• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2024

The gut microbiome of broilers is a critical factor in overall health and productivity. However, high summer temperatures and high stocking density (conventional farm condition) may cause stress to broilers, resulting in an imbalance in the gut microbiome. This study was conducted to compare the gut microbiome of broilers between spring and summer in welfare (Bosung, Jeollanam-do, South Korea) and conventional farms (Jangsu, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea). A total of 31 broilers were assigned to the following groups: conventional farm in spring (n = 8); conventional farm in summer (n = 8); welfare farm in spring (n = 7); welfare farm in summer (n = 8). Cecal digesta were collected from eight broilers from each farm, and microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Beta diversity analysis indicated clear differences in cecal microbiome composition between spring and summerin both welfare and conventional farm. At the phylum level, analysis of conventional farm revealed a higher proportion of Bacteroidetes in spring than in summer. At the genus level, broilers exhibited a higher abundance of Bacteroides and Alistipesin spring compared to summer. In contrast, the difference in microbial flora composition observed in welfare farm was relatively small compared to conventional farm. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that heat stress can negatively affect the caecum microbiome of broilers. However, improvements in the housing environment can mitigate the effects of heat stress.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2018

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus, medicinal plants extract, and essential oil on laying performance, cecal microflora, relative organic weight, leucocyte profiles in laying hens against Salmonella gallinarum. A total of 100 Hy-Line Brown laying hens of 65 weeks of age were assigned into 5 dietary treatments supplemented with no antibiotic (negative control), antibiotic (positive control), Lactobacillus 0.1% (LB), medicinal plants extract 100 ppm (MPE), herb extract 100 ppm (EO). After 7 days of treatment, the 20 hens in each treatment group were divided into challenge group (n=10) and non-challenge group (n=10) for oral administration of Salmonella gallinarums, and were maintained in the same dietary treatments for two additional weeks. Laying hens were selected 20 by each treatment, splitting up into oral Salmonella group and nontreated group. The feeding trial lasted for one weeks and Salmonella gallinarum was orally administered for two weeks. Egg production, egg weight, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio were calculated and cecal microflora, relative organ, and blood were collected at the end of experiment. Compared with the control, laying hens fed Lactobacillus, medical plant extract, and essential oil were not observed to change of laying performance. Salmonella count increased significantly when Salmonella gallinarum was orally administered (P<0.05) but coliform bacteria and Lactobacillus counts were not affected. The relative organs weight was not different in hens with oral administration of Salmonella gallinarum and also in hens fed Lactobacillus, medical plant extract, and essential oil. H/L ratio was not significantly different, but total leucocyte level was somewhat increased in the treatment with oral administration of Salmonella gallinarum and more leucocyte increased in laying hens fed Lactobacillus, medical plant extract, and essential oil than control.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1307-1315
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• 2012

We evaluated the effect of dietary supplements with benzoic acid on intestinal beneficial bacteria concentration and immune response of weaning pigs. Supplementation with benzoic acid at 0.5% or control diet for 35 days resulted in a higher Lactobacillus casei concentration in the cecum. Supplementation with benzoic acid at 0.5% increased concentration of L. plantarum in the cecum. Pigs with the control diet and 0.5% benzoic acid had significantly increased concentration of B. subtillis in the cecum compared to the antibiotic group, while the concentration of B. subtillis in the rectum increased in pigs given 0.3 and 0.5% benzoic acid (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, the level of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ mRNA showed a significant decrease in the proximal small intestine in pigs fed diets supplemented with benzoic acid at 0.5% or antibiotic. Feeding 0.5% benzoic acid resulted in a marked reduction in the expression of IL-6 mRNA in the middle small intestine (p<0.05). Supplementation with benzoic acid at 0.5% or antibiotic resulted in a lower level of tumor necrosis factor-mRNA in the middle intestine. Up to 0.5% benzoic acid may be included in weaning diets for improvement of intestinal beneficial bacteria, thus modulating genes of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the gastrointestinal tract.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.335-346
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary rosemary on performance, microflora population in cecum and noxious gas emission from litter of broiler. A total of 216 broiler chicks at 7 days old were fed the commercial diet (control), added 0.5% level of dried rosemary leaves (5 g/kg diet, T1) and 1.0% level of dried rosemary leaves (10 g/kg diet, T2) for 4 weeks. The body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were improved by feeding rosemary at 7 to 35 days of age (P<0.05), but there was no difference between T1 and T2. Amount of feed intake and mortality were not different among the three group. There was an increase in the microflora population of Lactobacillus (P<0.05) and decreased in E. coli and salmonella (P<0.05) in the cecum contents at 21 and 35 days of age. Emission of ammonia gas from litter was significantly decreased by supplementary rosemary at 21 to 35 days of age (P<0.05), but there was no difference between T1 and T2. These results indicated that feeding 0.5 to 1.0% level of dried rosemary leaves during broiler production improved in the body weight gain and feed conversion ratio because of increasing nutrient digestibility from feed, also increase in intestinal beneficial bacteria and decrease in harmful bacteria in the cecum contents, and decreasing emission of ammonia gas from litter.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of organic acid mixture on growth performance, cecal microflora, blood characteristics and immune response in broiler chicks and to prove the possibility of organic acid mixture as an alternative to antibiotics growth promotor. A total of four hundred eighty, 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross$\times$Ross 308) were randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates of 30 birds each. The treatments were NC (free antibiotics), PC (basal diet with virginiamycin 10 ppm and salinomycin 60 ppm), 0.3% organic acid, and 0.5% organic acid. The final body weight and body weight gain were significantly higher in organic acid 0.5% than NC (P<0.05). The feed conversion ratio in all treated groups were significantly improved as compared to that of NC (P<0.05). The carcass rate and relative organs weight were not significantly difference among the groups. The relative weight and length of small intestine in PC were significantly decreased than the other groups. The numbers of cecal coliform bacteria and Salmonella in all treated groups were significantly lower than NC (P<0.05). The number of cecal lactic acid bacteria was not different among the groups. No significant differences among the groups were observed in the contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in blood serum. The contents of total protein and globulin in blood serum of PC and organic acid treated groups were significantly increased as compared to those of NC (P<0.05). Therefore, albumin:globulin ratio of PC and organic acid treated groups was significantly lower than NC (P<0.05). The total white blood cell (WBC), heterophil, lymphocyte, and stress indicator (heterophil:lymphocyte ratio) were not significantly different among the groups. No significant difference was observed on the expression rate of splenic cytokines mRNA in organic acid treated groups compared to the control. Consequently, supplemental organic acid mixture improved the growth performance, and influenced positive effects on the intestinal microflora by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria without any adverse effects on relative weights of organs and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chicks.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.150-160
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• 2012

The object of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of mulberry leaves and silkworm excreta ethanol extracts on weight performances, blood characteristics, cecal microflorae of chickens. Two hundred forty male broiler chicks(Ross) were fed diets for five weeks containing 0.1%(MLA) and 1%(MLB) of mulberry leaves ethanol extracts, and 0.1%(SEA) and 1%(SEB) of silkworm excreta ethanol extracts. Weight performance did show no significant difference in all test groups which were fed with supplementation of mulberry leaves and silkworm excreta ethanol extracts. They showed better weight gain and feed conversion than the negative control group which was fed only with forage without antibiotics. ABTS(2'-azine-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]) test was conducted to investigate free radical scavenging activity of blood in tested groups. ABTS scavenging activities of tested groups were higher than control groups in significant level, though there was no significant difference(P = 0.396). Specifically, MLB group showed the highest scavenging activity. Blood-level concentration of MDA, which is an indicator of lipid peroxidation, was also decreased in tested groups and the lowest level was observed in SEA(P = 0.001). As storage time increased at $4^{\circ}C$, muscle-level MDA concentrations of all tested groups were generally increased and significant difference was obsereved between tested groups and controls in total increase of MDA concentration($P=4.417{\times}10^{-3}$). In cecal microflorae, SEA and SEB showed decreased total microbe population compared to NC($P=6.462{\times}10^{-5}$) and even to PC. Supplementation of mulberry leave and silkworm excreta ethanol extract did show a similar inhibition effect against Salmonella sp., furthermore, MLB did enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus sp.($P=3.636{\times}10^{-7}$). In summary, ethanol extract of silkworm excreta may be a potential alternative of antibiotics for chicks. In addition, both of ethanol extracts supplementation to broiler chicks would be very useful not only to improve antioxidant effect of blood but also to suppress lipid peroxidation without any loss of weight performance in poultry farming.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.667-676
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• 2008

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of various Lactobacilli strains on growth performance, intestinal microflora, ileal villi development and ileal mucosal surface of broiler chickens. Six hundred 1-d-old male chicks(Avian) were randomly divided into five groups of four replicates, each replicates containing 30 birds and fed corn-soybean meal diets containing Latobaillus were isolated from cecum of chichens at 107cfu/g diet for five weeks. The treatments were control(antibiotics-free diet), Lactobacillus crispatus avibro1(LCB), Lactobacillus reuteri avibro2(LRB), Lactobacillus crispatus avihen1(LCH) or Lactobacillus vaginalis avihen2(LVH). The body weight gain in groups fed Lactobacillus significantly improved as compared to those of control(P<0.05). Feed intake was not statistically different among the groups. The number of Lactobacillus in ileum and cecum of chicks fed various Lactobacillus tended to be increased or significantly increased as compared to those of the control(P<0.05), but there was difference by age of chicks and species of Lactobacillus. The number of yeast was significantly increased in cecum and ileum at three weeks old chicks fed Lactobacilli compared with the control(P<0.05). The anaerobes’ number of ileum and cecum tended to increase or significantly increased in Lactobacillus treatments compared with the control(P<0.05). The ileal villi length extended greatly at three weeks of age in groups fed Lactobacillus compared with the control(P<0.05). The length of ileal villi in chicks fed Lactobacillus was continuously increased up to five weeks of age, but did not increased in the control(P<0.05). Lactobacillus was found on ileal mucosal surface. And ileal mucosal surface was maintained better with Latobacillus feeding. These results suggest the possibility that cecal Lactobacillus of chickens could be used as probiotics by improving the growth performance and promoting development of ileal villi in broiler chicks.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2008

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the dietary effects of mixture of probiotics and colistin on laying performance, intestinal microflora and egg yolk cholesterol in laying hens. One hundred sixty 50-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers were divided into four treatments and fed a commercial diet (Control) or experimental diets containing 0.2% mixture of probiotics or probiotics and colistin mixture (T1, Bacillus subtilis + Aspergillus oryzae + Lactobacillus plantarum; T2, Bacillus subtilis + Aspergillus oryzae; T3, Bacillus subtilis + Aspergillus oryzae+colistin) for 8 wk. No significant differences were found in laying performance and liver weight among the groups. The Haugh unit of treated groups were significantly improved (P<0.05) compared to that of control, but eggshell qualities were not changed by the treatments. The cecal ammonia concentration was significantly decreased in both T1 and T3 groups. The number of coli forms in cecal content and feces were significantly reduced in all treated groups compared to that of Control (P<0.05). The egg yolk cholesterol contents in the groups fed the diet containing mixture of probiotics and colistin were reduced in comparison with that of Control. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of mixture of probiotics and colistin improved quality of egg albumen, and reduced the egg cholesterol contents. They also reduced intestinal coli forms without harmful effects on overall productive and physiological responses in laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2014

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with the effective microorganism (EM) on the growth performance, blood parameter, small intestinal microflora, and noxious gas emission of broilers. A total 720 1-d old ROSS 308 was randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatment groups: control, virginiamycin (6 mg/kg), 0.1% PB 0.1% EM, 0.5% EM, and 1.0% EM. Each treatment was fed to 4 replicates of 30 birds per diet for d 35. Two-phase feeding program with a starter diet from 0 to 3 wk, and a finisher diet from 4 to 5 wk was used in the experiment. Within each phase, a diet was formulated to meet or exceed NRC requirements of broilers for macro- and micronutrients. The diet and water were available ad libitum. Result indicated that during overall periods of the experiment, final weight, body weight gain, and feed intake were not different among dietary treatments. Feed conversion ratio was less (P<0.05) for EM treatments than control, antibiotics, and PB. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TRG), glucose (GLU), total protein (TP), calcium (CA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were not different among dietary treatments. White blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), heterophils (HE), lymphocyte (LY), monocytes (MO), and eosinophils (EO) were not different among dietary treatments. HE:LY was less (P<0.05) for EM0.5 treatments than control, antibiotics, and PB. Lactobacillus was greater (P<0.05) for EM treatments than control and antibiotics. E. coli and Salmonella were not different among dietary treatments. $NH_3$ and $CO_2$ wereless (P<0.05) for EM treatments than control. These results indicated that EM treatments were effective feed conversion ratio, noxious gas emission and micro flora population on the cecum in broilers.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.784-790
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• 2014

Housefly (Musca domestica L.) maggots are used as biomedical material. Ethanolic extracts of fly maggot (EM) were orally administered to male rats at levels of 0 (control group), 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0 mg per 100 g live weight for 40 days. Serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-C decreased by 17.90, 17.60, and 16.37%, respectively, whereas HDL-C increased by 20.48% in the EM group compared with these parameters in a control group (p<0.05). Thymus and spleen weights dose-dependently increased by 21.42% and 21.42%, respectively, but abdominal fat decreased by 39.66% after EM administration compared with that in the control group (p<0.05). IgG, IgA, and IgM increased 35.14, 68.65, and 190.16%, respectively, in the EM groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus increased by 41.68% and 35.55%, respectively, in the EM groups compared with the control group, and Bacteroides, Clostridium, Escherichia, and Streptococcus decreased by 24.96, 46.37, 25.00, and 34.05%, respectively, in the EM groups compared with the control group (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, total organic acids, acetic acid, and propionic acid increased by 31.11, 49.34, and 24.88%, whereas butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid decreased by 30.79, 72.64, 32.90, and 63.16% respectively, in the EM groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that EM has a bifidogenic effect on immune cell development, blood lipid levels, and abdominal fat reduction by increasing the production of organic acid and numbers of cecal microorganisms in animals.