• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1839-1848
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the comparative effects of dietary functional nutrients including glutamine (Gln), chromium picolinate (Cr picolinate), vitamin C (Vit C), betaine (Bet), and taurine (Tau) on growth performance, meat quality, immune responses, and stress biomarkers in broiler chickens raised under heat stress conditions. Methods: A total of 420 21-d-old Ross 308 male broiler chickens (initial body weight = 866±61.9 g) were randomly allotted to 1 of 7 treatment groups with 6 replicates. One group was kept under thermoneutral conditions and was fed a basal diet (PC, positive control). Other 6 groups were exposed to a cyclic heat stress condition. One of the 6 groups was fed the basal diet (NC, negative control), whereas 5 other groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% Gln, 500 ppb Cr picolinate, 250 mg/kg Vit C, 0.2% Bet, or 1.0% Tau. The diets and water were provided ad libitum for 21 d. Results: Broiler chickens in NC group had decreased (p<0.05) growth performance and immune responses measured based on cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH), but increased (p<0.05) stress responses measured based on feather corticosterone concentrations and blood heterophil:lymphocyte than those in PC group. However, none of dietary functional nutrients had a positive effect on growth performance of broiler chickens. Dietary supplementation of 250 mg/kg Vit C improved (p<0.05) CBH responses of broiler chickens, but other functional nutrients had no such an improvement in CBH responses. All functional nutrients decreased (p<0.05) stress responses of broiler chickens. Conclusion: Functional nutrients including Gln, Cr picolinate, Vit C, Bet, and Tau at the supplemental levels used in this study decrease stress responses of broiler chickens to a relatively similar extent. However, this reduction in stress responses could not fully ameliorate decreased productive performance of broiler chickens raised under the current heat stress conditions.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 2000

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementions of 0.1% probiotic and 0.1% yeast culture on the growth performance and meat quality of broiler chicks. A total of 160 Arbor Acre broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 16 pens ; four pens per treatment and 10 birds per pen. Feeding trial lasted for 6 weeks. The results obtained are summerized as follows : The body weight gain and feed intake was slightly higher in group of broiler chick supplemented antibiotic than those of other treatment groups, but were not significantly different among treatments. The feed conversion were slightly lower in groups of broiler chick supplemented antibiotic and probiotic than those of other treatment groups, but were not significantly different among treatments. The pH of thigh musle was slightly higher in group of broiler chick supplemented probiotic than those of other treatment groups. Crude protein, crude fat and crude ash of thigh muscle were lower in groups of broiler chick supplemented probiltic and yeast culture than those of other treatment groups, but were not significantly different among treatments. The saturated fatty acid content of the thigh muscle was tende to be higher in group of broiler chick supplemented yeast culture, but the unsaturated fatty acid content was tende to be lower in group of broiler chick supplemented yeast culture than those of other treatment groups.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.567-576
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• 2022

Objective: An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast (EconomasE^®) on the growth performance, visceral organ weight, meat quality, and oxidative stability of broiler chickens. Methods: Nine hundred sixty, day-old male broiler chickens (Cobb, 43.97±0.55 g) were divided into three dietary treatments and allocated into 12 deep litter pens in a completely randomized design giving 4 replicate cages for each treatment. Three dietary treatments were: i) control (CON, basal diet with sufficient nutrient), ii) vitamin E (VitE, basal diet supplemented with 100 IU VitE), and iii) Algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast (EcoE, basal diet supplemented with 0.2% algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast: EconomasE^®). Maize soybean meal based basal diets were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrition requirement for broiler chickens. Chickens were fed ad-libitum experimental diets during the 42 days experiment period. On days 21 and 42, body weight and feed intake were measured to calculate the feed conversion ratio of the chickens. Intestine and visceral organs were measured together with meat quality and oxidative stability on days 14 and 42. Results: Chickens fed with EcoE showed improved (p<0.05) growth performance, meat quality, and higher (p<0.05) oxidative stability compared to the chicken fed on CON. Moreover, broiler chickens fed with EcoE showed similar (p<0.05) growth performance with better (p<0.05) meat quality and higher oxidative stability compared to the broiler chickens fed VitE (p<0.05). Conclusion: The algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast can be supplemented into commercial broiler diets as a substitution of VitE while maintaining growth performance with enhancing meat quality and oxidative stability of the broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.605-610
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• 1992

Two experiments were conducted to investigate into the effects of replacing maize with a mixture of cassava root and leaf meal (CRLM) on the performance of broiler chickens. In experiment 1, CRLM replaced 50 or 100 percent of maize in the control diet. In experiment 2, the 100 percent CRLM based-diet was fortified at a further 3 percent level with coconut oil. A total of 180, one-day old Shaver Starbro chicks, raised up to 49 days of age, were used. There were no significant (p<0.05) differences in final body weights, feed intake and feed efficiency between the control group and the group fed the diet in which 50 percent of the maize was replaced with CRLM. At the 100 percent level of replacement of maize with CRLM, however, final body weights, feed efficiency and carcass yields, were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. Dressing percentage and feed intake were not affected (p>0.05) by level of substitution of maize with CRLM. In experiment 2, when the diet in which all of the maize was replaced with CRLM was fortified with coconut oil at an additional 3 percent level, broiler performance improved and equaled (p=0.05) that obtained on the control maize diet. It was concluded the CRLM can replace 50 percent of maize in broiler diet without adversely affecting performance. However, for the complete replacement of maize with CRLM, it is necessary to further supplement such a diet with a high energy density ingredient if broiler performance is to be maintained.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.305-312
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• 2020

Objective: The present trial was conducted to determine the influence of different dietary fatty acid (omega-3 and omega-6) sources on reproductive performance of female broiler breeders and growth performance and carcass traits of their progeny. Methods: Two hundred and twenty, 25 weeks old Ross-308 male (20) and female (200) broiler breeders were used in the experiment for the period of 6 weeks. All birds were randomly divided into four dietary treatments (containing 2% soybean oil, 2% sunflower oil, 2% flaxseed oil, and 2% fish oil) each with five replicates of one male and ten females. Throughout this experiment hatching performance of broiler breeders, progeny growth performance and carcass parameters were recorded. Results: The results showed that the inclusion of different fatty acid sources in female broiler breeders diet had no significant effects (p>0.05) on number of fertile eggs, post-hatch mortality, and fertility rate. The soybean oil supplemented group had significantly (p<0.05) higher late embryonic mortality compared to other three treatments. Conclusion: It was concluded that inclusion of 2% of different sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (especially 2% flax seed oil) in broiler breeders' diet can reduce late embryonic mortality. The other reproductive characteristics of parents and growth and carcass characteristics of progeny remained unaltered by dietary sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1585-1591
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• 2022

Objective: The present study examined the effects of exogenous emulsifiers and multi-enzyme supplementation into a low energy density diet on growth performance, visceral organ parameters, blood metabolites, ileal morphology, and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens from hatch to 21 days. Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were allocated in a completely randomized design to 24 pens and each pen was assigned to one of four dietary treatments to give six replications with seven chickens in a cage. Dietary treatments were: i) positive control with standard energy level (PC); ii) negative control with 100 kcal/kg lower energy of the standard level (NC); iii) NC diet supplemented 0.05% calcium stearoyl-2 lactylate as an emulsifier (NC+E); and iv) NC diet supplemented with both 0.05% calcium stearoyl-2 lactylate and 0.05% multi-enzyme (NC+E+M). Corn and soybean meal-based control diets containing vegetable oil were formulated to meet the Ross 308 nutrition specification. Chickens were fed ad-libitum with the treatment diets and sampling was conducted on day 21. Results: Our results revealed that emulsifier and multi-enzyme supplementation into NC diets improved (p<0.05) feed efficiency of the broiler chickens compared to the broiler chickens fed NC diets from hatch to 21 days. Supplementation of emulsifier and multi-enzyme into NC diet improved (p<0.05) nutrient digestibility of the broiler chickens. However, emulsifier and multi-enzyme supplementation into diet did not influence (p>0.05) visceral organ weight, blood metabolites, and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens fed NC diets. Conclusion: Supplementation of emulsifier and multi-enzyme in the NC diet would support improving growth performance in young broiler chickens with improved feed efficiency and increased nutrient digestibility thereby curtailing the negative impact of energy reduction in the diets.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.207-214
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• 2011

The influence of supplementing diets with various levels of organic zinc (OZ) on the performance, meat quality attributes, and sensory properties of broiler chickens was investigated. A total of 3,200 1-d-old female broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 16 floor pens (replicates) with 200 birds per pen. A corn-wheat-soybean meal basal diet (control) was formulated and 20 ppm OZ (20 OZ), 40 ppm OZ (40 OZ), or 80 ppm OZ (80 OZ) was added to the basal diet to form four dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment. Live performance of broiler chickens, meat quality, and sensory properties were evaluated. The results showed no significant difference among the treatments for live performance of broiler chickens. Significant increases (p<0.05) in thigh skin epidermis and dermis thickness were shown in the OZ supplementation groups; however, no effect of OZ on the thickness of back skin epidermis or dermis was found. Dietary OZ levels did not affect the pH of breast and thigh meat or the water holding capacity (WHC) of thigh meat, but the WHC of breast meat increased significantly (p<0.05) when birds were fed 40 OZ and 80 OZ. Results of a sensory analysis showed no differences among the dietary treatments. In conclusion, dietary OZ did not affect live performance or sensory properties of broiler chickens but did increase the WHC of breast meat and thickness of skin layers; thus, improving carcass quality in broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.213-215
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• 1994

Poultry feeding systems are likely to change for increased efficiency of production. An experiment was conducted to compare the response of broilers to choice feeding of corn with a standard broiler ration. The treatments consisted of providing broiler feed as the only feed (SINGLE FEED) and access to corn as a choice to a complete broiler feed (CHOICE FEEDING). Weights and feed consumption were obtained at weekly intervals. Samples at the conclusion of the experiment were taken to determine the weight of abdominal fat. Results showed that there was no significant difference in term of liveweight between the two feeding regimes. However, birds given a choice of the broiler feed and corn had better feed efficiency which is reflected by the lower total feed intake. Corn intake was 23.1% of total feed intake in the choice fed birds. In term of carcass colour, birds fed corn as a choice was observed to have a deeper yellow skin colour than the birds fed with broiler feed only.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.1075-1082
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• 2023

Objective: Animal feed companies and researchers are currently embarking on quests for feed additives that could combat the pathogens while promoting growth as well as maintaining quality products. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of onion extracts on growth performance, carcass quality, and bone morphometrics of broiler chickens. Methods: A total number of 200 one-day-old unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks were assigned to 5 treatment groups, replicated 4 times. Each replicate (pens) held 10 chickens in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were then randomly allotted to the pens which act as experimental units. The isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets were formulated by including onion extracts at 0, 5, 10, 15, or 25 g/kg in a complete broiler diet. Feed intake, and body weight, were recorded then used to calculate feed conversion ratio. At the end of the experiment (42 days), four chickens from each pen were randomly selected for slaughter for carcass, bone morphology and sensory evaluation. Results: Results showed that onion extract supplementation did not affect (p>0.05) growth performances and meat sensory evaluation. However, there was a significantly increased (p<0.05) meat shear force in groups receiving onion extracts dietary treatments. Furthermore, onion extracts improved (p<0.05) bone morphology of broiler chickens in terms of weight, diameter, calcium, and phosphorous contents. Conclusion: In conclusion, onion extracts can be safely included in a commercial broiler diet as a growth promoter without causing adverse effects on growth performance traits and carcass quality in chickens. Onion extract supplementation improved tibia bone growth and strength in broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.247-252
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• 2013

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing various concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, or 400 ${\mu}g/kg$ diet) of organic Se on growth performance, carcass traits, oxidative stress, and immune responses in commercial broiler chickens reared in open-sided poultry house under tropical climatic conditions. Each diet was fed ad libitum to eight replicates consisting of six birds in each pen from 1 to 42 d of age. Body weight gain and feed efficiency, and relative weight of liver, abdominal fat and ready to cook yields were not affected (p>0.05) by organic Se supplementation to broiler diets. Lipid peroxidation in plasma decreased, while activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in plasma increased (p<0.01) linearly with Se concentration in diet. The ratios between heterophyls and lymphocytes and relative weight of lymphoid organs (bursa, spleen, and thymus), and antibody production to Newcastle disease vaccination were not affected (p>0.05) by Se supplementation to broiler diets. However, the cell-mediated immunity (lymphocyte proliferation ratio) increased (p<0.01) linearly with dietary Se concentration. The results of the present study indicate that the supplementation of Se did not influence body weight and feed efficiency. However, supplementation of Se increased antioxidant status and lymphocyte proliferation in broiler chickens.