• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.267-271
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• 2012

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of one alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol ($1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$) on growth performance, tibia quality, and skin and meat color in broilers fed calcium (Ca)- and phosphorus (P)-deficient corn-soybean meal diets. A total of 288 male Ross broilers, at 21 days of age, were randomly assigned to three treatments with eight cages per treatment. Three levels of $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ (0, 5, and 10 ${\mu}g$/kg) were added to a basal diet (0.50% Ca, 0.13% non-phytate phosphorus (NPP), and 0.35% total phosphorus (tP)) without vitamin $D_3$. As a result of this study, the addition of $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ increased body weight gain (p<0.001), feed intake (p = 0.007), feed efficiency (p<0.001), tibia weight (p = 0.002), length (p<0.001), breaking-strength (p = 0.012), ash (p<0.001), Ca (p<0.001), and P content (p = 0.004). Dietary $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ enhanced breast meat yellowness (p = 0.015) and the length and weight of the small intestine of the broilers. Moreover, $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ decreased serum Ca concentration (p = 0.074) and breast meat redness (p = 0.010). These results indicate that the $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ improves growth, tibia quality, and meat color in broilers fed Ca- and P-deficient corn-soybean meal diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.149-156
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• 2018

Objective: Broilers show clear preference towards red color light (RL). However setting of an optimum light intensity is difficult since dim intensities that favor growth reduce welfare. This experiment was conducted to test the most effective RL intensity regimen (Dim [5 lux; DI] vs high [320 lux; HI]) in combination applied at different growth stages that favors for both performance and welfare. Methods: Complete randomize design was adopted with 6 replicates. Treatments were; T1 = early DI (8-21 d)+latter HI (22-35 d); T2 = early DI (8-28 d)+latter HI (29-35 d), T3 = early HI (8-21 d)+latter DI (22-35 d), T4 = early HI (8-28 d)+latter DI (29-35 d) and T5 = control (white light; WT) (8-35 d) at medium intensity (20 lux). Body weight (BW), weight gain (WG), water/feed intake and ratio, feed conversion ratios (FCR) were assessed. Common behaviours (15) were recorded by scan sampling method. Lameness, foot pad dermatitis, breast blisters, hock burning damage were assessed as welfare parameters. Fear reactions were tested using Tonic Immobility Test. Ocular and carcass evaluations were done. Meat and tibiae were analyzed for fat and bone ash respectively. Results: On 35 d, the highest BW ($2,155.72{\pm}176g$), WG ($1,967.78{\pm}174g$) were recorded by T2 compared to WT ($BW_{WT}=1,878.22{\pm}155$, $WG_{WT}=1,691.83{\pm}160$). But, application of RL, either DI, or HI during early/latter stage had no significant effect on FCR. Under HI, birds showed much higher active behaviours. DI encourages eating. Though LI changed from DI to HI, same trend could be seen even under HI. The highest leg strength ($218.5{\pm}120s$) was recorded by T2. The lowest leg strength ($64.58{\pm}33s$) and the highest ocular weight ($2.48{\pm}1g$) were recorded by T1. Significantly (p<0.05) the highest skin weight ($162.17{\pm}6g$) but the lowest fat% in meat ($13.03%{\pm}5%$) was recorded by T2. Conclusion: Early exposure to DI-RL up to 28 days followed by exposure to HI-RL is the most favorable lighting regimen for optimizing production, better welfare of broilers and improving health benefits of meat.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1275-1284
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• 2018

Objective: A 28-d trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of diets with different energy and lipase levels on performance, nutrient digestibility, serum profiles, gut health, and carcass quality in broilers. Methods: A total of 720 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers ($45.4{\pm}0.5g$) were randomly assigned to one of the following four treatments: i) RET, reduced energy treatment (metabolizable energy = 2,950 and 3,100 kcal/kg for starter and finisher diet), ii) BDT, basal diet treatment (metabolizable energy = 3,050 and 3,200 kcal/kg for starter and finisher diet, iii) RET015, RET+0.15 g/kg lipase, and iv) RET03, RET+0.3 g/kg lipase. There were 10 replications (cages) per treatment with 18 birds per cage. Results: During d 1 to 14, broilers fed BDT, RET015, and RET03 diets had higher (p<0.05) body weight gain than those fed RET diet. During d 1 to 14, 15 to 28 and the overall experiment, feed conversion ratio in RET03 treatment was lower (p<0.05) compared with RET treatment. On d 14, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), and gross energy in RET03 treatment was higher (p<0.05) than those in RET treatment, while the ATTD of N was increased (p<0.05) by RET03 treatment. On d 28, broilers fed RET03 diet had higher (p<0.05) ATTD of DM than those fed RET and RET015 diets, while the ATTD of EE in BDT and RET03 treatments was increased (p<0.05) compared with RET and RET015 treatments. Broilers fed RET03 diet had higher villus height (VH) and VH:crypt depth (CD) ratio than those fed RET and BDT diets. The activity of pancreatic lipase in BDT and RET03 treatments was higher (p<0.05) than that in RET treatment. Conclusion: Taken together, lipase supplementation (3,000 U/kg feed) increased growth performance, nutrient digestibility, VH, VH:CD ratio and lipase activity, but decreased triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the abdominal fat percentage in broilers fed reduced energy diet.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of bone boiling duration on bovine bone extract supplement quality in terms of growth performance, leg bone length, and blood profile in broilers. A total of twenty ROSS 308 broilers (initial BW of $970{\pm}50g$) were randomly divided into the following 4 treatment groups: CON (basal water), T1 (1 : 1 ratio water to bone extract boiled for six hours), T2 (1 : 1 ratio water to bone extract boiled for 12 hours), and T3 (1 : 1 ratio water to bone extract boiled for 24 hours). The broilers were allowed free access to the source of fluid or diets. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency showed no significant differences among treatments during this experiment. However, broilers fed bone extract boiled for six hours showed a tendency for increased ADG to other treatments (p < 0.17). No significant differences were observed in organ weights (liver, spleen, bursa of fabricius) or blood profiles among the treatments during the experiment, but broilers fed bone extract boiled for six hours showed a tendency for decreased cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL compared to the control diet. In the case of leg bone length, there were significant difference (p < 0.05) on tibia and femur among treatments. It was concluded that the six hour-boiled bone extract supplementation had beneficial effects on growth performance and blood profile of broilers.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.417-426
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• 2021

Objective: Effects of inulin supplementation in diet of Haidong chicks under hypoxic conditions on production performance, intestinal morphologic change, microflora contents and the incidence of ascites were studied. Methods: Commercial male chicks (360) were randomly divided into 6 groups and were fed diets supplemented with 0, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.125, and 0.15 g/kg of inulin, respectively. Results: The body weight gain and feed intake were improved in chicks fed the diets supplemented with 0.1 and 0.125 g/kg of inulin, from d 1 to d 42 (p<0.05); moreover, blood parameters were positively affected when inulin was included in the diets and the thickness of the intestinal wall and muscle tissue in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum tended to increase (p<0.05), and the villi height and crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (p<0.05). Regarding the number of goblet cells in duodenum, jejunum and ileum tended to increase when chicks were fed the diets supplemented with 0.075, 0.1, 0.125, and 0.15 g/kg (p<0.05) of inulin. When chicks were fed diets supplemented with 0.75 or 0.1 g/kg of inulin, a significant reduction of Escherichia coli counts in the cecum was observed; for a contrary, a significant increment of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus was observed in cecum and ileum. Finally, supplementing the feed with inulin determined an overall reduction of ascites incidences in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: Thus, the results observed in the present study clearly suggest that the diet supplementation with a quantity of inulin ranging between 0.1 and 0.125 g/kg, can improve growth performances, intestinal morphology, internal microbial balance and ascites incidence, in broiler chicks raised at high altitude area. Even though these findings may be of interest for the poultry industry, they may particularly be relevant in those areas characterized by high altitude such as Northwest China regions.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.295-305
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• 2021

Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of normal and low protein content (PC) of starter diet supplemented or not with blends of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on growth performance of broilers under summer conditions and to investigate whether these effects altered some quality traits and the characteristics of gastrointestinal tract. Methods: A total of 768 mixed-sex broiler chicks (Ross 308, one-d-old) with an average initial body weight (BW) of 47.6±1.03 g were allocated into six treatments with four replications in 2×3 factorial arrangement. Factors were: PC, normal (N, 22% to d 15); and low (L, 20% to d 15); and added BCAA blends, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine at zero (0L:0I:0V); 1.0, 0.25, and 0.25 (4L:1I:1V); or 1.0, 0.25, 0.75 (4L:1I:3V) g/kg of diet. Hence, six dietary treatments were named as N0L:0I:0V, N4L:1I:1V, N4L:1I:3V, L0L:0I:0V, L4L:1I:1V, and L4L:1I:3V. Average indoor temperature and humidity were 32.8℃±1.7℃ and 61.1%±4.12%, respectively. Results: BW, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass weight were not affected by PC, BCCA and their interaction (p>0.05). The L diets decreased the water holding capacity of the breast (p = 0.002) and thigh (p = 0.050) meats and dressing percentage (p = 0.005) compared to the N diets. The 4L:1I:1V diet decreased breast yield compared to the 0L:0I:0V diets (p = 0.041). The effect of PC on feed intake, mortality and gastrointestinal trait weight were depended on the L:I:V ratios under summer conditions due to interactions between factors (p<0.05). The FI and mortality of L4L:1I:1V broilers were lower than those of N4L:1I:1V birds (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the blends of BCAAs used failed to improve performance and to promote breast yields, because diets with normal or with reduced protein supplemented or not with BCAAs up to d 15 produced a similar BW and FCR in broilers raised in hot-climate conditions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.5
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• pp.999-1009
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• 2024

The impact of dietary non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) on performance and carcass traits of broilers fed wheat-bran substituted into corn-soybean meal-based diets supplemented with xylanase was investigated. A total of 280 (7-day-old) Ross 308 broilers were randomly allotted to one of five dietary treatments with 8 replicates, 7 chicks per pen. Treatments were; i) CON: Control diet, ii) CON-X (CON + 3,000 U/kg xylanase), iii) L-X: low NSP (2% wheat bran in CON + 3,000 U/kg xylanase), iv) M-X: medium NSP (4% wheat bran in CON + 3,000 U/kg xylanase), v) H-X: higher NSP (8% wheat bran in CON+ 3,000 U/kg xylanase). Birds fed the H-X diet increased (p < 0.05) daily gains, and average daily feed intake and had marginally improved body weights (p = 0.074) on day 35. Relatively, the H-X diet tended to increase the average daily gains (p = 0.053; p = 0.073) of birds during the grower phase (d 24-35) and the entire experimental period (d 8-35), respectively. Moreover, there were no significant differences among treatments in the feed conversion ratio of birds throughout the entire experiment period. Birds fed diets CON-X, L-X, and M-X had improved (p < 0.05) the ileal digestibility of energy on d 24 and 35 compared to those fed the H-X diet. Furthermore, birds fed diet CON-X improved (p < 0.05) N digestibility on d 24. Improved carcass moisture content and lowered crude fat of leg meat (p < 0.05) were noted in birds fed the diet M-X and H-X on d 35, respectively. The intestinal viscosity was reduced (p < 0.05) in xylanase-supplemented treatments CON-X, L-X, M-X, and H-X diets when compared to CON. Our results suggest that supplementing 3,000 U/kg xylanase in a higher NSP (8% wheat bran substituted level) diet could improve the intestinal viscosity and growth performance of broilers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2009

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of cerium (Ce), a rare earth, individually and in combination with lanthanium (La), a rare earth, in the basal diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, bone composition, breast meat composition, carcass characteristics and meat color in broiler chicks. A total of 1,600 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with four replicates in a completely randomized block design. Treatments were T1) CON (control diet), T2) 100 ppm Ce, T3) 100 ppm La, T4) 100 ppm Ce+100 ppm La. There were no significant differences in feed intake among dietary treatments during the whole experimental period (0 to 5 weeks). Body weight gain for the first three weeks was greater in birds T4 than birds fed T3 diet. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better in birds fed T4 diet (p<0.05) than birds fed T3 diet during 0~3 weeks, and better FCR for 0~5 weeks was noticed in birds fed T4 diet than birds fed T1 diet. Nutrient digestibility was greatest in birds fed T3 diet (p<0.05) compared with other treatments. Bone composition, carcass characteristics and meat color were no statistically different among the treatments. These results suggest that Ce supplementation, alone and combination with La could improve performance of broilers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2014

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of copper-soy proteinate (Cu-SP) and herbal mixture (HBM) on growth performance, intestinal microflora, and immune response in broiler. A total 1,000 1-d old ROSS 308 (initial $BW=41{\pm}0.38g$) were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 4 replicates during d 35 of the feeding trial. Dietary included: (1) Control : control diet, (2) Antibiotics : control diet + Avilamycin 6 ppm, (3) Cu-SP : control diet + 100 ppm Cu-soy proteinate, (4) HBM : control diet + 0.15% herbal mixture, (5) Cu-SP+HBM : control diet + 100 ppm Cu-soy proteinate + 0.2% herbal mixture. Two-phase feeding program with a starter diet from d 0 to 21, and a finisher diet from d 22 to 35 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 d 22 to 35 and over all periods of the experiment, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were greater (P<0.05) for other treatment than control. Significant differences were found in lymphocyte (LY), and stress indicator (HE:LY ratio). Lymphocyte was greater (P<0.05) for Cu-SP + HBM treatment than control. However, stress indicator (HE:LY ratio) were greater (P<0.05) for control than Cu-SP + HBM treatment. The plasma IgG was higher (P<0.05) in the antibiotics, HBM, and Cu-SP+HBM treatments groups compared with control. The population of Clostridium perfringens in the antibiotics, Cu-SP, HBM, Cu-SP + HBM treatment groups were lower (P<0.05) than those control. These result suggested that dietary copper-soy proteinate or herbal mixture may be used as an alternative to antibiotics to improve growth performance, and intestinal health of birds.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the feeding effect of $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ on growth performance, organ phenomenon and cecum microflora in broiler chicks. The $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ was made by an ion exchange between illite and $silver(Ag^+)$. There were four treatment groups: negative control group(non-treatment), antibiotic supplement group (positive control), 0.5% $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ supplment group and 1.5% $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ supplement group. Total 200 birds was assigned for this five replication tests, allocating 10 birds into each treatment. Experimental diets were formulated on isocalories and isonitrogen for the whole experimental period. Body weight gain was higher in antibiotic supplementation (+C) and $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ supplement groups(S 0.5% and 51.5%) than the negative control group(-C), and feed efficiency was significantly enhanced with increase of the level of $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ supplement. The length of small intestine was longer in +C than in -C and $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ supplement groups (P<0.05), and the weight of small intestine was proportional to the level of $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ supplement. Crop weight was lower in $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ supplement group than in -C and +C groups (P<0.05), and the cecum weight was heavier in $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ supplementation group. Intestinal villi height was longer in 51.5% group at 3 weeks and 6 weeks of age than in -C and +C groups. With the respect of the formation of intestinal microflora, TBC and CBC was not affected by age and feed additive. However, the number of LAB was slightly higher in $bio-silverlite^{(R)}$ supplement group than in -C and +C groups.