Introduction: Size of fruit in Japanese plum has an important role in marketability and fruit quality. In Golestan province, one of the most important areas of plum production in Iran, due to high temperatures in summer that led to unfavorable conditions in fruit ripening stage, final fruit size are reduced in commercial scale. In this respect, the large financial loss is imposed to plum growers. Today, synthetic auxins are widely applied in the commercial gardens of the world in order to increasing fruit size and improving fruit growth. Auxins can promotes cell division, cell enlargement in fruit growth stages and it also acts as sink for nutrients absorption. In this study, the effects of the foliar application of two synthetic auxins were investigated on fruit qualitative and quantitative of Japanese plums in Golestan province climatic conditions. Material and Methods: A split-plot factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted in a commercial orchard from Run Agri Company in Golestan province, Iran for two years (2015 and 2016). The main factor was considered four plum cultivars including ‘ Ghatreh Tala’ , ‘ Shablon Zodras’ , ‘ Shablon Mianras’ and ‘ Shablon Dirras’ which were spraying by two synthetic auxins: NAA (0, 300 and 400 mg/l) and 2, 4-D (0, 10 and 30 mg/l) along and in combination. Fruit length, diameter, length to diameter ratio and fruit weight, yield, yield efficiency and percentage of first and second fruit grade production characteristics were evaluated. Data analysis was performed by SAS 9. 1 software and the comparison of mean values was done by Duncan's multiple range tests at 0. 05 of probability level. Results and Discussion: The results showed that foliar application of auxin significantly increased fruit size and weight. The results showed that the response of plum cultivars to synthetic auxins was different. Fruit length and width of ‘ Shablon Dirras’ cultivar were increased with the 2, 4-D application at 10 and 30 mg/l, but in the ‘ Shablon Mianras’ cultivar, the combination of 2, 4-D with NAA improved fruit size. NAA at its highest concentration (400 mg/l) plus 2, 4-D at its highest concentration (30 mg/l) produced the largest fruits and the highest yield in ‘ Shablon Mianras’ cultivar. Stern et al. (16) also obtained similar results from NAA and 2, 4-D treatments in plum, which is confirmed our results. The yield (kg/tree) and yield efficiency in plum cultivars increased significantly by synthetic auxin treatments. The average of yield (kg/tree) by 2, 4-D and NAA foliar application increased 30, 60, 28 and 34 percent in ‘ Shablon Zodras’ , ‘ Shablon Mianras’ , ‘ Shablon Dirras’ and ‘ GhatrehTala’ cultivars, respectively. The highest yield efficiency was obtained in ‘ Shablon Mianras’ cultivar (0. 38 kg/cm2) in 30 mg/L of 2, 4-D plus 400mg/L of NAA, which showed a 120 % increasing in comparison to control trees. Denis (7) reported increases the quantitative characteristics of stone fruits such as fruit size and weight by using synthetic auxin spray. The effect of auxin on increase cell proliferation and cell size are main reason for increasing the length and weight of the fruits (7). The results showed that 2, 4-D and NAA auxins were able to increase the percentage of first grade fruit relative in all plum cultivars in comparison to the control trees, but the concentrations and composition of plant growth regulators that increased the percentage of first grad fruits were not completely same to best treatments on fruit size, weight or yield. It referred to the first-grade fruits selection criteria. In selecting of best marketable fruits, in addition to the size of the fruit, others feature such as fruit appearance, color, physical damage and the absence of symptoms of diseases are also taken into grading. Temperature, water, nutritional and GENETIC conditions can affect the effect of plant growth regulator treatments (13). Conclusions: Plum cultivars showed different reactions to synthetic auxin treatments. The largest fruit, highest yield and yield efficiency obtained in 2, 4-D (30 mg/l ) with NAA (400 mg/l) in ‘ Shablon Mianras’ , ‘ Shablon Dirras’ and ‘ Ghatreh Tala’ cultivars and 2, 4-D at 30 mg/l with NAA at 300 mg/l concentration in ‘ Shablon Dirras’ and ‘ Ghatreh Tala’ Cultivars. The highest degree of first grad-fruit was observed at 10 mg/l 2, 4-D in ‘ Shablon Zodras’ and ‘ Dirrras’ cultivars and 300 mg/l of NAA in ‘ Shabolon Mianras’ and ‘ Ghatreh Tala’ cultivars.

BACKGROUND: The extensive rise in the prevalence of obesity is a matter of great concern and poses a global threat to people’s health. Obesity and overweight are considered to be the consequence of a collection of conditions including GENETIC, social, environmental, behavioral, and physical factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of weight change over seven years in a prospective study in an Iranian population.METHODS: The Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS) is an ongoing longitudinal study started in 2001. A total of 6504 adults aged ≥ 35 years participated in this study. Subjects were followed every 2 years by phone calls. The interview and measurements were repeated in 2007 for 3284 subjects with the same protocol as the baseline study. Obesity indices, including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured at both time points. For the purpose of data analysis, multiple multinomial logistic regression, Chi-square, and ANOVA tests were used.RESULTS: In males, weight gain was more frequent from normal to overweight (11.7%), while in females, weight gain was observed more from overweight to obesity (11.4%). Younger individuals gained weight more than older individuals (P < 0.001); it was the same for lower education level (P = 0.007). Weight gain was negatively (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99 in male and OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95–0.98 in female) and weight loss was positively (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05 in male and OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04 in female) associated with age in both sexes. Education more than 12 years in women and between 6–12 years in men was negatively associated with weight gain while smoking was positively related to weight loss in females and weight gain in males.CONCLUSION: Our data showed that multiple factors affect weight change, among which age, smoking, and education are important determinants in Iranian adults.

The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of polymorphism in BM6444, INRA13 and orahh35 microsatellite markers associated with Inhibin gene in Sanjabi sheep. For this purpose, blood samples were taken randomly from 100 Sanjabi sheep (78 females and 22 males) at Mehregan Breeding Station at Kermanshah. Modified salting out method was employed for extracting DNA. Subsequently, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was carried out with specific primers pairs for amplification of microsatellite marker sites. The PCR products were electrophoreses on acryl-amid gel. For detecting genotypes within the population, silver staining method was used. GENETIC analyses on genotypic data were carried out using POPGEN 1.32 and Cervus 2.0 softwares. Results showed, three alleles (C: 0.42, B: 0.28, A: 0.29), and 2 genotypes respectively, (AB: 0.32, BC: 0.68) for oarhh35 marker. For this marker, PIC index was 0.71, and the effective number of allele was 2.48. INRA13 had six alleles (A: 0.21, B: 0.25, C: 0.21, D: 0.09, E: 0.11 and F: 0.12) and three genotypes (AB: 0.42, BD: 0.29 and CD: 0.27) with a PIC index of 0.72 and an effective number of allele as 5.21. For BM644 marker, four alleles (A: 0.18, B: 0.38, C: 0.31 and D: 0.12) and four genotypes (AD: 0.32, CD: 0.18, AB: 0.12 and BC: 0.38) were identified. For this marker, the PIC index and the effective number of allele were 0.62 and 3.42, respectively.

Introduction Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the world’s most important food legume. This staple is considered as a nearly perfect food mainly because of its high protein content and abundant fiber, complex carbohydrates, and other daily food needs such as vitamins (folate) and minerals (Cu, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn).Annual production, including both dry and snap bean, exceeds 21 million metric tons (MT), which represents more than half of the world’s total food legume production. A majority of the bean production occurs under low input agriculture on small-scale farms in developing countries. Beans produced by these resource-poor farmers are more vulnerable to attack by disease and insect pests and to abiotic stresses including drought and low soil fertility. Development of cultivars with improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses is a primary goal of bean breeding programs throughout the world. As much as 60% of common bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) production in the developing world occurs under conditions of significant drought stress.Selecting drought tolerant genotypes, could be a viable option to cope with the limited available water for irrigation and increasing the productivity in such climates. Terminal drought is one of the main water limiting conditions that constrain common bean production because plants rely on the stored soil water during flowering and pod-filling periods, when usually water deficit intensifies.Materials and Methods To evaluate of the effects of late season water stress on phenological traits, grain yield, yield components, determination of phenotypic variation and evaluation of relationship between grain yield with other traits in 33 bean genotypes an experimental design was carried out using a randomized complete block design with three replications under two conditions (stress and non-stress) in 2012 in the experimental field of college of Agriculture and natural resources of Tehran University in Karaj Campus.Results and Discussion Results showed that among genotypes in study traits there were significant differences which reveal GENETIC variation among the genotypes. The highest and lowest grain yield in non-stress condition was in 28 and 12 number genotypes, respectively. The highest and lowest grain yield in stress condition was in 14 and 25 numbers of genotypes, respectively. The analysis of tolerance index correlation showed that indices of tolerance stress (STI), mean productivity (MP) and geometric mean productivity are the best indices for identifying genotypes with high yield in both conditions. According to the results of phenotypic correlations, stepwise regression, path analysis in both normal and stress conditions, it can be concluded that, the traits of biological yield, seed and pod weight, number of filled pods, number of seeds per plant, 100 seed weight and number of seed per pod were the most important and effective traits on yield. According to principal component analysis using seven agronomic traits in both conditions, two main components were selected that in total under non stress condition 72 percent and under water stress condition 76 percent of the total variation was explained and in both conditions, the first and second factors were introduced as yield and yield component factors.Conclusions In crops such as common bean, where seeds are the product of interest, the main criteria for selection of agronomical resistance to drought is focused on traits that lead to a higher grain production.Followed by selection based on yield under stress, was suggested as the most effective strategy to improve drought resistance in common bean. It is suggested that selection under stress reveals that some of genotypes have resistant inherited genes, and are key to yield improvement of common bean.Cultivars with improved stress resistance can reduce reliance on pesticides in high input systems, avert risk of yield loss from pests in low- and high-input systems, and enable more stable bean production across diverse and adverse environments (low precipitation, high humidity, etc.) and poor soil conditions (low fertility, hillsides, etc.).This study reinforces the importance of characterizing drought resistant genotypes selected for particular drought types, to build a better picture of those mechanisms involved in drought resistance during specific plant developmental stages and to particular environments, knowledge that will contribute to define selection criteria for drought resistance in common bean that, after proper validation, could be used in improvement programs.

Introduction: The Japanese quails are blessed with many desirable characteristics, viz, faster growth, early sexual maturity, high rate of egg production (300 egg/annum), short generation interval (3-4 generations a year), small floor space, less feed requirements (20-25 g/adult bird/day), short incubation period of hatching eggs, less feed cost, and less susceptibility to common chicken diseases (Ernst, 2000). In consequence and due to shortage of available data on nutrient requirements of quails, prediction of biological responses of this type of poultry to nutrients using growth functions seems to be beneficial. Growth modeling are also critical for the understanding and formulation of breeding plans because they shift in response to selection (Marks et al. 1988, Mignon-Grasteau et al. 1999, Aggrey 2003 and Beiki et al. 2011). The representation of biological concepts through the simulation of growth dynamics enables us to better adapt management and nutrition to the requirements of the animals, while taking into account the interaction between genotype, nutrition and environmental conditions [Torres and Ferket 2012]. Eleroğ lu et al. (2014) pointed out that the application of mathematical functions to describe the growth of birds was useful in estimating production termination deadline and formulation of appropriate feed mixtures (Michalczuk et al. 2016). Ersoy et al. (2006) claimed the Gompertz and Richards models to be the most appropriate for the characteristics of the growth of chickens, ostriches, turkeys and emus. Conflicting concluding by various authors upon the use of the same functions may result from the use of different GENETIC groups of birds in experiments. The objective of the present study was 1) to determine the best predictive growth function in describing data from Japanese quails and 2) to investigate the effect of dietary nutrients density on the growth curve parameters estimated by the growth models. Material and methods: One thousand and fifty one-day-old Japanese quails were randomly divided into 4 dietary treatment groups with 3 replicates of 86 quails in each in order to compare four growth functions (Gompertz, Richards, von Bertalanffy and Lopez) for their predicable abilities in describing growth of Japanese quails. The treatment groups were: 1) group with low dietary nutrient density [95% of nutrients recommended by NRC (1994),-5% NRC], 2) group with medium dietary nutrient density [100% of nutrients recommended by NRC (1994)], 3) group with high dietary nutrient density [105% of nutrients recommended by NRC (1994), +5% NRC] and 4) group with very high dietary nutrient density [110% of nutrients recommended by NRC (1994), +10% NRC]. Body weights of the birds were measured weekly over the 56 day of the experimental period. Evaluation on the goodness of fit for the models were made by R 2, AIC, BIC, and RMSE criteria. Results and discussion: Evaluation on the goodness of fit for the models using R2, RMSE, AIC, BIC criteria showed advantage for the Richards in describing the growth data of Japanese quails which can be related to the variable point of inflexion in the Richards model and therefore its flexibility. According to the four growth functions considered, estimated final body weights were higher in the high density than the low density diets. The age at point of inflection were earlier in high versus low density diets. As early as 1945, Brody suggested that it was possible to select on the shape of the growth curve. A phenotypic modifi cation of the growth curve was also observed in previous studies. Marks et al. 1988, Mignon-Grasteau et al. (1999), Aggrey 2003 and Beiki et al. (2011) showed that growth curve parameters were heritable. However, data shortage of the nutritional requirement necessary for quail breeding makes the mathematic simulation methods very useful in estimating the biological answer to the food nutrients contribution. The method of mathematic simulation of growth using growth functions can also provide the response of the growth parameters to nutrition (Daren and Marks 1988; Marks 1991; Gebhardt-Henrich and Marks 1993) which has the potential benefits when used for selection. Conclusion: In summary, it was concluded that data regarding the growth parameters of quails would be best interpreted with the use of the Richards model. Meanwhile, since almost all the growth parameters estimated by the models were affected by the dietary nutrients density, therefore special attention needed will be given to the nutrition when selecting the quails as parental for the next generation through parameters estimated by mathematical simulation using growth functions.

Introduction: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor involved in various disease processes including inflammation and carcinogenesis. This study aimed to determine polymorphism of PPARg gene and its association with Helicobacter pylori infection and gastrointestinal diseases in patients.Materials and Methods: Two hundred patients with helicobacter pylori infection were examined. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by histology, rapid urease test (RUT), culture, ELISA and PCR. PPARg polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism.Results: In total 200 patients (4 gastric cancers, 141 gastritis, 35 peptic ulcers, 18 duodenal ulcers, 2 peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer) with Helicobacter pylori infection were enrolled. The frequency of PPARg G (Ala12) allele (5%) showed a significant association with gastric cancer (P=0.004) or gastritis (P=0.007).PPARg GC (Pro12Ala) allele (35%) showed a significant association with duodenal ulcer (P=0.03) or gastritis (P=0.002).Conclusion: Pro12Ala PPARg polymorphism is associated with gastric cancer and gastritis and is a potential marker for GENETIC susceptibility to these two diseases in the presence of H. pylori infection.Finally, our study suggests the potential association between PPARg polymorphism and H. pylori infection in the development of gastric cancer and peptic ulcer and gastritis.

Introduction: The occurrence of mycotoxins in foods and feeds is a problem of major concern in all over the world. Profitability of poultry production can be greatly affected due to the frequency of feed contamination and the detrimental effects of these toxins on the performance. Aflatoxins, a group of closely related and biologically active mycotoxins, are produced by strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. They commonly occur as natural contaminant of poultry feeds. Domestic animal species such as chickens, ducks, cattle and turkeys consuming sublethal doses of aflatoxins for several days developed a toxic syndrome in which liver damage was the most significant change. The biological effects of aflatoxins could be categorized into two groups, long term and short term effects. Long term effects included chronic toxicity, cancer, birth defects and GENETIC alterations. Aflatoxins affected all poultry species, although they generally take relatively high levels to cause mortality, low levels can be detrimental if continually fed.Material and Methods: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of mineral, organic toxin absorbents, humic acid and yeast cell wall on performance and internal organs weight of broilers in experimental aflatoxicosis. This study was conducted in a completely randomize design with 432 Ross-308 broilers with 9 treatments, 4 replicates and 12 broilers in each replicate. Treatments included diet without aflatoxin, 2: diet contaminated with aflatoxin, 3: diet contaminated with aflatoxin and supplemented with 0.20 Humic acid, 4: diet contaminated with aflatoxin and supplemented with 0.40 Humic acid, 5: diet contaminated with aflatoxin and supplemented with 0.60 Humic acid, 5: diet contaminated with aflatoxin and supplemented with 0.80 Humic acid, 6: diet contaminated with aflatoxin and supplemented with 0.80 Humic acid, 7: diet contaminated with aflatoxin and supplemented with 1.00 Humic acid, 8: diet contaminated with aflatoxin and supplemented with 0.50 sodium bentonite, 9: diet with aflatoxin and supplemented with 0.10 yeast cell wall. The experiment was done between 7-35 days.Results and Discussion: The results showed that afalatoxin and its absorbents significantly affect the performance and internal organs weight of broilers (P<0.05). In aflatoxicosis and toxin absorbents diets the amounts of daily feed intake in contrast with control group increased. The lowest amount of weight gain was observed in aflatoxicosis diet. Using 0.2% of humic acid in aflatoxicosis diet significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Using all three types of toxin absorbents, improved the liver and bursa fabricius weight. The growth performance of chicks can be influenced by the addition of aflatoxin to the diet. Contaminated experimental diets with aflatoxin and toxin absorbents in contrast with control group increased the amount of daily feed intake. Increase in the amount of feed intake by using contaminated corn can be related to energy content of corn grains. Contaminated grains with aflatoxin decrease the amount of grains energy. So, birds for supplying sufficient amount of energy intake more amount of diets. By consuming high levels of feed, highly amount of nutrients supplied for biological activity, so the amount of daily weight gain in experimental groups without group 2 especially in starter period increased and feed conversion ratio improved. Increase the percentages of liver and weight of bursa fabricius in 2 experimental group can be related to harmful effects of aflatoxin in diet, whereas these effects reduced by using toxin absorbents.Conclusion: The overall results showed that using aflatoxin in broiler diets have adverse effects on performance of broilers. Using diets with aflatoxin contaminated can improve their performance in contrast with other toxin absorbents.

Introduction: Cucurbit plays an important role in human nutrition because of an ingredient of vitamin and other dietary substances. Cucurbit crops are very sensitive to viral infection. Over 35 viruses from Cucurbitaceae family have been reported. Plant viral diseases are major limiting factors for successful cultivation causing major yield losses in agricultural crops worldwide. Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) is a member of the genus Potyvirus, in the family Potyviridae has flexuous filamentous particles of about 750 nm in length and consists of a single-stranded RNA about 9. 5kb. It was first reported in Italy in 1981. ZYMV is transmitted by certain species of aphids, by plant sap containing the virus and through infected seeds. ZYMV is one of the major pathogens of the family Cucurbitaceae. The common symptoms of ZYMV infection are local lesions, chlorotic mosaic, vein banding, yellowing, and stunting. Thrips-transmitted tospoviruses are economically important viruses affecting a wide range of field and horticultural crops worldwide. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is the type member of the Orthospovirus genus in the family Tospoviridae with a broad host range of more than 900 plant species. TSWV has tripartite, ambisense, and single-stranded (ss) RNA genome transmitted by thrips in propagative and persistent manner and is ranked second among the top ten economically important viruses in the world. The aim of this research was to serological and molecular detection of ZYMV and TSWV on cucurbits of Guilan province and Urmia county and concerning their phyloGENETIC relationship with other isolates of the world. Materials And Methods: In order to detect ZYMV and TSWV during the growing season of 2014, a total of 457 leaf samples of squash, watermelon, cucumber, melon and cantaloupe showing virus symptoms were collected from different fields of Guilan province and Urmia vicinity. DAS-ELISA was carried out on all samples using specific polyclonal antisera and samples with values at least twice the value of the negative control value according to the absorbance at 405 nm was accepted as positive. The samples which showed positive result in ELISA test were inoculated to Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste et Reyn, C. quinoa Wild., Cucumis melo L., Cucurbita pepo L., Lycopersicon esculentum L., Nicotiana rustica, N. tabacum var. Samsun and Gomphrena globosa L. Total RNA were extracted from positive samples in ELISA (for ZYMV) using RNXTM (-Plus) kit and RT-PCR was performed using ZYMV and TSWV specific primers corresponding to the CP and L-gene of these viruses, respectively. PCR positive products were sent for sequencing from both sides. Sequences were compared to data available in GenBank and multiple alignments of the nucleotide sequences and a phyloGENETIC tree were constructed by MEGA6 using the neighbor-joining method with a 1000 replicate bootstrap search. Results And Discussion: Among 457 symptomatic samples collected from cucurbit fields of Guilan province and Urmia vicinity showing viral symptoms, 39 squash samples were infected by ZYMV but none of them by TSWV in ELISA test. Almost all inoculated plants showed symptoms of infection by ZYMV described in literature them. But this was different symptoms. An amplicon of the expected size (458 bp) was generated from ELISA positive samples during RT-PCR using specific primers but not from the healthy sample and no positive result for TSWV. Two PCR-positive samples of Guilan province and one Urmia isolate were sequenced and submitted to BLASTn. The results revealed that the PCR-amplified fragments of all samples belonged to ZYMV. The Kiashahr and Astaneh isolates showed maximum similarity (98%) with Czech Republic and Iran (Fars) isolates, and Urmia isolates showed the highest homology (99%) with Slovakia isolate in group A. Conclusions: Viruses are known to greatly reduce cucurbitaceous yield. ZYMV is one of the most destructive and widespread plant pathogens. In this study, for the first time, molecular detection of ZYMV in squash fields of Guilan province and Urmia vicinity has been reported concerning its phyloGENETIC relationship with other isolates of the virus available in the GenBank. PhyloGENETIC analyses based on CP gene indicated that the Iranian ZYMV isolates are closer to European isolates plus one Iranian isolate and clustered in group a clade. The data obtained in this study will be beneficial to improve control strategies for this virus in Iran and are the base for further work on ecology, epidemiology, and diversity of these viruses in these two regions. Further studies on ZYMV isolates from different geographic regions and hosts of these two regions and GENETIC diversity evaluation of the virus will be useful for breeders to make more efficient and durable resistant cultivars. TSWV was not detected in cucurbits of these two regions during this study. It has been reported only in Malaysia on cucurbits.

Introduction: In dairy cattle enterprise, mastitis is a common and economically important disease leading to milk loss, therapeutic cost, changing of milk quality, reproductive problems, animal death, and early culling. A wide range of cow-level and herd-level factors can influence on the number of somatic cell count (SCC) including udder infection, lactation stage, age, breed, shortterm of days in milk, season, stress and level of production. This research aimed to estimate the effects of SCC on daily milk yield (DMY) at different lactation stages and months of production of first-parity cows (progeny of internal and external sperms). Variation of DMY in terms of Holstein gene inheritance and first calving age were special objectives. Material and methods: The data used in this research were provided by the Animal Breeding Centre, Karaj, Iran. Data set comprised a total number of 543, 884 test day records collected from 64, 634 first-parity dairy cows (progeny of 1, 899 sires and 56, 995 dams) distributed in 606 herds and calved between 2009-2013 (in ten provinces over the country). The trait under consideration (dependent variable) was DMY which is actually a quantitative variable with continuous distribution and measured based on ratio scale. The records were analysed using a linear fixed model. In the model, the effects of province, herd nested within province, year of calving, stage of lactation, sperm type of the sire, two-way interaction between stage of lactation and sperm type, as well as linear covariable of SCC within the two-way interaction, Holstein gene inheritance, and first calving age were taken into consideration. The model was fitted on the test day records of the cows for individual months of production using general linear model procedure of SAS software (Version 9. 4) and the effect of SCC was estimated as the partial regression coefficient in 30 combined groups resulted from two-way interaction between stage of lactation and sperm type. Results and discussion: Most of the partial regression coefficients were statistically significant (P<0. 05) and the negative sign obtained for the estimates indicates that DMY decreases as the number of SCC increases and that any regular trend was not detected for milk loss during different lactation stages and production months. Mean number of SCC ranged from 152, 000 (in SeptemberOctober) to 173, 000 (May-June). In terms of season of production, mean SCC in spring, summer, autumn and winter was 168, 000, 164, 000, 155, 000, and 160, 000, respectively. Average DMY for these seasons was 33. 83, 32. 62, 32. 83, and 33. 95 kg, respectively. Mean SCC ranged during different lactation stages so that for the first, second and third stages it was 185, 000, 147, 000 and 142, 000, respectively and after that an increasing trend was observed from the fourth (149, 000) toward the end (188, 000) of the lactation. Mean loss of DMY for the cows resulted from American sperms were 126, 121, 142, and 147 g in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. Maximum DMY loss for the cows resulted from Iranian, Canadian and American sperms were found to be in April-stage 10 (0. 2430 kg), April-stage 10 (0. 3853 kg), and March-stage 9 (0. 2305 kg), respectively. Minimum DMY loss for the corresponding cows were found in January-stage 1 (0. 0042 kg), November-stage 9 (0. 0015 kg), and August-stage 4 (0. 0447 kg), respectively. The findings also revealed that DMY significantly (P<0. 05) increased as the Holstein gene inheritance and age at first calving rose as one unit. Regarding Holstein gene inheritance, maximum and minimum increase of DMY were found in December-January (37. 6 g) and September-October (20. 4 g), respectively. For the age of cow at first calving, minimum and maximum corresponding figures were observed in July-August (232. 4 g) and June-July (215. 7 g), respectively. Conclusion: Daily milk yield of Iranian, American and Canadian sperms’ progeny decreases when somatic cell count of their milk increases and that it has no regular pattern at different lactation stages as well as different production months. Holstein gene inheritance and first calving age had positive effect on daily milk yield suggesting that these effects are needed to be taken into account as phenotypic and GENETIC analyses are carried out. Yearly milk production of daughters of the American sperms are apparently more suffered as compared to the other groups as a result of increasing SCC in DMY.

Introduction: Barley grain is one of the major feedstuff in ruminant animal’ s nutrition due to its high energy density and lower price than grains such as corn. Rate of barley starch digestion in the rumen is critical issue in high-grain fed ruminants because it is associated with higher performance of animal. Feeding high amount of barley in ruminant animal rations can cause an increase in the incidence of digestive disorders including reduced feed intake, off-feed, acidosis, and liver abscesses. Processing methods such heat treatment can affect physical characteristics and ruminal fermentation of grain. Moreover, barley grains from diverse cultivars are different in their chemical composition and fermentation characteristics due to geographical, environmental and GENETIC variations as well as their interactions. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of variety and heat treatment duration on physical characteristics and ruminal disappearance of barley grain. Material and methods: Two varieties of endemic barley grain (i. e. Sahand and Makoei) were prepared from Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran. The grains were roasted in three time duration (5, 10 or 15 min at 120 o C) in a cast iron container. The experiment was conducted using a 2*3 factorial design. The samples were dried in 60° oven for 48 hours. Chemical composition was determined according to prescribed procedures of AOAC (2002). Neutral detergent finer (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were measured by method of Van-Soest et al. (1991). Bulk density of sample was determined using the method described by Montgomery and Baumgardt (1965). Water holding capacity (WHC) determined by filtration method (Robertson and Eastwood, 1981). Dry matter solubility and ash solubility of samples were determind by method of Giger-Reverdin (2000). Dry matter degradability was measured by in situ technique using two fistulated Ghezel sheep (fed 60% forage + 40% concentrate). Samples were put in the polyester bags and incubated in the rumen for 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, and hours. After the specific incubation periods, bags were washed under running tap water until the effluent was clear and then dried at 55 ◦ C for 48 h. Bags and contents were weighed to estimate DM disappearance (DMD). Kinetic parameters of DM degradation was estimated by the nonlinear regression procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) using the model of McDonald (1981) y = a + b (1 − e− c(t− lag)). Data were subjected to analysis as a factorial in a completely randomized design using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS. Results: Roasting increased dry matter (DM) content of both barley varieties (P<0. 05). An increase in ADF and NDF content of roasted grain was due to decrease in water content of grain. Sahand variety showed higher degradability than Makoei (P<0. 05). Dry matter degradability of both barley varieties decreased during 16 to 48 h of incubation due to roasting process (P<0. 05); however, these varieties showed different kinetics of degradation during early period of incubation. Roasting increased DM degradability of the Sahand variety during initial 6 h of incubation; however, it showed different pattern in the Makoie variety. The rapid and slow degradable fractions (ie; a and b) decreased by roasting duration in both varieties (P<0. 05). Also heat processing of barley grain resulted in a lower effective degradability of dry matter (P<0. 01). Effective degradability of Sahand variety was higher than Makoie in all passage rates and all duration of heat processing (P<0. 05). Fractional rate of degradability did not change by heat treatment. Makoei variety had higher water holding capacity (WHC), bulk density (BD), dry matter solubility (DS), and ash solubility (AS) than Sahand (P<0. 05). Roasting increased WHC and decreased BD in both varieties (P<0. 05) but had no effect on DS and AS. There were positive correlations between BD100 and Ether Extract (EE), NDF and ADF content of barley grain, which were 0. 53, 0. 40, and 0. 35, respectively. Also, water holding capacity showed high positive correlation with NDF and ADF content (r =0. 84 and r =0. 71 respectively) and as expected conversely correlated with EE content (r =-0. 61) of barley grain. Both of DMS and AS conversely correlated with EE content of barley grain (r =-0. 24 and r =-0. 49 respectively). Conclusions: The results of the current study demonstrated that it is possible to decrease ruminal degradability of barley grain by using the right roasting treatment and choosing the proper variety. Makoei variety showed more decrease in fractional rate of digestion, which should be considered in the ration formulation.