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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Effect of Age on Production Performance, Egg Geometry and Quality Traits of Lakha Variety of Aseel Chicken in Pakistan
Pages 384-386
Muhammad Usman, Atia Bashir, Muhammad Akram, Imran Zahoor and Athar Mahmud

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2014.10.50

Published: 19 August 2014

Open Access

Abstract: Aseel chicken is indigenous to Asian subcontinent famous for its vigor, body characteristics and fighting behavior. Moreover, these birds are also able to withstand harsh climatic conditions of tropical and sub-tropical areas but its rearing is getting less importance due to its poor egg production. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of age on production performance, egg geometry and egg quality traits of Lakha variety of Aseel maintained under standard managemental conditions at Indigenous Chicken Genetic Resource Center (ICGRC), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. For this purpose, a total of 42 birds, 14 birds in each of the following age group (30, 70 and 110 week), were kept up to four months. Collected data were analyzed under Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with comparison of means using Fisher’s LSD test. Statistical analyses revealed significantly higher egg production and egg mass in first age group (30 week), higher egg weight in third age group (110 week) and better FCR/ dozen eggs and FCR/ kg egg mass in second (70 week) and third age (110 week) groups with non-significant differences in feed intake. Regarding egg geometry, all parameters were significantly higher in third age group than that of second and first age groups. In egg quality, Haugh unit score was significantly higher in third age group while yolk index and shell thickness showed non-significant differences among all age groups. So it can be concluded that with increasing age, egg production and egg mass decreases with increase in egg geometry traits.

Keywords: Aseel, Age, Production Performance, Egg Geometry, Egg Quality.
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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Effect of Cellulytic Enzyme Supplementation (Extracted from Chatomium thermophyle) on Production Performance and Economic Appraisal in Aged Layers Using High Fiber Diets
Pages 387-392
Atia Bahseer, A. Haq and I. Zahoor

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2014.10.51

Published: 19 August 2014

Open Access

Abstract: One hundred and twenty white leghorn layers of 80 weeks having uniform body weight were randomly divided into 15 experimental units of 8 birds each and reared under standard managemental conditions. Five treatments (each having three replicates) i.e. control T1 (commercial layer mash), T2 (layer mash having 6% fiber + 1X enzyme), T3 (layer mash having 8% fiber + 1X enzyme), T4 (layer mash having 6% fiber + 2X enzyme) and T5 (layer mash having 8% fiber + 2X enzyme) were randomly allotted to experimental units. Egg production, egg weight and feed consumption were recorded for eight weeks. Egg mass, feed conversion ratio/dozen egg and feed conversion ration/kg egg mass was also calculated. Data was analyzed statistically using analysis of variance technique under completely randomized design. Treatment means were compared using least significant test. It was found that egg production increased significantly by the T2 but was non-significant with the control group. The different treatments showed significant decrease in feed consumption as compared with control group. Significant improvement in egg mass was found in control group and was non-significant with T2 and T4. There was significant effect of enzyme supplementation on feed conversion ration/dozen egg and feed conversion ratio/kg egg mass. T2 and T4 showed best feed conversion ratios per dozen and per kg egg mass. Maximum profit/bird was observed in T2 followed by T4, T5, T3 and T1, respectively

Keywords: Fiber degrading enzyme, Layers, production performance, Economical appraisal.
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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Satellite Image Identification of Wind Channels to Delineate Wind Energy Generation Sites in Pakistan
Pages 344-348
Zeeshan Alam Nayyar and Nayyer Alam Zaigham

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2014.10.45

Published: 11 August 2014

Open Access

Abstract: Technologically, all the renewable energy sources are viable and consequently suit to efforts for poverty alleviation and cleaner environment in Pakistan. They can play an important role in meeting the challenge of providing future electricity to all parts of the country. Wind energy is one of these renewable sources. Considering the geological & geomorphologic setup, geographical position and climatic cycles, Pakistan has tremendous wind potential. Pakistan has about 1000 km long coastline, which could be utilized for the installation of wind farms and wind-monitoring stations as well. Various preliminary comparative studies apparently show that the wind potential is not uniformly distributed along the coastal belt of Pakistan. The present research study is based on the analyses of the satellite images of different periods. On the bases of the result of the study, the prospective wind channels have been identified all along the coastal belt of Pakistan, which are the ideal regions to establish the wind farms for the generation of electricity on the commercial scale.

Keywords: Wind Energy, Wind Channels, Satellite Images, Energy Generation, Pakistan.
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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Investigation for Pu-Erh Tea Contamination Caused by Mycotoxins in a Tea Market in Guangzhou
Pages 349-356
Jin-Yin Wu, Guang-Yu Yang, Jian-Ling Chen, Wen-Xue Li, Jun-Tao Li, Chuan-Xi Fu, Gao-Feng Jiang and Wei Zhu

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2014.10.46

Published: 11 August 2014

Open Access

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of the present study is to provide raw data for the development of guidelines for tea production and management, as well as relevant health standards. To investigate the mycotoxin contamination in the wet stored Pu-erh tea in a tea market in Guangzhou, we measured the concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), fumonisin B1 (FB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), and T-2 toxin in 70 tea samples.

Methods: 70 samples of wet stored Pu-erh tea were randomly chosen in the market. Following crushing, brewing, and filtration of the samples, the contaminations of FB1, DON, or T-2 toxin were assayed by ELISA detection kits, and the contamination of AFB1 was measured by the IAC-HPLC method.

Results: We found that all tea samples were safe regarding FB1 and T-2 toxin (safety limit, 1 mg/kg and 0.1×10-3 mg/kg, respectively). However, 8 out of 70 samples displayed higher AFB1 concentrations compared to the safety limit (5×10-3 mg/kg). Surprisingly, 63 out of 70 samples have exceeded the safety limit for DON (1 mg/kg).

Conclusion: Our survey was the first time to find AFB1 and DON contaminations in the wet stored Pu-erh tea in this tea market. Although the FB1 and T-2 toxin in these tea samples has not yet exceeded the safety limits, they were still detectable, which should cause more concern.

Keywords: Pu-erh tea, Aflatoxin, fumonisin, deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin.
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