg in Jenin, 0.604 µg/kg in Nablus, and 0.80 µg/kg in Tulkarm. These results are ithin the accepted levels according to the standards. Significant differences in the aflatoxin concentration of both crops were found between the three districts. In soybean sample; the overall average AFB1 concentration was 0.66 µg/kg. The average concentration is 0.78 µg/kg in Jenin, 0.61 µg/kg in Nablus, and 0.65 µg/kg in Tulkarm, which is within the accepted levels as indicated by the European and US FDA guidelines, which is 20 ppb ( 20 µg/kg).
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    EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PELLETED DATE PALM (ELAEIS QUINEENSIS JACQ.) LEAVES ON THE PERFORMANCE AND SOME BLOOD METABOLITES OF AWASSI FATTENING LAMBS
    (2023-09-20) Mohammad Hamza Mohammad Saleem
    Abstract The main objectives of this study were to measure the effect of feeding different levels of pelleted date palm leaves (PDPL) on the performance, digestibility and some blood metabolites of fattening Awassi lambs. A total of 24 Awassi lambs soon after weaning (2-4 month of age) were used in a 70-day fattening trial. Lambs were divided into 3 experimental groups and control group. Lambs in the control group were fed a traditional corn-soybean meal fattening ration. This ration composed of 18% crude protein concentrate plus wheat straw. In the other 3 experimental groups, the pelleted date palm leaves (PDPL) were incorporated at three different levels (25%, 50 %and 75%) as part of wheat straw. Lambs were fed separately and monitored for body weight and feed intake at weekly basis. Feed conversion ratios were also monitored. At the termination of the fattening trial three lambs from each group were slaughtered for testing the carcass cuts and the visceral organ mass. The blood parameters were tested at termination of the feeding trial from 3 lambs of each treatment. Results of study showed that feeding pelleted DPL at different levels had no effect on lambs’ performance. Similarly, DPL had no effects on the feed conversion ratios, and blood metabolites. Visceral organs and carcass cuts were not affected by pelleted DPL. Digestibility of nutrients were affected by pelleting. In general digestibility of crude protein (CP) decreased with pelleting level. Same trend was observed with fat digestibility. However, crude fiber digestibility increased with pelleting level. Digestibility of DM was decreased with a highly level of pelleted DPL. Feeding DPL had no harm effect on lambs; however, cost of fattening was reduced which can be considered as an advantage of incorporating its ingredient in fattening rations. Keywords: Blood Parameters; Carcass Cuts; Digestibility; Feed Conversion Ratio; Feed Intake; Pelleted Date Palm Leaves.