In this study, the possibility of early weaning and its effect on growth, survival rate and quality of Sobaity Sea bream (Sparidentex hasta) larvae from 25 (control group) to 18 (treatment group) days post hatch (DPH) were investigated. For growth rate measurement, sampling was done prior to starting test on 0, 2, 4, 10, 14, 16, and 18, and afterward on 25, 32 and 39 DPH; and for survival rate, cannibalism rate and also larval quality on 39 day post hatch. The result showed that thought from the starting of weaning to the end of rearing, the Specific growth rate (SGR) was significantly higher in control group than early treatment (P<0.05), there was no significant difference on SGR between two treatments during the whole rearing period. Relative growth rate (RGR) did have the equal progress among sampling days in control treatment, but there was significant increased pattern in early treatment (P<0.05). Early weaning did not have significant effect on survival rate, cannibalism rate, and quality of larvae (P>0.05). These results showed that the early weaning of Sobaity Sea bream S. hasta larvae on 18 DPH was possible without having undesirable affects on SGR, survival rate and quality loss which is moreeconomic for farmer.

Background: Severe early childhood caries is the most important dental problem among children younger than three years of age. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between time and manner of weaning and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed in Kerman, Iran, in 2020. The study population consisted of 130 mothers and their children aged 18 to 30 months with and without S-ECC who visited the health centers in Kerman. Clinical examinations of the children's teeth were carried out with a dental mirror by a trained dentist after drying the surfaces of the maxillary incisors. The presence or absence of S-ECC was marked in a relevant checklist. Then, the mothers were asked to answer questions about the way they feed their children and the weaning method used in case of weaning off their children. Finally, data was analyzed using t-test in SPSS version 16. Results: The mean age of the children was 24. 4± 4. 7 months, and 52% of them were girls. Most of the mothers had used the traditional methods to wean their children. The mean age at weaning was 23. 8 months. There was a significant relationship between the age at which the child was weaned and S-ECC. In other words, children with S-ECC were significantly older at weaning than those children without S-ECC (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Children with S-ECC had a longer breastfeeding period than children without S-ECC; thus, it seems that one of the reasons for the high prevalence of such caries in children in Kerman could be the longer period of breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Therefore, an appropriate pattern of breastfeeding is effective in preventing S-ECC.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lamb weaning age on subsequent productive and reproductive performance of Lori-Bakhtiari ewes. 103 heads of lactating ewes with an average age of 3. 5 years were allocated to one of three treatments as: 1. weaned early 2. weaned as in traditional sheep rearing or 3-weaned late. Rams were introduced at 60 days postpartum and were remained with ewes for 3 months. Ewes that became pregnant were remained in trial. Again, rams introduced to ewes at breeding season and were remained with ewes for 6 months. The proportion of ewes that exhibit estrus, interval from lambing to first estrus and to conception, lambing interval, conception rate and number of lambs' birth per ewes exposed to the rams were recorded. Gain rate of ewes was higher for treatments 1 and 2 in first month after weaning than other months (p<0. 05). Percentage of estrus and conception rate after first parturition were significantly higher (p<0. 05) for ewes in treatment 1 than treatments 2 and 3. After first parturition, ewes in group 1, returned to estrus and conception earlier compared to 2 and 3 groups (p<0. 01). Average of 3 lambing interval was lower (p<0. 01) for group 1 ewes than groups 2 and 3. In second parturition, the number of lambs born per ewe exposed to the ram was higher (p<0. 05) for group 1 ewes than 2 and 3 groups. It was concluded that ewe's performance were improved by weaning their lambs at 60 days of age.