• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1734-1741
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• 2012

This trial was performed to study the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with fermented rapeseed meal (RSM) on growth performance, serum biochemistry variable and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 640 d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments, 4 pens per treatment and 40 birds per pen for a 6-wk feeding trial. In the four treatment groups, fermented RSM replaced soybean meal at 0, 5, 10, and 15%, respectively. On 21 d and 42 d, two birds from each pen were randomly selected and slaughtered. Blood samples and sections of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were collected for measurement of serum biochemical variables and intestinal morphology, respectively. Results showed that body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion (FC) were significantly (p<0.01) poorer for birds fed the 15% fermented RSM diet than those fed with 0, 5 and 10% fermented RSM diets during all periods. Compared with 0 and 5% fermented RSM groups, IgG content in the serum of birds in 10 and 15% fermented RSM groups was improved (p<0.01) urea nitrogen content of serum was reduced (p<0.01) during both growing and finishing periods. However, IgM, phosphorus and calcium levels increased (p<0.05) only during the growing period. Increased (p<0.05) villus height was observed in the duodenum and jejunum of broilers fed the diet with 10% fermented RSM. In addition, villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum was significantly higher (p<0.01) for birds fed the diet with 10% fermented RSM than for those fed diets with 0, 5 and 15% fermented RSM. The present results suggest that RSM fermented with Lactobacillus fermentum and Bacillus subtilis is a promising alternative protein source and that it could be safely used replace up to 10% SBM in broiler diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1995

This study represented an endeavor to observe clinical signs and pathological lesions in broiler chicks suffering from experimental Infectious stunting syndrome(ISS). One hundred and twenty day old broiler chicks were divide randomly into two equal groups i.e. control (A) and inoculated (B). At day one of age each chick of the groups (A and B) was dosed with one ml of either tryptose phosphate broth or prepared inoculum respectively. Chicks of both the groups were housed separately under similar standard management. Inoculation induced characteristic clinical changes in birds of treatment group like of brownish diarrhea, lameness, feather developing problems and paleness of combs, wattles and shanks. By day-29 of the experiment all the stunted birds from group-B and an equal number of birds from group-A were slaughtered. These birds were examined thoroughly to record the gross changes in various structures and then the severely affected organs were processed for histopathological examination. The skeletons of affected birds were brittle, keel bones showed quite prominence while the muscles and subcutaneous tissues were almost devoid of fat. Grossly it was observed that pancreas, spleen and bursa of Fabricius were severely atrophied while the intestines were ballooned with undigested feed and gases. Histopathological examination of pancreas and spleen revealed a classical picture necessary for understanding the pathogenesis of the syndrome. The acivar cells of pancreas were atrophied and underwent vacuolation, degeneration and vecrosis. The zymogen granules were almost absent from the acinar cells. A characteristic change was an inflammatory reaction in one or more pancreatic ducts where the epithelium and fibrous tissues occluded the lumen of the ducts and led to the obstruction in pancreatic drainage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1581-1586
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• 2009

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of two types of housing systems and early age feed restriction on stress and fear reactions, and performance in broiler chickens raised in a hot, humid tropical climate. On day 1, chicks were housed either in windowless environmentally controlled chambers (temperature was set at 32$^{\circ}C$ on day 1 and gradually reduced to 23$^{\circ}C$ by day 21) or in conventional open-sided houses (OH) with cyclic temperatures (minimum, 24$^{\circ}C$; maximum, 34$^{\circ}C$). An equal number of chicks from each housing system was subjected to either ad libitum feeding (AL) or 60% feed restriction on day 4, 5 and 6 (FR). The CH birds showed greater weight gain, higher feed consumption and better feed conversion ratios (FCR) than their OH counterparts. Feeding regimen had negligible effect on overall performance. Neither housing nor feeding regimen had a significant (p<0.05) effect on mortality rate. Although the CH birds were less stressed, as measured by plasma corticosterone concentration (CORT), than those of OH, the former showed longer TI duration suggesting higher magnitude of underlying fearfulness. A significant (p<0.05) effect of housing on heterophil/lymphocyte ratios was only noted among the AL birds where the CH birds had higher values than OH. Collectively, these results suggest that although OH birds had poorer performance and higher level of stress than CH, the former were less fearful. Although FR had negligible effect on growth performance, the regimen alleviated both stress and fear reactions in broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1531-1539
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• 2009

This study compared the nutritional value of canola (B. napa) and mustard (B. hirta) press cakes obtained from the biodiesel industry as ingredients for use in diets fed to broiler chickens. A total of 210, one-day old, male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of seven dietary treatments. The control diet was based on wheat and soybean meal and contained 15% canola meal. For the experimental diets, 5, 10 or 15% of the canola meal was replaced with an equal amount of either canola or mustard biodiesel press cake. Dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility were significantly higher for birds fed diets containing either canola or mustard biodiesel press cake compared with canola meal. Dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility of the canola biodiesel press cakes was higher than the mustard biodiesel press cakes. Ether extract digestibility and nitrogen retention were significantly higher for birds fed canola biodiesel press cake compared with canola meal and mustard biodiesel press cake. Body weight gain and feed intake did not differ between birds fed canola or mustard biodiesel press cake and canola meal. In addition, there was no significant difference in body weight gain or feed intake between birds fed diets containing canola or mustard biodiesel press cake. Feed conversion was significantly improved for birds fed either canola or mustard biodiesel press cake compared with canola meal. Mortality was unaffected by treatment. Since the performance of broilers fed canola biodiesel press cakes was essentially the same as that of broilers fed canola meal, it is difficult to justify a premium to be paid for canola biodiesel press cake over that paid for canola meal. In addition, there was no difference in the performance of broilers fed biodiesel press cake obtained from canola or mustard seed. As mustard seeds are generally available at a lower price than canola seed, there may be some incentive to use mustard rather than canola seed for producing biodiesel press cake for use in poultry production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1407-1416
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of genotype (slower-growing vs. fast-growing) and production system (access to outdoors vs. indoor) on the growth performance, carcass yield and meat quality (chemical composition, physicochemical and sensory properties) of chickens. The experiment was performed on 1,040 day-old hybrid male chickens of two genotypes. Slower-growing chickens (Hubbard JA957, certified) and fast-growing chickens (Hubbard F15) were fed identical diets until 65 days of age. Both genotypes (each represented by 520 birds) were divided into two subgroups and were raised in pens on litter with outdoor access or in indoor confinement without outdoor access (four replications per subgroup, each of 65 birds). Until day 21, the birds stayed in the indoor facility, in deep-litter pens. The birds could forage on pasture 12 h daily, commencing at three weeks of age. Stocking density was 0.13 $m^2$ floor space per bird in pens on litter, and 0.8 $m^2$ per bird in grassy yards. Compared with fast-growing, slower-growing chickens were significantly lighter (by 17%), had a lower breast and thigh muscle yield and a higher abdominal fat content, but they were characterized by higher survival rates at 65 days, a higher protein content and a lower fat content of breast meat. Outdoor access had no negative effects on the growth performance, muscle yield, the fatty acid profile and oxidative status of meat lipids. The meat of free-range chickens was darker in color, it had a higher protein content and a better water-holding capacity, but it was less juicy than the meat of birds raised indoors.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.159-167
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• 2017

The microbial community is known to have a key role during the rearing period of broilers. In this study, gut microbial composition and diversity were examined to evaluate the relationships between these factors and broiler growth performance. By applying 454-pyrosequencing of the V1-V3 regions of bacterial 16S rRNA genes, six fecal samples from four- and 28-day-old chickens from three broiler farms and 24 intestinal samples of broilers with heavy and light body weights were analyzed. Microbial composition assessment revealed Firmicutes to be the most prevalent phylum at farm A, while Proteobacteria were predominant at farms B and C. Fecal microbial richness and diversity indices gradually increased from four to 28 days at all three farms. Microbial diversity assessment revealed that small intestine microbial diversity was lower in heavy birds than in light birds. In light birds, the Firmicutes proportion was lower than that in heavy birds. In conclusion, each broiler farm revealed a specific microbial profile which varied with the age of the birds. The microbial communities appeared to affect growth performance; therefore, gut microbial profiles can be utilized to monitor growth performance at broiler farms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2002

Eggs obtained from 46 and 42 weeks old meat (Hybro) and layer (Leghorn) breeders flocks, respectively were used to examine the effects of genetic type of birds and egg size (small, medium and large) on variables of eggshell characteristics and hatchability traits. The variables measured were egg weight (EW), egg surface area (ESA) and eggshell characteristics (shell conductance (EC), per cent shell (PS), shell thickness (ST), shell volume (SV), shell density (SD) and hatchability traits (per cent hatchability (HP), early dead embryos (ED), late dead embryos (LD), pips with live embryos (PL) and pips with dead embryos (PD)). Genetic type of bird influenced all egg characteristics and HP of eggs. Eggs produced by the small Leghorn bird had lower EW, ESA, EC, ST, SV and HP than those produced by the heavy Hybro bird. The reduction of HP was associated with an increase in the percentage of ED and PL. Egg size influenced all variables measured except ST. Small size eggs had lower EW, ESA and EC and higher PS and SD than those of large eggs. Medium size eggs produced a higher HP when compared with that of large size eggs. The reduction of HP in large eggs was associated with higher percentage of ED, LD and PL. There were significant interactions between the genetic group of birds and egg size on LD and HP. Large egg size of Hybro birds had higher LD and lower HP than those of small size eggs produced by the same flock. However, There was no difference in HP and LD among the different egg sizes produced by Leghorn birds. It was concluded that genetic make up of birds and egg size influence eggshell characteristics and HP. The type of bird (heavy or small) influences the optimum egg size for successful hatching. Attention should be given to the size and eggshell characteristics of eggs of breeders' flocks for achieving maximum HP.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.848-854
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• 2005

We examined the effect of dietary Turkish propolis and flavomycin on growth performance, carcass characteristics, internal organ weights and some serum variables in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) birds. One hundred and fifty day-old quails were randomly divided into five groups, with ten replicate pens per treatment and three birds per pen. One group received the basal diet (antibiotic-free), the control. The flavomycin at 10 mg/kg diet and propolis at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/kg diet were added to the basal diet. Body weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency were determinated weekly. Carcass characteristics, internal organ weights and serum variables were determinated at the end of the study (35 day). The results showed that body weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass weight were improved significantly (p<0.01) when compared to control group for birds fed diets containing propolis and flavomycin between 14 to 35 days. The addition of 1 g/kg propolis to the diet resulted in significantly (p<0.01) better-feed efficiency as compared to control and other treatment groups. There were no significant differences in carcass yield, abdominal fat, liver gizzard, proventriculus and intestinal weight and intestinal pH among the groups. In addition, serum ALP, total protein, uric acid, cholesterol and triglyceride were not influenced by the any supplementation. However, birds fed with propolis tended to have higher serum HDL and lower level than birds fed the control diet. In conclusion, supplementation of propolis and flavomycin during the growth period showed similar effects on growth performance in quail. Therefore, it can serve as a natiral substitute for antibiotics in poultry diets.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 1996

This survey was conducted to investigate the situation of three types of laying hen houses and farmers' awareness of farm automation. Six windowless, three high-rising windowless and four open-sided laying hen houses were surveyed to compare their characteristics, and sixty farmers answered questionnaires. 1. Population density of laying hen was 13.9 birds/m^2$ in open-sided, 28.9 birds/m^2$ in high-rising windowless, and 44.9 birds/m^2$ in windowless laying hen houses. 2. Feeder space was $12{\sim}13.5cm$ in open-sided laying hen houses, but feeder space of windowless and high-rising hen houses was narrower than that of open-sided laying hen houses. 3. Thermal resistance values were $14.6{\sim}18.7\;m^2\;{\circ}C/W$ in wall, #22.0{\sim}23.7\;m^2\;{\circ}C/W$ in roof of windowless and high-rising windowless laying hen houses but the wall of open-sided laying hen houses was only $1.9\;m^2\;{\circ}C/W$. 4. Maximum ventilation capacity was 0.161{\sim}0.326$ cmm/bird in summer. Minimum rate of tunnel Ventilation laying hen houses in winter was $0.013{\sim}0.040$ cmm/bird, but minimum rate of crossflow and high-rising windowless laying hen houses was larger than that of tunnel ventilation houses. 5. One person managed about 8,100 birds in open-sided, and about 23,500 birds in windowless and high-rising windowless laying hen houses. 7. 90.7% of farmers responsed that they want to construct automatized laying hen houses in the future.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1645-1656
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of strain on broiler performance, and age at slaughter and postchilling (PC) aging time on meat quality traits. A total of 500 one-day-old chicks (250 Hubbard classic and 250 Lohman) were reared under commercial conditions. Half of the broiler birds from each strain were slaughtered at 32 days and the other half at 42 days old. At each processing day, 168 carcasses were randomly selected (84 Hubbard and 84 Lohman) and divided into groups of 28 carcasses within each strain, and aged for 0, 4 and 24 h after chilling. Average weekly body weight was comparable between strains. Feed conversion ratio was higher (p<0.05) for the Hubbard strain during the second and third week of age. Initial carcass pH was significantly (p<0.05) affected by age where younger birds (32-d-old) had lower pH values than older (41-d-old) birds. Breast temperature was higher (p<0.001) for Lohman than Hubbard at 0, 2 and 4 h of PC. Younger birds had a lower breast temperature (p<0.001) at all measured times of PC. Thaw loss, cook loss and water holding capacity were not significantly affected by strain, age or aging time. Lohman strain had more tender meat (p<0.05) than Hubbard strain, and tenderness was improved with the increase of broiler age and aging time. Meats from Hubbard were lighter and less red than those from Lohman strain where younger birds had darker color. In conclusion, strain, age at slaughter and PC aging duration are critical to breast meat quality characteristics, and 4 h of aging are required before deboning in order to obtain more tender fillets.