In this study, the light: dark program was used for raising growing rabbits during summer season under hot climatic conditions. Sixty four growing New Zealand white rabbits, four weeks old, were randomly divided into four experimental groups (16 rabbit/group): The rabbits of first and second groups (C and T1), were exposed to 12 h light during 1000 to 2200 and 2200 to 1000 h, respectively. The third and fourth groups (T2 and T3), were exposed to 8h light during 1000 to 1800 and 2200 to 0600 h, respectively. Rabbits were reared under the same managerial, feeding and hygienic conditions throughout the experimental period. Besides, body weight (BW), body weight gains (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion (FC), carcass traits, blood parameters and economical efficiency were estimated in this study. The achieved results confirmed that the productive traits (BW, BWG, FI and FCR) and economical efficiency of New Zealand white rabbits during the summer were better in the T3 group (8 h/day light during 2200 to 0600) than other groups. Also, the values of AST, ALT, N / L Ratio, rectal temperature and mortality rate were significantly lower in T3 group. Furthermore, lymphocyte, hematocrit, albumin and glucose increased relatively in groups exposed to photoperiod during afternoon. While, no significant differences were existed in blood protein, lipids, globulin, cholesterol and carcass traits percentages. Generally, it could be concluded that using short photoperiod during afternoon in rabbits farms owing to its beneficial effects on the productive traits of growing rabbits as well as lowering of electricity consumption (better economical efficiency).

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of cold water during summer season of Upper Egypt in different times on growth performance, carcass traits and economical efficiency of New Zealand white rabbits. The experimental rabbits were reared in batteries and equally distributed into four groups (8 rabbits/each) in open housing system. The rabbits of first group (C) were full-fed ad libitum with tap water. In the other treated three groups, the birds of second, third and fourth groups (T1, T2 and T3) were supplied with cold water at different times: 1000-1300h, 1300-1600h and 1000-1600h, respectively. The results indicated that time of cold water in open housing system did significantly affect live body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and water consumption. Also, the group which received cool water at 1000-1600h showed the best records for decreased levels of rectal temperature and respiratory rate. However, no significant differences were existed in blood protein, lipids, globulin, cholesterol and carcass traits percentages. It could be concluded that most of growth performance and physiological parameters of examined rabbits were significantly decreased by heat stress under Egyptian summer conditions. Applying drinking cold water during the period from 1000 to1600h resulted to improve growth performance and economical efficiency.

ABSTRACT : Plant growth regulator supplements into the nutrient medium is one of the most influential factors affecting efficiency of in vitro propagation. While benzyladenine (BA) has been extensively studied, no information is available on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, L.) responses to thidiazuron (TDZ). Current study used explants prepared from proliferating shoots of established axenic cultures of two cvs (11 and 44). Explants were incubated on agar solidified (0.7% g) Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 3% sucrose and supplemented with 5μM BA or 0.5 μM TDZ or used free of BA and TDZ (MS-0, control). Data suggesting that BA and TDZ were indispensable for in vitro propagation of sweet potato since no excisable shoot were produced on MS-0 medium. BA was more effective than TDZ in inducing multiple shoot buds but only one shoot developed to well excisable shoot from such multiple shoot-buds. Responses to BA and TDZ were cultivar-dependent for percentage of explants excisable shoot which was higher on BA-medium in cv 11 while on TDZ-medium for cv 44. The harvested shoots from BA-medium had 13 leaves and those produced on TDZ-medium developed 10 leaves. In vitro rooting was not necessary since non-rooted shoots were capable to root while acclimatized to ex-vitro conditions. Cultivar 11 showed 100% survival after ex-vitro acclimatization whether on BA or TDZ medium. All plantlets of cv 44 produced on TDZ medium survived the ex-vitro acclimatized while those from BA medium showed 87% survival rate. It is proposed that culture of 12 single nodal axillary-buds prepared during September from growing sweet potato cv. 11 in the production field would produce transplants to grow one feddan (25,000) next season (April) after 4 sequential cycles of in vitro propagation on BA-medium. For cv. 44, starting with 25 axillary buds cultured on TDZ-medium would be needed. The described protocol may be useful to establish micropropagation industry of sweet potato that to help in overcoming difficulties of conventional vegetative propagation for this crop species.

ABSTRACT : Plant growth regulator supplements into the nutrient medium is one of the most influential factors affecting efficiency of in vitro propagation. While benzyladenine (BA) has been extensively studied, no information is available on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, L.) responses to thidiazuron (TDZ). Current study used explants prepared from proliferating shoots of established axenic cultures of two cvs (11 and 44). Explants were incubated on agar solidified (0.7% g) Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 3% sucrose and supplemented with 5μM BA or 0.5 μM TDZ or used free of BA and TDZ (MS-0, control). Data suggesting that BA and TDZ were indispensable for in vitro propagation of sweet potato since no excisable shoot were produced on MS-0 medium. BA was more effective than TDZ in inducing multiple shoot buds but only one shoot developed to well excisable shoot from such multiple shoot-buds. Responses to BA and TDZ were cultivar-dependent for percentage of explants excisable shoot which was higher on BA-medium in cv 11 while on TDZ-medium for cv 44. The harvested shoots from BA-medium had 13 leaves and those produced on TDZ-medium developed 10 leaves. In vitro rooting was not necessary since non-rooted shoots were capable to root while acclimatized to ex-vitro conditions. Cultivar 11 showed 100% survival after ex-vitro acclimatization whether on BA or TDZ medium. All plantlets of cv 44 produced on TDZ medium survived the ex-vitro acclimatized while those from BA medium showed 87% survival rate. It is proposed that culture of 12 single nodal axillary-buds prepared during September from growing sweet potato cv. 11 in the production field would produce transplants to grow one feddan (25,000) next season (April) after 4 sequential cycles of in vitro propagation on BA-medium. For cv. 44, starting with 25 axillary buds cultured on TDZ-medium would be needed. The described protocol may be useful to establish micropropagation industry of sweet potato that to help in overcoming difficulties of conventional vegetative propagation for this crop species.

ABSTRACT : Plant growth regulator supplements into the nutrient medium is one of the most influential factors affecting efficiency of in vitro propagation. While benzyladenine (BA) has been extensively studied, no information is available on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, L.) responses to thidiazuron (TDZ). Current study used explants prepared from proliferating shoots of established axenic cultures of two cvs (11 and 44). Explants were incubated on agar solidified (0.7% g) Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 3% sucrose and supplemented with 5μM BA or 0.5 μM TDZ or used free of BA and TDZ (MS-0, control). Data suggesting that BA and TDZ were indispensable for in vitro propagation of sweet potato since no excisable shoot were produced on MS-0 medium. BA was more effective than TDZ in inducing multiple shoot buds but only one shoot developed to well excisable shoot from such multiple shoot-buds. Responses to BA and TDZ were cultivar-dependent for percentage of explants excisable shoot which was higher on BA-medium in cv 11 while on TDZ-medium for cv 44. The harvested shoots from BA-medium had 13 leaves and those produced on TDZ-medium developed 10 leaves. In vitro rooting was not necessary since non-rooted shoots were capable to root while acclimatized to ex-vitro conditions. Cultivar 11 showed 100% survival after ex-vitro acclimatization whether on BA or TDZ medium. All plantlets of cv 44 produced on TDZ medium survived the ex-vitro acclimatized while those from BA medium showed 87% survival rate. It is proposed that culture of 12 single nodal axillary-buds prepared during September from growing sweet potato cv. 11 in the production field would produce transplants to grow one feddan (25,000) next season (April) after 4 sequential cycles of in vitro propagation on BA-medium. For cv. 44, starting with 25 axillary buds cultured on TDZ-medium would be needed. The described protocol may be useful to establish micropropagation industry of sweet potato that to help in overcoming difficulties of conventional vegetative propagation for this crop species.

One hundred and twenty birds were used to investigate the effect of raising the Egyptian geese (four week old) in open houses with or without swimming pond on growth performance, blood parameters, carcass traits and meat quality. This study included four groups of geese each of 30 birds (10 per replicates each), both groups were raised under almost similar housing conditions. Birds of the first and second groups (C and T1) were raised indoor system with or without swimming pond. While, birds of the third and fourth groups (T2 and T3) were raised in outdoor system with or without swimming pond. The results showed local geese group raised in outdoor system with pond had better values for all criteria under study than geese group raised indoor system with or without pond and outdoor system without pond. Wet and dry housing system significantly affected body weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion, abdominal fat, mortality rate and most meat quality. However, it had insignificant effects in most of blood parameters. In addition, birds reared under wet housing system had significantly (P≤0.05) effect on body temperature as compared to the other groups. No significant differences (P≤0.05) were found between groups in dressed carcass, leg problems, confirmation and plumage conditions. Finally, the economical efficiency of the birds reared under wet housing system was better than the dry housing system groups. It could be concluded the importance of raising local geese during growing period in open house (outdoor system) with pond, that was more adequate performance, better appearance and meat quality, healthy and more welfare than raising indoor system with or without pond.

A total number of two hundred unsexed one-day old chicks of local turkey were used to study the effects of feed and feeders color management on the growth performance of birds in two experiments. In Experiment 1: colored feed (no color, yellow, red and green) and in Experiment 2: colored feeders (no color, yellow, red and green). All chicks were housed in batteries in four equal groups (3 replicates of 8 birds each). All experimental birds were raised under similar environmental and managerial conditions as well as supplied with clean water and feed all the time. The obtained results indicated that colored feed and feeders affected insignificantly body weight performance in local turkey, also no significant differences in percentages of feed consumption were found among all groups. It was concluded that the local turkey prefer green feed as well as green feeders over orange, yellow, red feeders and white, orange, yellow and red feeds, respectively. These results may be beneficial with respect to managerial application especially for crucial few weeks of local turkey during brooding period.

A total number of two hundred unsexed one-day old chicks of local turkey were used to study the effects of feed and feeders color management on the growth performance of birds in two experiments. In Experiment 1: colored feed (no color, yellow, red and green) and in Experiment 2: colored feeders (no color, yellow, red and green). All chicks were housed in batteries in four equal groups (3 replicates of 8 birds each). All experimental birds were raised under similar environmental and managerial conditions as well as supplied with clean water and feed all the time. The obtained results indicated that colored feed and feeders affected insignificantly body weight performance in local turkey, also no significant differences in percentages of feed consumption were found among all groups. It was concluded that the local turkey prefer green feed as well as green feeders over orange, yellow, red feeders and white, orange, yellow and red feeds, respectively. These results may be beneficial with respect to managerial application especially for crucial few weeks of local turkey during brooding period.

A total number of one hundred and twenty birds aged 4 weeks were randomly assigned into four equal groups to investigate the effect of feed odor on growth performance, carcass characteristics, plumage conditions and economical efficiency of local turkey. The first group was fed on non odor feed and considered as control group (C). While, the second, third and forth treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3) were fed on feed with yolk odor, molasses odor and fish odor, respectively. The obtained results showed that treatments birds fed feed with molasses odor and fish odor throughout the experimental period had superior body weight, body weight gain, feed conversation and livability percentages compared to birds fed non odor feed or feed with yolk odor. Otherwise, no significant differences (P>0.05) existed in all carcass characteristics, blood constitutes, bone lengths (Shank, drumstick and keel bone) and plumage conditions. It could be concluded that birds fed feed with molasses odor and fish odor had high performance and economical efficiency. Consequently, diets for local turkey chicks should be added molasses odor and fish odor.

A total number of one hundred and twenty birds aged 4 weeks were randomly assigned into four equal groups to investigate the effect of feed odor on growth performance, carcass characteristics, plumage conditions and economical efficiency of local turkey. The first group was fed on non odor feed and considered as control group (C). While, the second, third and forth treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3) were fed on feed with yolk odor, molasses odor and fish odor, respectively. The obtained results showed that treatments birds fed feed with molasses odor and fish odor throughout the experimental period had superior body weight, body weight gain, feed conversation and livability percentages compared to birds fed non odor feed or feed with yolk odor. Otherwise, no significant differences (P>0.05) existed in all carcass characteristics, blood constitutes, bone lengths (Shank, drumstick and keel bone) and plumage conditions. It could be concluded that birds fed feed with molasses odor and fish odor had high performance and economical efficiency. Consequently, diets for local turkey chicks should be added molasses odor and fish odor.