Identification and control of the predominant animal diseases in Lebanon Immunomodulation in poultry against predominant diseases, including infectious bronchitis, Newcastle disease, and Gumboro, by thymic hormones is concluded. Immunomodulation in Awassi sheep against a predominant disease namely, Johne’s disease, by using non-specific immunomodulators is also concluded. Serological profiling technology was applied to evaluate vaccines for the control of the most economic diseases in chickens. The technology was able to characterize successes and failures of the vaccination programs. A new approach for reduction of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents is evaluated in poultry. The impact of degree of medication in three different clusters of sheep on bacterial resistance to 11 antimicrobial agents is also concluded. The work in progress includes evaluation of different vaccinal strains to control Gumboro disease, evaluation of preventive antimicrobials against mucosal diseases and characterization of epidemiologic markers in highly invasive salmonellae organisms. E.K. Barbour, S.K. Hamadeh and R. Talhouk. (Supported by URB.) A national surveillance for occurrence of Salmonella enteritidis and S. typhimurium in poultry and domestic animals The epizooteology of Salmonellae organisms involved in infection of poultry breeders is concluded. The two predominant Salmonellae serotypes were S. blegdem and S. paratyphi B var. odense. The Salmonellae were isolated from farms in Bekaa, Jbeil, Koura, and Tyre. The antimicrobial resistance patterns and protein profiles were used as epidemiologic markers to determine the relatedness in Salmonellae serotypes involved in major salmonellosis outbreaks in chickens and humans of Lebanon. All of the protein profiles of chicken strains, banded between 10 to 90 Kilodaltons, were highly related to their respective serotypes recovered from humans. E. K. Barbour, S. K. Hamadeh, R. Talhouk and C. Hilan*. (Supported by LNCSR.) The utilization of vetch seeds in poultry rations Previous studies showed that raw vetch seeds at 60% in poultry rations are highly detrimental to both broilers and layers. Chemical analysis revealed that raw seeds contain 0.85% of the toxin b-cyanoalanine. Soaking the seeds in 1% acetic acid at room temperature for 24 hours improved layer performance more than soaking in water at 40° C for 72 hours. Moreover, it resulted in performance comparable to that of control hens. A bioassay project using day-old chicks as a model is in progress to determine whether or not eggs produced by treated vetch-fed hens contain residues of b-cyanoalanine. M.T. Farran, F.T. Sleiman and M.G. Uwayjan. (Supported by LNCSR.) The utilization of bitter vetch (Vicia ervi) seeds in poultry rations Incorporation of 60% untreated ervil seeds in poultry rations is detrimental to both broilers and layers. Soaking ervil seeds in water at room temperature for 72 hours, irrespective of the drying temperature, did not improve the performance of broilers. Soaking the seeds in water at 40° C, however, improved body weight, feed conversion, feed consumption of broilers, and egg quality parameters of layers. Soaking ervil seeds in 1% acetic acid at 40° C for 24 hours further improved the egg production of laying hens. On the other hand, incorporating the ervil seeds at the rate of 60%, irrespective of the soaking media, did not give the desired results on the performance of layers. M.T. Farran, F.T. Sleiman and M.G. Uwayjan. (Supported by URB.) Improvement of reproductive efficiency and milk production of Awassi sheep by selection A selection scheme for the improvement of the regional Awassi sheep was initiated at the Agricultural Research and Education Center (AREC) in 1991. A nucleus of Awassi ewes was established and screened for out of season breeding. Out of season breeders were included in the meat line. Rebreeding activity of these ewes under a twice a year lambing system and a 3/2 lambing system indicated a seasonal fertility trend with ewes reverting to the fall breeding season. The rest of the flock constituted the milk line which was bred during the regular August-September breeding season. Analysis of records is underway to select superior sheep from within each specialized flock. Age at puberty and season of breeding will be investigated between meat and milk ewe lambs. S.K. Hamadeh and E.K. Barbour. (Supported by LNCSR.) Small ruminant production in Lebanon The study initiated in 1994-1995 aimed at documenting the bioeconomics of small ruminant systems in Lebanon and assessing the feasibility of specific health, management and nutritional interventions. Farm monitoring and trials indicated low productivity in all small ruminant systems studied. However small ruminants represented a store of capital for times when cash was needed. Further bioeconomic analysis revealed that whole farm net income varied according to the system of production and degree of crop integration. Optimum solutions for maximizing small ruminant farm returns were investigated. Future work will evaluate the bioeconomic sustainability of small ruminant production systems, monitor economic diseases and assess feeding cycles. S. K. Hamadeh and E. K. Barbour. (Supported by the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas.) Postpartum fertility, immune response and mammary growth indicators in lactating Awassi and Finn x Texel x Awassi (FTA) ewes A study was initiated in 1994 to investigate postpartum fertility in sheep, with emphasis on endocrine patterns, indigenous growth factors of the mammary gland and immunological aspects of reproduction and lactation. Preliminary results indicate that partial weaning did improve the reproductive performance in the postpartum Awassi and FTA ewes. It also reduced the rebreeding interval in partially weaned ewes compared to normally weaned ewes. Blood sera from ewes were analyzed for progesterone and lutenizing hormones. In parallel, milk secretions were collected from the ewes prior and post parturition and are being analyzed for protein profiles, proteinase activity and growth factors receptors. In addition, an experiment was conducted for the quantification of antibodies following immunization with an experimental Salmonella typhimurium vaccine in postpartum Awassi and FTA ewes. S. K. Hamadeh, E. Barbour and R. Talhouk. (Supported by URB.) Native shrubs in sheep diets A study was conducted over two years to determine the diet botanical composition of 72 sheep grazing semi-arid native pastures reseeded with edible shrubs, namely Atriplex halimus and Salsola vermiculata, under three stocking rates. Botanical composition of sheep diets determined by fecal microbiology indicated that Atriplex and Salsola sp. can contribute up to 42% of the sheep diets in the dry season. Increasing stocking pressure from one sheep/2.25ha/year to one sheep/0.75ha/year increased Atriplex consumption, mainly in August. Grasses contributed consistently to sheep diets and responded negatively to the stocking rate effect. S. K. Hamadeh, A.E. Osman*, M. Abi-Said, and K. Faour. (Supported by the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas.) Sustainable improvement of marginal lands in Lebanon: Aarsal, a case study. (A multidisciplinary research project) Traditional agropastoral Lebanese villages located on the marginal slopes of the semi-arid anti Lebanon mountains are undergoing drastic changes in response to socio-economic pressures developing over the last twenty-five years. A Lebanese case study, conducted within the context of a regional project initiated by the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dryland Areas (ICARDA), focused on changes in resource management systems in Aarsal. The study revealed a massive conversion from a traditional cereal/livestock based economy to a rainfed stone fruit production system. The proposed study aims at analyzing components of changes, trends and sustainability in the emerging production system, and at improving prospects for sustainable community development. The land-use system in Aarsal, including socio-economic components, will be characterized, and its resource base will be assessed, with an emphasis on soil and water conservation strategies. Local beneficiaries will be involved during different stages of the project and strengthening of local capacities will be sought through the establishment of a local users network. Avenues for non-agricultural income-generating activities for women will be explored. S.K. Hamadeh, R. Zurayk, R. Baalbaki, R. Darwish, S. Talhouk, and F. Awar. (Supported by International Development Research Center.) Effect of supplemented fat on feeding behavior, digestive functions and production of goats and sheep In 1995-97, male goat kids and lactating does were used in digestibility trials to test the effect of adding in the concentrate 0, 5 and 8% of calcium-salts of palm oil, on nutrient apparent digestibility, milk production and composition. Results showed that fat supplementation did not affect total dry matter intake (TDMI), DMI, body weight change and apparent digestibilities of DM, crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), gross energy (GE) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), (P>0.05). Ether extract (EE) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibilities increased (P<0.05) with fat addition. Milk yield, percentages of total solids (TS), solids-non-fat (SNF), SNF in TS, fat in TS, and protein in milk were not affected by addition of fat, (P>0.05). However, milk fat percentage increased (P<0.05). F.T. Sleiman, M.G. Uwayjan and M.T. Farran. (Supported by URB.) Nutritional value and grazing management of range land in Lebanon Selected
grazing sites in Lebanon were studied to determine their production value,
holding capacity and animal output. Preliminary results indicated that
range land was dominated by annual grasses with low legume density. Shrubs
were also available at high altitudes especially in Ainata Al-Arz and Akoura.
Vegetations had acceptable nutrient composition (5.8-9.2% crude protein,
18.3-21.4% crude fiber and 1932-2462 Kcal/Kg gross energy). Pasture land
was not available to grazing flocks during the cool seasons because of
heavy rainfall and snow. The flocks were composed mainly of sheep and goats
with more goats in high altitude pastures. The stocking rate of the grazed
pastures was high and estimated to be about 1.5-3.5 heads/ha/month. The
daily rate of weight gain of growing lambs and kids was about 150-160g/day.
Flocks were provided concentrate (150-300 g/head/day) as supplemental feed
to meet their nutrient requirements. Milk production varied from 0.50-0.85
Kg/day with goats producing more milk than sheep. F.T. Sleiman, M.G.
Uwayjan, M.T. Farran and S. Abi Saab. (Supported by LNCSR.)
Abi Saab, S., Sleiman, F.T., Akl, W.* and Khalil, R.F., Respiratory, and rectal temperature responses of imported Holstein cows to Lebanese conditions (Eastern Mediterranean) in relation to method and season of transportation. Lebanese Scientific Research Reports, 2 (1), 23-30, 1997. Barbour, E.K., Abi Ghanem, D., Hamadeh, S., Eid, A., Talhouk, R, and Hilan, C.*, Characterization of non-specificity in herbal immunopotentiators of the cell-mediated and humoral immune systems of chickens. Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, 15, 5-7, 1996. Barbour, E.K., Hamadeh S.K. and Hilan, C., Comparison of performance and mortality in the hybro normal and hybro giant meat poultry breeders and their offspring. Veterinary Research Communications, 20, 1-7, 1996. Barbour, E.K., Hamadeh, S., Zoubiane, G., Talhouk, R., and Hilan, C. *, An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for quantitation of antibodies following vaccination with an experimental Salmonella typhimurium vaccine in two genotypes of ewes. Small Ruminant Research, 21, 239-244, 1996. Daghir, N.J., Poultry Production in Hot Climates. Cambridge: C.A.B. International, Cambridge University Press, 320 pp, 1995. Farran, M.T., Uwayjan, M.G., Miski, A.M.A., Sleiman, F.T., Adada, F.A., Ashkarian, V.M. and Thomas, O.P.*, Effect of feeding raw and treated common vetch seed (Vicia sativa) on the performance and egg quality parameters of laying hens. Poultry Science, 74 (10), 1630-1635, 1995. Hamadeh, S.K., Barbour, E.K., Abi-Said, M. and Daadaa, K., Spring postpartum performance in Awassi ewes under different lambing regimes. Small Ruminant Research, 19, 149-154, 1995. Hamadeh,
S.K., Shomo, F.*, Nordblom, T.* and Goodchild A.*, A rapid survey of small
ruminant production in the Beka’a valley, Lebanon. Small Ruminant Research,
21, 173-180, 1996.
ABSTRACTS, CONFERENCES AND PROCEEDINGS Abi Saab, S., Sleiman, F.T., Nassar, K.H., Chemaly, I.* and El-Skaff, R.*, Effect of two protein levels on puberty and sexual maturity of growing male goat kids. The Lebanese Abstracts, D-101, 1995. ———, Implications of high and low protein levels on puberty and sexual maturity of growing male goat kids. The Lebanese Abstracts, D-385, 1996. Barbour, E.K., Hamadeh, S., Abi Ghanem, D., Haddad, J. and Safieh-Garabedian, B. Immunopotentiation in chicken layers by thymulin, thymopoietin, and zinc. Proceedings of the Forty-Sixth Western Poultry Disease Conference, Sacramento, California, USA, 1997. Barbour, E.K., Kahoul, M., Hamadeh, S., Hilan, C.* and Talhouk, R., The role of serological profiling technology in poultry breeders. Proceedings of the Forty-Fifth Western Poultry Disease Conference, 15, 157-159, Cancun, Mexico, 1996. Barbour, E.K., Khoury, N., Hilan, C.*, Hamadeh, S., Nader, R., Eid, A. and Abi Ghanem, D., Synthetic and herbal immunomodulators in Gumboro Vaccination. Proceedings of the Forty-Sixth North Central Avian Disease Conference, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA, 1995. Barbour, E.K., Sakr, W., Abi Ghanem, D., Eid, A., Hamadeh, S. and Hilan, C.*, An approach to effective disease control-technology transfer for greening of poultry industry in developing countries. Archives of Greening of Industry, Heidelberg, Germany, 1996. Daghir, N.J., Newly instituted aridland agriculture program at the U.A.E. University. Proceedings of Regional Conference on Higher Agricultural Education, UAE, 35-46, 1995. Farran, M.T., Sleiman, F.T. and Uwayjan, M.G., Performance of layers fed rations of 60% vetch seeds soaked in water or acetic acid media. Lebanese Abstracts, D-386, 1996. ———, Effect of vetch seeds soaked in acid or alkaline media on the performance of broilers. The Lebanese Abstracts, D-103, 1995. Farran, M.T., Uwayjan, M.G., Khalil R.F., Ashkarian, V.M. and Hajj, R.N., Comparative performance and carcass composition of three sexed broiler strains. Southern Poultry Science Society Conference; Poultry Science, 74, 189, 1995. Farran, M.T., Uwayjan, M.G., Miski, A.M.A., Akhdar, N.M., and Ashkarian, V.M., Effect of feeding sesame hull on performance of broiler starter chicks and laying hens. Southern Poultry Science Society Conference; Poultry Science, 74, 190, 1995. Hamadeh, S.K., Barbour, E.K., Abi-Said, M. and Baalbaki, R., Training needs for biodiversity conservation and management: The Lebanese perspective. Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on Dryland Biodiversity Conservation Through Natural Resource Management, Amman, Jordan, 1995. Hamadeh, S.K., Goodchild, A.*, Shomo, F.* and Nordblom, F.*, The role of native pasture grazing in relation to other feed sources for sheep and goat flocks in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. Proceedings of the Fifth International Rangeland Congress, Utah, USA, 1995. Hamadeh, S.K., Moussa, Z., Abi-Said, M. and Barbour, E.K., Physiological indicators for adaptation in Awassi and Finn´ Texel´ Awassi sheep. Options Mediterranéennes. Proceedings of Subnetwork on Animal Resources, FAO-CIHEAM Network of Cooperative Research on Sheep and Goats, Toulouse, France, 1997. Hamadeh, S.K., Osman, A.E., Abi-Said, M. and Faour, K. Native shrubs in sheep diets. Proceedings of the Regional Training Workshop on Native and Exotic Fodder Shrubs in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones, Tunisia, 1996. Hamadeh, S.K., Shomo, F.*, Hammad, R., Nordblom, T.*, Goodchild, A.*, Darwish, R., Barbour, E. and Gintzburger, G.*, Bio-economics of small ruminant production systems in Lebanon. Regional Symposium on Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems in the Dry areas of West Asia and North Africa, Amman, Jordan, 1995. Hamadeh, S.K., Zoubiane, G., Talhouk, R. and Barbour, E.K., Postpartum fertility and immune response in lactating Awassi and Finn´ Texel´ Awassi Ewes. The Lebanese Abstracts, D-116, 1995. Sleiman, F. T., Uwayjan, M. G., Farran, M. T., Abi Saab, S. and El-Hassan, M. I., Availability and nutritive value of Lebanese range lands to grazing sheep and goats. The Lebanese Abstracts, D-100, 1995. Sleiman, F.T., Uwayjan, M.G., Farran, M.T., Abi Saab, S. and Rahmeh, E.*, Nutritional value and grazing management of range land in Lebanon. The Lebanese Abstracts, D-383, 1996. Sleiman, F. T., Uwayjan, M. G., Farran, M. T., Farran, J. M., Baydoun, M. I., Khalil, R. F. and Ashkarian, V. M., Fiber digestibility, milk production and composition in response to different fat levels in diets of goat kids and does. Journal of Dairy Science, 79 Supplement (1), 142, 1996. Usayran,
N. and Farran, M.T., Effect of added dietary fat and available phosphorus
on the performance and egg quality of laying hens subjected to a constant
high environmental temperature. The Lebanese Abstracts, D-96. 1995.
Baydoun, M.I., Implications of feeding calcium-protected fat on digestibility and milk production of goats (1997). Advisor: F.T. Sleiman. Dakessian, P., Performance of layers and broilers fed high levels of treated vetch seeds (1997). Advisor: M.T. Farran. Dalloul, R., National surveillance of Salmonella in poultry breeders: virulence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and molecular studies (1995). Advisor: E.K. Barbour. Eid, A., Economic diseases of Awassi sheep under different management systems: Control of Johne’s disease (1997). Advisor: E.K. Barbour. El-Hassan, M.I., Nutritive quality and availability of Lebanese rangelands to grazing sheep and goats (1995). Advisor: F.T. Sleiman. Farran, J.M., Digestibility coefficients in lambs and kids as affected by supplemental dietary fat levels (1995). Advisor: F.T. Sleiman. Halabi, W., Effect of feeding different levels of treated ervil seeds on the performance of broilers and layers (1997). Advisor: M.T. Farran. Nader, R., Maternal immunity in Gumboro vaccination (1995). Advisor: E. K. Barbour. Sakr, W., An investigation of a respiratory complex in broilers (1996). Advisor: E.K. Barbour. Tamim, N., Performance and body composition of broilers subjected to early feed restricted regimens (1995). Advisor: M.T. Farran.
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