• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.323-333
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• 2013

This study investigated the geographic and pairwise distances of nine Chinese local Cashmere goat populations through the analysis of 20 microsatellite DNA markers. Fluorescence PCR was used to identify the markers, which were selected based on their significance as identified by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG). In total, 206 alleles were detected; the average allele number was 10.30; the polymorphism information content of loci ranged from 0.5213 to 0.7582; the number of effective alleles ranged from 4.0484 to 4.6178; the observed heterozygosity was from 0.5023 to 0.5602 for the practical sample; the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.5783 to 0.6464; and Allelic richness ranged from 4.7551 to 8.0693. These results indicated that Chinese Cashmere goat populations exhibited rich genetic diversity. Further, the Wright's F-statistics of subpopulation within total (FST) was 0.1184; the genetic differentiation coefficient (GST) was 0.0940; and the average gene flow (Nm) was 2.0415. All pairwise FST values among the populations were highly significant (p<0.01 or p<0.001), suggesting that the populations studied should all be considered to be separate breeds. Finally, the clustering analysis divided the Chinese Cashmere goat populations into at least four clusters, with the Hexi and Yashan goat populations alone in one cluster. These results have provided useful, practical, and important information for the future of Chinese Cashmere goat breeding.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 1988

This study reports light and electron microscope examination of rumen fungal colonization of alkali-treated roughage feeds incubated in decron bags in the rumen of cannulated sheep for varying time intervals. Six roughages, pre-treated with ammonium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide at 4% (w/w) level were examined together with untreated control samples. Alkali pre-treatment was associated with an earlier and more pronounced fungal colonization than all control roughages. Sodium hydroxide pre-treatment was significantly more effective than ammonium hydroxide in improving the susceptibility of roughages to rumen fungal colonization and studies by SEM showed that the pre-treatment permitted greater penetration of feeds by fungi. Sodium hydroxide pre-treatment also significantly increased dry matter disappearance from feed held in Dacron bags in the rumen with all feeds except Lucerne stem. It is not known to what extent fungal activity contributed to increased breakdown of the feeds.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1243-1252
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• 2021

Objective: An experiment was conducted to investigate the continuous and intermittent lighting program effects on terms of the productive performance, carcass traits, blood biochemical parameters, innate immune and oxidative status in broiler chicks. Methods: A total of 600 Cobb-500 one day old chicks were randomly allocated into six equal groups (100 chicks per treated group with five replicates of 20 chicks each) based on lighting program; 22 continuous lighting (22 C), 11 h lighting+1 darkness twice daily (11 L/1 D), 20 h continuous lighting (20 C), 5 h lighting+1 darkness four times daily (5 L/1 D), 18 h continuous lighting (18 C) and the final group subjected for 3 h lighting+1 h darkness six times daily (3 L/1 D). The experimental period lasted 42 days. Results: Compared with those under the intermittent light program, broiler chicks exposed to continuous lighting for 22 h had significant improvement in live body weight and carcass (dressing and breast percentage) measured traits. Though reducing lighting hours significantly reduced feed intake and feed conversion ratio values. Different lighting programs revealed no significant effect on all blood biochemical parameters. Oxidative stress and innate immunity parameters significantly enhance by reducing lighting hours (3L/1D). Conclusion: The findings suggest that reducing lighting hours up to 3L/1D would be more useful in enhancing feed efficiency, innate immunity, and oxidative status compared with continuous lighting programs on broilers.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.591-599
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• 2024

Objective: Sumba Ongole (SO) cattle are valuable breed due to their important role in the development of Indonesian cattle. Despite rapid advances in molecular technology, no genomic studies on SO cattle have been conducted to date. The aim of this study is to provide genomic profile related to the population diversity, admixture, and demographic trends of SO cattle. Methods: Genomic information was gathered from 79 SO cattle using the Illumina Bovine SNP50 v3 Beadchip, and for comparative purposes, additional genotypes from 209 cattle populations worldwide were included. The expected and observed heterozygosity, inbreeding coefficient, pairwise fixation indices between-population, and Nei's genetic distance were examined. Multidimensional scaling, admixture, and treemix analyses were used to investigate the population structure. Based on linkage disequilibrium and effective population size calculations, the demographic trend was observed. Results: The findings indicated that the genetic diversity of SO cattle was similar to that of other indicine breeds. SO cattle were genetically related to indicines but not to taurines or Bali cattle. The study further confirmed the close relationship between SO, Ongole, and Nellore cattle. Additionally, a small portion of the Ongole mixture were identified dominant in the SO population at the moment. The study also discovered that SO and Bali cattle (Bos javanicus) could have been ancestors in the development of Ongole Grade cattle, which corresponds to the documented history of Ongolization. Our finding indicate that SO cattle have maintained stability and possess unique traits separate from their ancestors. Conclusion: In conclusion, the genetic diversity of the SO cattle has been conserved as a result of the growing significance of the present demographic trend. Consistent endeavors are necessary to uphold the fitness of the breed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.381-387
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• 1996

An experiment was carried out for 12 weeks to study the feeding behaviour, growth and carcass characteristics of cross-bred goats. Nine bucks with an average live weight of $18.02{\pm}0.9kg$ were allocated in a completely randomized block design arrangement, consisting of three feeding regimes and three blocks. The feeding regimes consisted of 100% natural grass (Treatment A), 100% gliricidia leaf (Treatment B) and 100% ficus leaf (Treatment C). Frequency of turning-over and sniffing the feed and duration and frequency of ruminating, defaecating, and urination of goats in treatment B were longer, while duration of masticating and jaw movement of chewing one bolus was shorter than those of goats in treatments C and A (p < 0.05). Furthermore, goats in treatment B gained more live weight, consumed more feed, consumed less water and was more efficient in utilizing the feed than goats in treatments C or A (p < 0.05). The dressing percentage, carcass length and carcass fat of goats in treatment B were higher and their bone percentages were lower than those in treatments C and A (p < 0.05). There is an indication that feeding gliricidia and ficus leaves during the dry season could not only increase the body weight and improve carcass quality of the goat but also save water for household needs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.515-522
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• 1995

The field experiment was carried out to study the growth and fodder yield of the Gliricidia sepium provenances in fence system in dryland farming area in Bali, Indonesia for 24 months. The design of the experiment was a completely randomized block arrangement, consisted of 16 treatments (Gliricidia sepium provenances) and 12 blocks with 10 plants per provenance. Of the 16 gliricidia provenances, six were from Mexico (M), four were from Guatemala (G), and one each was from Colombia (C), Indonesia (I), Nicaragna (N), Panama (P), Costa Rica (R) and Venezuela (V). After 40 weeks establishment the gliricidia were lopped regularly 4 times a year, twice during the four month wet season and twice during the eight month dry season at 150 cm height. There were variations (p < 0.05) in stem elongation from 10 to 121 cm, leaf retained from 48 to 105%, leaf shedding from 53 to 86%, branch number from 4 to 7, fodder yield from 281 to 648 g DW/plant, and wood yield from 53 to 179 g DW/plant; and such variations were affected by the seasons. Retalhuleu provenance of Guatemala (G14), Belen provenance of Nicaragua (N14) and Bukit Bali provenance of Indonesia (I) were ranked first, second and third, respectively, measured in terms of stem elongation, leaf retention, fodder and wood yields during the wet and dry seasons.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 1995

The design of this field experiment was a completely randomized block arrangement, consisted of 16 treatments (Gliricidia sepium provenances) and 6 blocks as replications with 12 plants per provenance. Of the 16 gliricidia provenances, six were from Mexico (M), four were from Guatemala (G), and one each was from Colombia (C), Indonesia (I), Nicaragua (N), panama (P), Costa Rica (R), and Venezuela (V). After 12 months establishment the gliricidia were lopped regularly 4 times a year, twice during the 4 months wet season and twice during the 8 months dry season at 150 cm height. There was variation (p < 0.05) in stem elongation from 22 to 80 cm, leaf retained from 118 to 209%, branch number from 13 to 24, fodder yield from 1,015 to 1,671 g DW/plant and wood yield from 792 to 1,662 g DW/plant among the provenances; and such variations were affected by the seasons. Belen (N14), Retalhuleu (G14) and Bukit Bali (I) provenances were ranked first, second and third, respectively, measured in terms of leaf retention, stem elongation, fodder and wood yields during the wet and dry seasons.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.231-239
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• 1995

Alley cropping field experiment has been carried out for 24 months in lime-stone based dryland farming area of southern Bali to study the chemical composition and nutritive value of 16 provenances of Gliricidia sepium The design was a completely randomized block: arrangement, consisted of 16 treatments (G. sepium provenances) and 6 blocks as replications with 12 plants per provenance. Of the 16 gliricidia provenances, six were from Mexico (M), four were from Guatemala (G), one each was from Colombia (C), Indonesia (I), Nicaragua (N), Panama (P), Costa Rica (R) and Venezuela (V). After 12 months establishment, the gliricidia were lopped at 150 cm height regularly 4 times a year, twice during the 4 months wet season and twice during the 8 months dry season. The highest ash, mineral, total soluble phenol, prussic acid and digestibility were in V1; the highest crude fiber component was in M39; the highest gross energy was in P13, while the highest organic matter was in M35. Based on the highest nutritive constituents, V1, C24 and G14 were ranked first, second and third respectively, while based on the lowest non-nutritive constituents C24, V1 and N14 were ranked first, second and third, respectively. The importance of such provenances as source of nutrients for the ruminant during the dry season were discussed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.106-113
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• 1997

A field experiment was carried out on a dryland farming area of southern Bali for 92 weeks, to study the growth and fodder yield of 16 provenances of Gliricidia sepium in guardrow system. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks of 16 treatments (Gliricidia sepium provenances) replicated 3 times, with 6 plants per provenance. Six provenances were from Mexico (M), four from Guatemala (G), and one each from Colombia (C), indonesia (I), Nicaragua (N), Panama (P), Costa Rica (R) and Venezuela (V). After 40 weeks establishment the gliricidia were lopped 4 times a year at 150 cm height, at 2 months intervals during the 4 month wet season and 4 month intervals during the 8 month dry season. Stem elongation varied from 21 to 81 cm, leaf retention from 39 to 240%, branch number from 12 to 35, fodder yield from 1,090 to 3,153 g DW/plant. and wood yield from 743 to 2,750 g DW/plant. Pontezuelo provenance of Colombia (C24), Belen provenance of Nicaragua (N14) and Retalhuleu provenance of Guatemala (G14) were ranked first, second and third, respectively, for stem elongation, leaf retention, fodder and wood yields, during the wet and dry seasons.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.271-279
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• 1996

On-farm experiments were carried out in dryland farming in Bali for 48 weeks to study the effect of flock size on the growth and carcass characteristics of cross-bred goat fed gliricidia-supplemented diet. Eighty four bucks with average live weight of 15.87 kg were allocated in a completely randomized block design arrangement, consisted of three treatments and four blocks. The treatments were $3goats/2.7m^2$ (A), $6goats/5.4m^2$ (B) and $12goats/10.8m^2$ (C), while the floor density was the same ($0.9m^2$ per goat). Feed consumed by goat B was similar (p > 0.10), while feed consumed by goat C was lower (p < 0.10) than goat A. Live weight gain of goat B and C were lower (p<0.05) than goat A. FCR of goat B was higher (p < 0.10) than goat A, while FCR of goat C was similar (p > 0.10) with goat A. Goat B has heavier (p < 0.10) head and digestive tract, while goat C has heavier (p<0.10) hindlegs and digestive tract than goat A. Goat B has lighter (p < 0.10) shoulder, while goat C has lighter shoulder and heavier legs (p < 0.10) than goat A. The carcass quality (measured in terms of loin eye muscle area, meat, bone and fat portions) were not affected (p > 0.05) by the flock sizes.