Effects of supplemental conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) on fresh and post‐thaw sperm quality of Holstein bulls

P. 459-467This study was designed to investigate the effects of feeding‐protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the semen production and sperm freezability in Holstein bulls. Twelve bulls were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 6 per group). Bulls received the normal diet (control group) or the normal diet top‐dressed with 50 g of CLA (treated group) for 10 weeks. The control group received 40 g/day calcium soap of fatty acid. Fresh and post‐thaw semen quality was assessed on ejaculates collected at the 0, 4, 6, 8 and 10 week of supplementation. Semen evaluations including sperm concentration, motion characteristics (subjective and computer‐assisted), viability (Eosin–Nigrosin), membrane integrity (hypo‐osmotic swelling test) and abnormality were conducted. Semen volume, sperm concentration and total sperm output were not affected by dietary treatment (p > .05). The proportion of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology in fresh semen significantly increased (p < .05) in the CLA‐fed group compared to control group. Also, in CLA‐fed group, the proportion of post‐thaw spermatozoa with abnormal morphology at week 10 of trial was significantly higher in CLA than control group (p < .05). Progressive motility tended to be increased in the CLA‐fed group, although dietary supplementation did not affect other CASA parameters or viability in fresh and frozen‐thawed sperm. In this study, CLA supplementation had little positive effect on fresh or post‐thaw sperm quality of Holstein bulls.S

116. EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL VITAMIN ON THE SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF MARKHOZ GOATS DURING NON-BREEDING SEASON

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin E on the semen characteristics of the Markhoz goats. Eighth bucks were randomly allocated into two groups, and received two different diets: unsupplemented diet (control) and supplemented diet with vitamin E (0.30 g/Kg DM). All experimental diets were formulated according to AFRC 1998. Semen was collected at 14-days intervals from June 17, 2006 to September 2, 2006 (non-breeding season) using artificial vagina. Semen characteristics were evaluated including semen volume, sperm concentration, live sperm percentage, percentage of motility and progressive motility. This characteristics were evaluated at two weeks intervals the trial. The total number of spermatozoa per ejaculation was calculated by multiplication of the semen volume with sperm concentration. Sperm motility was also analyzed by placing a sample on pre-warmed (37 º C) microscope slide covered with a cover slip, and examined under a high power microscope at a magnification × 200. Data was analyzed using proc MIXED in SAS program. Significant effect (P≤0.05) of the week (sampling time) was observed for all the parameters except for semen volume. Vitamin E supplementation significantly improved (P≤0.05) total number (Control: 263.7 ×107±17.506 vs. Vit E: 320.95 ×107±17.506) and sperm concentration (Control: 301.79 ×107±13.657 vs. Vit E: 386.57 ×107± 13.657), motility (Control: 77.27% ±0.89 vs. Vit E: 82.6% ±0.89) and progressive motility (Control: 4.208 ±0.138 vs. Vit E: 4.229 ±0.138), percentage of viability (Control: 80.57% ±0.89 vs. Vit E: 85.9% ±0.89). The results suggested that the supplemental Vitamin E may improve the semen quality and fertility in the Markhoz goats. </jats:p

Effect of an Integrated Training Program on the Mothers of Children With Eating Problems

Introduction: A ppropriate nutrition is a major health objective in children’s early years. Eating problems among children as well as low awareness and the unsuitable function of mothers in this regard could result in complications for children and their families. Objective: We aimed to determine the effect of an integrated training on the mothers of 1- to 3-year-old children with eating problems. Materials and Methods: This was a two-group quasi-experimental study. In total, 70 mothers of 1 to 3-year-old children with eating problems visiting health centers in Rasht City, Iran, participated in this research. They were selected through a nonrandom sampling method. Then, the samples were assigned into the case and control groups by random block sampling technique. The case group received integrated training. The training sessions were held during three consecutive weeks as two in-person sessions along with presenting an educational CD. Moreover, a virtual session was provided to the study subjects through text messages. The children’s eating problems’ data were recorded using food preference questionnaire (FPQ) measuring eating problems in toddlers (including 5 areas of water satisfaction with eating, mother tension during eating, eating different food types, eating behavior, and food dependence physical signs) before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention by the mothers. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential (t-test, Chi-squared test) statistics. Results: The achieved results indicated no significant difference in the eating problems of toddlers before the intervention in the case and treatment groups. Such lack of difference was in terms of mothers’ satisfaction with child’s eating, and the child’s eating behavior, stress during the child’s eating, and eating different food types. However, immediately and one month after the training, the t-test and Chi-squared test results indicated improved mothers’ satisfaction with children’s eating (P=0.0001) and reduced stress in mothers during children’s eating (P=0.0001). Nevertheless, in the two areas of eating behavior and eating different food types, no significant differences were observed. Conclusion: The obtained results suggested that toddlers’ eating problems could be improved by providing integrated training programs to their mothers

Investigating the Stability of Seed Yield in Promising Barley Lines Using Parametric and Non-parametric Methods in Cold Dryland Climate Regions of the Country

Extended Abstract Background: Considering the diversity in climatic conditions, agricultural management, the extent of barley cultivation areas in Iran, and observing the different reactions of different cultivars to environmental conditions, it is of particular importance to introduce high-yielding cultivars with wide adaptability to different conditions. Due to the genotype × environment interaction effect, it is difficult to identify cultivars that have good stability and acceptable yield in various environmental conditions. Therefore, cultivars should be studied in a wide range of environmental changes in different locations and years so that the information obtained from the estimation of compatibility and yield stability of genotypes is a more reliable criterion for recommending cultivars and their efficiency. The methods for determining the genotype × environment interaction effect are divided into two groups: single variable (parametric and non-parametric) and multivariable. Each of these methods shows different aspects of the stability of genotypes, and one method alone cannot investigate the yield of a genotype in different environments from different aspects of stability. This research aimed to select promising barley genotypes with high yield and suitable stability in dry conditions in the cold climate of Iran using parametric and non-parametric univariate stability analysis methods. Methods: In this study, 25 advanced and promising lines of barley, along with Ansar, Abider, and Sararoud1 (check cultivars), were studied in dry conditions in a completely randomized block design with four replications in research stations of Maragheh, Kurdistan (Qamlo), Zanjan (Qidar), Ardabil, Kermanshah (Sararoud), Shirvan, and Hamedan for three crop seasons from 2016 to 2019. The stability of the genotypes was explored using parametric and non-parametric univariate methods. Parametric and non-parametric univariate methods were integrated using the selection ideal index genotype (SIIG) method. Finally, the correlation of the parameters with yield and the SIIG was also calculated in this research. Results: Separate analysis of variance in each of the environments showed that the genotype effect was significant in 12 out of 19 environments, which indicated the fluctuation of the yield of each genotype from one environment to another. Combined variance analysis showed that the interaction effects of year × location and genotype × year × location were significant at 1%, the year effect at 5%, and the location and genotype effects were significant at 10% probability levels. The main effect of the environment and the genotype × environment interaction effect had the largest share in the total sum of squares observed in the experiments, with 69.98% and 10.83%, respectively. Eberhart and Russel's analysis identified genotypes G1, G4, G5, G8, G9, G10, and G26 as the most stable genotypes due to having the lowest deviation from regression and a regression coefficient close to one. Considering the yield, G9 and G10 genotypes were introduced as stable genotypes with high yields. According to Finley and Wilkinson's linear regression coefficient, genotypes G4, G6, G9, G11, G12, G15, G17, G20, G27, and G28 had a regression coefficient close to one, which shows that these genotypes have general adaptability to environments. Based on Wrick's equivalence index and Shukla’s stability variance, genotypes G8, G19, G10, G20, G9, G4, G26, and G1 were identified as stable genotypes. Based on the coefficient of environmental variation, genotypes G10, G1, G8, G23, G13, G2, and G5 had the lowest coefficient of variation. Based on the Plasted and Peterson method, genotypes G10, G20, G19, and G9 were selected as stable genotypes with high yields.  In the Plaisted method, genotypes G10, G20, G19, and G9 with the least contribution in creating interaction and having the desired yields were introduced as stable and high-yielding genotypes. Based on Lin and Bains, genotypes G15, G6, G21, G19, G20, G7, and G9 had the least amount of this statistic and were introduced as the most stable genotypes. Based on Kang's total rank method, G20, G19, G10, G9, and G22 genotypes with the lowest total rank were selected as stable genotypes. Based on the parameters of Nassar and Huhn, genotypes G8, G9, G10, G1, G20, G19, and G21, and based on the parameters of Thenarasu, genotypes G8, G9, G10, G1, G19, and G22 with the lowest rank were selected as stable genotypes. Finally, based on the SIIG, genotypes G10, G9, G19, G22, and G20 had the closest value to one and produced higher yields than the overall average; therefore, they were selected as the most stable genotypes. Conclusion: Based on the SIIG, genotypes G10, G9, G19, G22, and G20 had the closest value to one and produced yields above the average; therefore, they were selected as the most stable genotypes. Moreover, the use of the SIIG is recommended due to its high correlation with all the indices used to summarize the results of parametric and non-parametric stability indices