The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing close-up diets with rumen undegradable protein on serum metabolites and the incidence of health disorders of Holstein dairy cows, during the hot season. Eighty-eight multiparous Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: low crude protein (14.3% CP; 14CP) and high crude protein (17.1% CP; 17CP) diets. Blood samples were collected weekly from d -30 up to calving and then at 0, 5, 14, and 21 days after calving, for serum metabolites determination.  Cows fed the 17CP diet had higher serum concentrations of albumin, blood urea nitogen, and Mg than 14CP cows during the close-up period. In postpartum, the 17CP cows had higher serum albumin and creatinine and lower free fatty acid, BHB, and glucose concentrations than the 14CP cows. The risk to developing subclinical ketosis (SCK), metritis and endometritis were higher for the 14CP cows than the 17CP cows. Overall, feeding high rumen undegradable protein diet to close-up cows during the hot season increased serum creatinine concentrations and lowered the incidence of SCK and metritis and endometritis postpartum.

Quality of protein fractions, according to Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), and digestibility coefficients, using Tilley and Terry procedure, of the fresh and ensiled amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) forage were assessed. The concentration of Crude Protein (CP) and True Protein (TP) in the fresh forage, were respectively 116 and 70 g/kg of DM. Soluble Protein (SP) and A, B1, B2, B3 and C fractions were 411, 395, 16, 349, 158, and 82 g/kg of CP, respectively. Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD), Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD) and Organic Matter Digestible in Dry Matter (OMDDM) of fresh amaranth were respectively 712, 677, and 586 g/kg, and as well Metabolisable Energy (ME) was 9.2 MJ/kg of DM. Ensiling process resulted in increase in CP, SP, and A as well as B1 fractions, while a decline observed in TP, B2, B3 and C fractions (P<0.05). Also, DMD of ensiled amaranth was significantly less than that for fresh forage. On the other hand, it was found that addition of molasses into the silage decreased CP, TP and as well B2, B3 and C fractions, while increasing A and B1 fractions as well as digestibility coefficients (P<0.05). It is finally concluded that based on the moderate CP value and good digestibility, amaranth benefits from the potential as a recommendable livestock forage. Ensiling process decreased digestibility and protein quality, however, addition of molasses to the silage improved the fermentation quality of the final ensiled product.

To investigate the effects of fertilizer regimes on quantitative and qualitative traits of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss, a field experiment at three replications with the Split Plate arrangement in a completely randomized block design was conducted in the Research Field of Tarbiat Modares University during the 2017-18 growing season.Water deficit stress (irrigation after discharging 20 (optimal irrigation), 40 (mild water deficit stress), 60 (moderate water deficit stress) and 80% (severe water deficit stress) of water used (available water)) in the main plot and fertilizer regime (urea, nitroxin, vermicompost, azocompost and no fertilizer) in the subplot were studied. The results showed that the highest leaf fresh weight (1797 kg ha-1) and total biomass (2957 kg ha-1) were obtained by application of urea in mild water deficit stress condition and the highest dry matter digestibility percentage was observed in azocompost treatment in moderate water deficit stress condition (57.8%). The highest crude protein was produced in severe water deficit stress condition (19.72%) and moderate water deficit stress (18.4%), respectively.. The highest percentage of water soluble carbohydrate and neutral detergent fiber were obtained from no fertilizer in moderate water deficit stress (22.06%) and application of urea in severe water deficit stress conditions, respectively. Mild water deficit stress application to produce high biomass is recommended for Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. According to the results, application of urea in mild water deficit stress was selected as the best treatment to produce forage 32% more than control.

In order to study the effects of intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with some legumes on forage yield and quality of maize, a two year field experiments was carried out based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran, during 2006-2007. Two maize hybrids (SC704, SC301), vetch (Vicia villosa), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia), berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinumL.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) sole crops as well as intercrops of maize hybrids with each of the legumes were used. Results of analysis of variance showed that dry matter (DM) yield of corn in intercropping with vetch and bitter vetch decreased. The corn dry matter yield loss in intercrop treatments in comparison with the sole crop of maize was 15.80 percentages. The study of forage quality characteristics indicated that maize ash and crude protein (CP) content in intercropping was increased because of having complementary effects in nutrients absorption. On the average of two years, the highest ash and CP content were achieved in intercropping of maize hybrids with berseem clover and bean. Amount of increase in ASH and CP for maize hybrids (704 and 301) in intercropping as compared to their monoculture was 9.43, 11.02, 14.52 and 18.42 percent, respectively. Thus, maize intercrops with bean and berseem clover had higher CP and also more CP yield in relation to its monoculture. The reason for this finding could be the larger transfer of fixed N from these legumes to maize and also smaller reduction of maize yield in intercropping with these legumes as compared with the vetch and bitter vetch.

A trial was conducted to study the effect of different levels of dietary energy and protein on the activity of skin follicles and wool characters in Varaminie ewes. Five different levels combined ME & CP was used.These levels for ME & CP were; 1.4 MCal and 6.4%, 1.61 MCal and 7.7%, 1.9 Meal and 9.1%, 2.18 MCal and 10.5% and 2.44 MCal and 11.8%, per g DM of ration, respectively. Forty ewes of three years old, with and average weight of 42.0±2.48 Kg were treated for 112 days. During the experiment, weight of animals and weight of consumed feed was recorded and 160 staple. Samples and 560 skin samples were collected and examined. A completely randomized design was employed for the experiment and data were analyzed using MANOVA procedure for some characters with repeated measurements such as dry wool, staple length, fibre diameter and body weight of animal. However one - way ANOVA was used for follicle characteristics such as the ratio of secondary to primary follicle (SIP), follicle density and the percentage of active follicles.Results showed that the level of ME & CP had significant effect (P<0.05) on wool characteristics so that with increase in ME & CP level in the ration, dry wool weight, staple length and fibre diameter increased, but the efficiency of wool dropped. The microscopic examination on skin follicles, showed no significant effect of ME & CP level the ration on the SIP ration and follicle density, while significant effect (P<0.05) was found on skin follicle activity, compared to control group.

This experiment was designed to survey the nutritive value and estimate protected-protein level of Protanomix as a new protein source and compare it with soybean meal. Protanomix is a brown powder by separating the precipitate produced from the reaction of tannin with corn-steep liquor. Crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) in this protein source is nearly similar to soybean meal, and more than 80% of its protein content is insoluble. In this study, potential of in vitro gas production in Protanomix was significantly (P˂0.001) lower than the control treatment (soybean meal); however, substitution of soybean meal at different levels of Protanomix in experimental diets did not lead to significant changes in gas production parameters (P˃0.05). Comparing Protanomix with soybean meal (control) showed that in vitro truly degraded dry matter (IVTDDM), estimated metabilizable energy (ME) and pH were similar (P˃0.05). However, short chain fatty acids (SCFA), apparently in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMAD) and ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3) were significantly higher in soybean meal (P˂0.01) than Protanomix, while partitioning factor (PF), microbial protein synthesis (MPS) and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (EMPS) were greater in Protanomix than soybean meal (P˂0.05). Nonetheless, when soybean meal was substituted with different levels of Protanomix in the experimental diets, only concentration of ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3) was significantly decreased (P˂0.001).

In this study, chemical compositions of black seed meals samples were determined. 18 male weaning Zandi lambs with an average body weight of 23.5 ±1.5 kg were used in a completely randomized design in three groups of six in individual pens. Experimental treatments were: 1) control (basal diet with 12% soybean meal and without black seed meal), 2) diet containing 6% soybean meal and 9% black seed meal and 3) diet containing 18% black seed meal and without soybean meal. The concentration of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, NDF, ADF, ADIN, and crude ash of black seed meal samples were 97.53±0.58, 31.26±0.99, 15.16 ± 0.61, 25.95 ± 1.34, 14.2±0.80, 0.69±0.04 and 5.07 ± 0.24, respectively. Replacement of soybean meal with black seed meal in the diet of experimental lambs had no effect on final body weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, dry matter intake, dressing percentage, tail and total body fat deposition. Albumin and total protein were higher for lambs fed by diet containing 18 % black seed meal compared to other treatments (P <0.05). However, the concentration of blood triglyceride, cholesterol and urea nitrogen were not differed between experimental groups. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude fat and protein were not affect by feeding of experimental diets. It seems that black seed meal can be used in the diet of fattening lambs up to 18% without adverse effect on performance and nutrients digestibility of growing lambs.

In order to identify legume forage for planting during fallow in rainfed areas, a two year field experiments was carried out based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Tikmadash Agricultural Research Station, East Azarbaijan Agriculture and Natural Research Center, Iran, during 2011-2012. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L.), field pea (Pisum arvense L.), Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica L.) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) were evaluated for quantitative and qualitative traits. Results of analysis of variance showed that fresh and dry forage yield were significantly different between forage legumes. During two years, hairy vetch had the highest forage fresh and dry yield (4686 and 1589 kg.ha-1) and the lowest was belonged to field pea (2319 and 862 kg.ha-1). In response to increasing rainfall, hairy vetch fresh and dry yield was increased (65 and 46% respectively) more than other forage legumes yield. The study of forage quality characteristics indicated that grass pea (19.34%) and hair vetch legumes (16.20%) had the most forage crude protein (CP) content. Grass pea had the maximum dry matter digestible (70.99%) and total ash (11.57%) among forage legumes. The maximum protein yield as fresh and dry forage was estimated for hairy vetch (460.9 and 161.9 kg.ha-1, respectively) and grass pea (430.4 and 166.1 kg.ha-1, respectively) legumes. High crude protein content in grass pea (19.34%) caused to have protein yield as fresh and dry forage same as hairy vetch. Considering the quality and amount of forage, grass pea and hairy vetch are suggested for planting during fallow in rotation with cereals in Azarbaijan rainfed regions.

A ruminal in situ experiment using three ruminally fistulated multiparous non-lactating dairy cows was conducted to determine dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradation of soybean meal and xylose-treated soybean meal. Samples were suspended in the rumen of cows for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h. Xylose-treated soybean meal had higher soluble digestible fraction (a) of DM than soybean meal (21% vs. 27%). Soluble digestible fraction (a) CP of xylose-treated soybean meal was considerably lower than that of soybean meal (3% vs. 20%). Xylose-treated soybean meal showed higher slowly digestible fraction (b) CP than soybean meal (84% vs. 78%). Effective degradability of CP at outflow rates of k=0.05 and k=0.08 h-1 was significantly lower for xylose-treated soybean meal than soybean meal (27 and 20% vs. 62 and 53%). Results from this study showed that xylose-treated soybean meal had lower available protein for rumen microorganisms compared with soybean meal.