This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding hydroponic barley sprouts to sheep on dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, rumen fermentation parameters and ruminal enzymes activity. The barley sprouts were prepared in a hydroponic sprouting unit under controlled environment. Barley grains were first washed, soaked for one day using tap water, and then covered with a wet towel for another one day for germination. Thereafter, they were spread out in trays and were irrigated three times daily by tap water. The trays contained green fodder were removed after 8 days and the harvested carpets were exposed to air ventilation, then weighed and shredded to small pieces before feeding to the animals. Twenty mature rams (50 ± 1.30 kg bw) were randomly distributed into four groups, each with five rams. The rams in group 1 and 2 were fed on Egyptian clover and hydroponic barley sprouts only, respectively, while the animals in group 3 and 4 were offered the same forage sources used in previous groups but with supplying a concentrate mixture. The experiment lasted for three weeks. It was found that feeding of sprouted barley alone reduced total DM intake by about 61.5% than that of the clover alone, but this effect was ameliorated when fed with the concentrate. However, the digestibility of different nutrients was increased in sprouted barley diet by an average of 10.0% compared to the clover. The nitrogen retention % was similar in rams fed barely sprouts or clover without concentrate. Total volatile fatty acids and propionate production was higher by 18.5% and 8.31%, respectively, in rumen of rams fed the sprouts alone or with concentrate than the clover alone. In addition, feeding of barley sprouts increased the total rumen protozoa count by about 31.3% and most of ruminal enzyme activities (45.0, 9.0 and 23.2% for amylase, cellulose and protease, respectively) compared to the clover. Providing the concentrate with sprouted barley or clover improved the nutrients digestibility (by about 14.0%) and nitrogen retention (by 46.0%) as well as amylase (by 60.0%) and urease (by 15.0%) activity in comparison to feeding of these ingredients alone. In conclusion, feeding of barley sprouts alone to sheep reduced the DM intake, however, it can improve the nutrients digestibility, rumen fermentation and ruminal enzyme activities. Moreover, use of sprouted barley in sheep diets could result in better digestibility and fermentation results than the clover. Feeding of concentrate with sprouted barley increased its positive effect on nutrients digestibility and rumen fermentation and improved the total DM intake. Thus, it can be recommended to feed the hydroponic barley sprouts with the concentrate to obtain an optimal DM intake as well as a high animal performance.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing the diet of ewes or rams with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as buffers at two levels on feed intake, milk yield, milk composition, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and some blood metabolites. Twenty seven healthy mature local ewes were randomly assigned into three similar groups (9 ewes each). Three digestibility trials were also carried out using twelve local rams randomly assigned into three groups (4 rams/ trial). Each trial lasted for three weeks, the first two weeks were considered as a preliminary period followed by one week collection period . Groups of 9 ewes and 4 rams were the control group fed the basal diet without NaHCO3supplement and treated groups were fed either 1.5 (T1) or 3% (T2) sodium bicarbonate mixed with the concentrate mixture. All animals were fed 70% of their requirements as concentrate mixture while, wheat straw was given ad libitum as roughage. Dietary supplementation of NaHCO3 (1.5 or 3%) increased (P0.05) dry matter intake (DMI) of roughage and total dry matter intake. Sodium bicarbonate supplement increased (P0.05) milk yield. The milk fat (%) was improved (P0.05) in ewes supplemented 3% of NaHCO3 compared to other groups. Dietary supplement of sodium bicarbonate either 1.5 or 3% increased (P0.05) serum pH and cholesterol. The organic matter, crude protein and crude fiber digestibility coefficients were improved (P0.05) for rams supplemented with 1.5 and 3% sodium bicarbonate compared with the control group. Supplementation of sodium bicarbonate to rams rations increased (P0.05) ruminal pH, concentrations of total VFAs and total protozoa count as compared with the control diet. However, rumen ammonia nitrogen was not affected. In conclusion, dietary sodium bicarbonate in particular 3% of concentrate mixture improves dry matter intake, milk yield, milk fat (%), nutrients digestibility and fermentation patterns in sheep.

If we go back to Hippocrates era "Father of medicine" it will find that he said wisdom says "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food" and said also "To eat when you are sick, is to feed your sickness". In 2006, Functional Food Center (FFC) used similar statement "Let functional food is your medicine". The FFC defined “functional foods” as: “Natural or processed foods that contain known or unknown biologically-active compounds which provide clinically proven and documented health benefits for preventing, managing or treating the chronic diseases" [1]. The benefits of functional foods beside its basic nutritional properties have the potentiality to lower the risks of non-communicable diseases [2]. Diseases are now one of the major public health and socio-economic problems both globally and regionally, especially in poor and vulnerable populations which account for approximately 80% of deaths due to chronic diseases. Chronic diseases are not only harmful to the health, but also to the healthcare system and economy.

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Synergistic effects of octopamine receptor agonists (OR agonists) have attracted many scientists based on their potent effects on mosquitoes. Herein, we determined the toxicity of selected insect growth regulators (IGRs) on fourth instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus. We evaluated the synergistic action of OR agonists on the toxicity of IGR insecticides to achieve a better understanding of their mode of action. As a result, pyriproxyfen was the most potent IGR insecticide (EC50 = 0.049 ng/ml) followed by lufenuron, novaluron, and diflubenzuron according to the IGR bioassay. Further, based on the acute bioassay, lufenuron was the most toxic IGR insecticide (LC50 = 44 ng/ml) after 24-h post treatment followed by pyriproxyfen, novaluron, and diflubenzuron (LC50 = 137, 263, and 1127 ng/ml, respectively). Similar tendency was observed after 48 and 72-h post treatment. Furthermore, OR agonists that combined with pyriproxyfen was the most significant effects after 48 and 72-h of exposure. The synergism with amitraz (AMZ) was more significant when co-treated with IGR insecticides compared to chlordimeform (CDM). These findings suggest that OR agonists are promising tools and are important alternative strategies as synergistic compounds in preventing and controlling Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes.

ABSTRACT: A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of in ovo feeding during early-embryonic life with either vitamin C or glucose on hatchability, post hatch performance, carcass traits and gut histology. Two sets of Dandrawi fertile eggs (400 eggs each with average weight 51.1± 0.2g) were used in two separate trials. On d 14 of incubation, eggs of the first set (Trial 1) were examined and those containing live embryos were divided equally into 4 treatments (100 eggs/ treatment) and injected in the amnion as follows: T1 (negative control, no injection); T2 (positive control, injected with 0.1ml saline solution 0.9g/L); T3 (injected with 0.1ml 2.5 % water solved vitamin C); T4 (injected with 0.1ml 5% water solved vitamin C). Eggs of Trial II: T1 (negative control, no injection); T2 (positive control, injected with 0.1ml saline solution 0.9g/L); T3 (injected with 0.1ml 5 % water solved glucose); T4 (injected with 0.1ml 10% water solved glucose). Hatched chicks from each trial were allocated into 3 replicates/ treatment and brooded till 10 weeks old. Performance of chicks of T4 (Trial 1) hatched from the eggs injected with 5% vitamin C showed significant (P.01) improvement in BW, BWG, FCR and scored the lowest percent of mortality. However; measurements of carcass traits showed no significant differences among treatments. Furthermore, blood parameters were all within normal physiological values. Histological examination of the gut revealed positive influence (P.01) of 5% vitamin C injection level on height and width of duodenum villi. Results of the second trial showed significant (P.01) enhancement in performance of the chicks hatched from the eggs injected with 10% glucose. Also, histological evaluation of the same group scored the highest (P.01) values of duodenum villi height and width. In conclusion, in ovo injection at d 18 of incubation with either 0.1 ml 5% vitamin C or 0.1ml 10% glucose improved post hatch Dandarawi chicks’ performance and gut histological traits related to nutrient absorption.

ABSTRACT: A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of in ovo feeding during early-embryonic life with either vitamin C or glucose on hatchability, post hatch performance, carcass traits and gut histology. Two sets of Dandrawi fertile eggs (400 eggs each with average weight 51.1± 0.2g) were used in two separate trials. On d 14 of incubation, eggs of the first set (Trial 1) were examined and those containing live embryos were divided equally into 4 treatments (100 eggs/ treatment) and injected in the amnion as follows: T1 (negative control, no injection); T2 (positive control, injected with 0.1ml saline solution 0.9g/L); T3 (injected with 0.1ml 2.5 % water solved vitamin C); T4 (injected with 0.1ml 5% water solved vitamin C). Eggs of Trial II: T1 (negative control, no injection); T2 (positive control, injected with 0.1ml saline solution 0.9g/L); T3 (injected with 0.1ml 5 % water solved glucose); T4 (injected with 0.1ml 10% water solved glucose). Hatched chicks from each trial were allocated into 3 replicates/ treatment and brooded till 10 weeks old. Performance of chicks of T4 (Trial 1) hatched from the eggs injected with 5% vitamin C showed significant (P.01) improvement in BW, BWG, FCR and scored the lowest percent of mortality. However; measurements of carcass traits showed no significant differences among treatments. Furthermore, blood parameters were all within normal physiological values. Histological examination of the gut revealed positive influence (P.01) of 5% vitamin C injection level on height and width of duodenum villi. Results of the second trial showed significant (P.01) enhancement in performance of the chicks hatched from the eggs injected with 10% glucose. Also, histological evaluation of the same group scored the highest (P.01) values of duodenum villi height and width. In conclusion, in ovo injection at d 18 of incubation with either 0.1 ml 5% vitamin C or 0.1ml 10% glucose improved post hatch Dandarawi chicks’ performance and gut histological traits related to nutrient absorption.

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