• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.249-253
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• 2019

Various factors negatively affect poultry production, including a multitude of avian pathogens. Among them, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) cause world-wide economic losses in the poultry industry. Although respectively, MG and MS induce chronic respiratory disease and synovitis in poultry, these pathogens often manifest as clinically inapparent infections and many countries are therefore having difficulties effectively eradicating them. In this study, five broiler breeder farms in Korea were investigated for the presence of Mycoplasma infection from 2016 to 2018. Serum samples were collected for detection of antibodies to mycoplasma species using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Additionally, the production index and feed conversion rate of broilers were recorded. According to this investigation, broiler breeder farms in 2018 were serologically negative for Mycoplasma infection with broilers exhibiting a high production index and low feed conversion rate. Thus, eradicating mycoplasma in poultry farms is critical for improving chick quality and overall poultry production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.102-108
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• 2004

The present experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of methionine hydroxy analogue free fatty acid (MHAFA) in comparison to DL-methionine (DL-Met) utilizing day-old commercial broiler chicks (n=300). The chicks were randomly distributed into 30 groups of 10 chicks each. Three dietary treatments, viz. D1-maize-soybean meal based basal diet (Control), D2- control diet supplemented with DL- methionine to meet its requirements and D3-control supplemented with MHA-FA @ 1.54 times of DL-methionine used in D2, were formulated. Each dietary treatment was offered to 10 replicated groups of chicks following completely random design (CRD). The chicks fed on supplemental DL-Met had significantly higher (p<0.01) gain in body weight, followed by MHA-FA group and control during 0-3 weeks of age. During overall growth period (0-6 weeks), chicks in DL-Met and MHA-FA groups grew better (p<0.01) than those in control. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved (p<0.01) on supplementation of either DL- Met or MHA-FA in the basal (Control) diet during 0-3 weeks of age. The FCR for overall period, however, did not differ statistically (p>0.05) amongst the treatments. The eviscerated yields emanated from diets with DL-Met or MHA-FA were higher (p<0.01) than that in Control. Abdominal fat pad was also more (p<0.01) in broilers fed control diet than in DL-Met or MHA-FA supplemented group. Breast yield was higher (p<0.05) in MHA-FA fed broilers than those fed DL-methionine supplemented or un-supplemented diets. The efficacy of MHA-FA in comparison to DL-Met for growth was 62.11, 64.82 and 63.88% and for feed efficiency was 62.98, 67.73 and 64.01% at 0-3, 3-6 and 0-6 weeks of age, respectively, while it was 65.85, 71.40 and 67.49% for eviscerated yield, abdominal fat pad reduction and breast yield at 6 weeks of age, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.203-208
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to explore the efficacy of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol acetate (AT), a commercial supplement containing tocopherols, in commercial broilers. Three hundred and thirty Ross broiler chicks (4-d old) were randomly distributed and allotted to five dietary treatments for six weeks. Each treatment comprised 3 pens as replicates containing 22 chicks per pen. The five dietary treatments were: 0 mg/kg AT (negative control); 10 mg/kg AT; 50 mg/kg AT; 100 mg/kg AT; and 200 mg/kg AT; respectively, supplied totally by the supplement under study. Supplementation of AT improved weight gain significantly (p<0.05), with higher values in the 100 and 200 mg/kg AT fed group than the control during all phases of study, but feed intake remained unaffected. The nutrient digestibility studies conducted after 15 and 35 days of experimental feeding showed significantly higher digestibility of CP, ether extract and gross energy, in these two groups over the control diet. Carcass traits like dressing percentage and the color of the breast meat did not differ significantly due to treatments, but significantly (p = 0.0152) lower abdominal fat percent was noted in the 200 mg/kg fed group. Higher (p = 0.0003) tibia bone strength was noticed in groups fed diets above 50 mg/kg AT because of higher bone mineral content. The serum levels of tocopherols were not influenced but the muscle tocopherols content showed a positive linear trend with the dietary levels supplemented. The thio-barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level in meat also suggested that supplemental AT has a protective role in rancidity. Overall, it could be concluded that AT supplementation at higher levels was found beneficial for growth and increased chicken meat quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1795-1806
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• 2018

Objective: The study was designed to establish choline deficiency model (CDM) in broilers for evaluating efficacy of polyherbal formulation (PHF) in comparison with synthetic choline chloride (SCC). Methods: A total of 2,550 one-day-old Cobb 430 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to different groups in three experiments. In experiment 1, G1 and G2 served as normal controls and were fed a basal diet with 100% soybean meal (SBM) as a major protein source supplemented with and without SCC, respectively. In G3, G4, G5, and G6 groups, SBM was replaced at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% by soy protein isolate (SPI) to induce a graded level of choline deficiency. In experiment 2, PHF (500 and 1,000 g/ton) in comparison with SCC (1,000 g/ton) were evaluated. In experiment 3, dose-response of PHF (200, 400, and 500 g/ton) with SCC (400 g/ton) was determined. Results: Replacement of SBM by SPI produced a linear decrease in body weight gain (BWG) with a poor feed conversion ratio (FCR). 25% SBM replacement by SPI yielded an optimum negative impact on BWG and FCR; hence, it is considered for further studies. In experiment 2, PHF (500 and 1,000 g/ton) and SCC (1,000 g/ton) showed a similar performance in BWG, FCR and relative liver weight. In experiment 3, PHF produced an optimum efficacy at 400 g/ton and was comparable to SCC in the restoration of serum aspartate aminotransferase activity, abdominal fat, breast muscle lipid content and liver histopathological abnormalities. Conclusion: Replacement of SBM by SPI caused choline deficiency characterised by worsening of BWG, FCR, elevation in liver enzymes and histopathological changes indicating fatty liver. CDM was found valid for evaluating SCC and PHF. It is concluded that PHF has the potential to mimic biological activities of SCC through the restoration of negative effects caused by CDM.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.221-232
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of replacing fish meal or soybean meal with feather meal or bromelain treated feather meal in broiler diets on the performances and nutrient utilization. Two hundred and twenty-five broilers were randomly allotted to five dietary treatrnents((1) control, basal diet; (2) PFM 50, 50 % of the fish meal replaced with bromelain treated feather meal; (3) PFM 100, 100% of the fish meal replaced with bromelain treated feather meal; (4) PSM 20, 20 % of the soybean meal replaced with bromelain treated feather meal; and (5) PSM 40, 40% of the soybean meal replaced with bromelain treated feather meal) in a 5-week feeding trial. In the overall period, body weight gain of the PFM 50(1,807 g), PSM 20(1,816 g) and PSM 40(1,823 g) were the highest and that of the PFM 100 was 1,744 g. The body weight gain of the control(1,698 g) was the lowest(p < 0.05) among treatments. Feed conversion was significantly(p< 0.05) improved when bromelain treated feather meal replaced 20% of the fish meal in the basal diet. Digestibilities of dry matter, ether extract, organic matter and phosphorus were not different among the treatments. Digestibility of crude protein of PFM 50(65.87 %), PSM 20(67.18 %) and PSM 40(67.56%) were the highest, and that of the control(54.49%) was the lowest(p < 0.05) among treatments. Arrunonia and hydrogen sulfide gases from the feces were significantly(p < 0.05) decreased in chicks fed the PFM 50, PSM 20 and GFM 40 diets, when observed after 3 weeks of feeding trials. Feed costs of the control and PFM 50 were 604 and 629 won, respectively but that of PSM 50 was 820 won. Therefore, replacement of fish meal with bromelain treated feather meal in the diets for chicks could be useful for economic production.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.565-568
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• 2010

Sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) and trimethoprim (TMP) are chemotherapeutics that are extensively used in various animal species for the treatment or prevention of coccidia and coccidia-like parasites. Little information about the depletion kinetics of these compounds in chickens exists in the literature. In this study, a new commercial liquid concentrate of SQX in combination with TMP (100 g/l of SQX and 33.4 g/l of TMP) was administered with drinking water at a dose of 0.75 ml/l or 1.5 ml/l. The edible tissue concentrations of the drugs were determined by the validated high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric method. Residue concentrations of SQX and TMP were lower than their maximum residual limits (MRLs) in all tissues from both dose groups at 5 days after the treatment. The optimal withdrawal time of SQX/TMP combination was suggested to be over 5 days after cessation of medication in broilers.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.354-362
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• 2021

Broiler chickens grow rapidly, and their nutrient requirements change daily. However, broilers are fed three to five diet phases, meaning nutrients are under or oversupplied throughout production. Increasing diet phases improves production efficiency as there is less time in the production cycle that nutrients are in under or over-supply. Nevertheless, the process of administering four or more diets is costly and often impractical. New technologies are now available to blend feed to match the daily nutrient requirements of broilers. Thus, the aim of this review is to evaluate previous studies measuring the impact of increasing feed phases on nutrient utilisation and growth performance, and review recent studies taking this concept to the extreme; precision nutrition - feeding a new diet for each day of the production cycle. This review will also discuss how modern precision feeding technologies have been utilised and the potential that new technologies may bring to the poultry industry. The development of a precision nutrition regime which targets daily requirements by blending dietary components on farm is anticipated to improve the efficiency of production, reduce production cost and therefore improve sustainability of the industry. There is also potential for precision feeding technology along with precision nutrition strategies to deliver a plethora of other management and economic benefits. These include increased fluidity to cope with sudden environmental or market changes, and the ability to alter diets on a farm by farm level in a large, integrated operation. Thus, the future possibilities and practical implications for such technologies to generate a paradigm shift in feed formulation within the poultry industry to meet the rising demand for animal protein is also discussed.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.711-720
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the appropriate amount of eri silkworm pupae meal (Samia ricini) to add to the broiler diet. Methods: Two hundred 1-day-old male chicks with initial weight at 50.03±0.56 g/chick were divided into four groups (five replicates per group and ten chicks per replicate): a control group fed a corn-soybean diet and experimental groups supplemented with 5%, 10%, or 15% eri silkworm pupae meal. All experimental diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and formulated respecting nutrient requirements. Growth performances were collected during the experimental period and other parameters were collected at the end of experiment when broilers reached thirty-eight days old. Results: A higher cold carcass weight and skin yellowness in the broilers fed 10% eri silkworm pupae meal compared with the other groups (p<0.05). Therefore, supplementation with 10% eri silkworm pupae meal is suggested for the broiler diet formulation because it did not cause any serious negative consequences on growth performance, health status, carcass characteristics and meat quality. However, the usage of eri silkworm pupae meal at 15% is not recommend because it led to negative outcomes Conclusion: The addition of eri silkworm pupae at 10% can be used as an alternative protein sources for broiler chickens which provided benefits on cold carcass weight and skin yellowness without adverse effects.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.536-546
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• 2024

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare status at two commercial broiler welfare-certified farms. Methods: Production and welfare indicators were assessed at two farms (designated Farm A and B). Both farms had two windowless houses with forced tunnel-type ventilation and housed broilers at stocking densities of approximately 16.7 birds/m² (Farm A) and 16.8 birds/m² (Farm B). Each house was divided into two or three equal sections and was provided with or without pecking blocks. Grain-based pecking blocks, measuring 25 × 25 × 25 cm, were given to broilers in both farms at 1 block per 1,000 birds. Various parameters including productivity (body weight and flock uniformity), corticosterone levels (in fecal droppings and feathers), footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather dirtiness, gait score, litter quality, body surface temperature, and volatile fatty acids in fecal samples were assessed at 26 days of age, whereas litter quality was analyzed at 13 and 26 days of age. Results: There were no significant effects of providing pecking blocks on productivity (body weight and uniformity), fecal and feather corticosterone, welfare indicators (i.e., footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather cleanliness, and gait score), and litter quality (i.e., moisture, nitrogen, and pH). No differences in body surface temperature between the control and enrichment treatments were noted in Farm B, but body surface temperatures of the head (p = 0.029) and legs (p = 0.011) in the enrichment vs. control group were elevated in Farm A. Butyrate concentration in the enrichment vs control group was higher in Farm B (p = 0.023), but this effect was not detected in Farm A. Conclusion: It is concluded that grain-based pecking blocks did not affect performance and welfare indicators. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the potential impact of grain-based pecking blocks on gut health indicators.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2009

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of garlic extract (GE) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and meat composition in broilers. Dietary treatment were control (corn-soy based diet, 0 ppm), and diets added with 100 or 200 ppm GE. Starter and finisher diets were fed from 0 to 3 wk and 4 to 5 wk, respectively. Supplementation of GE had no effect on weight gain, but there was trend towards improvement in growth rate in birds fed diets containing 100 ppm GE during overall period, while birds fed 100 ppm GE had better feed efficiency (p<0.05) than birds fed control diet during finisher period. Birds fed GE had greater (p<0.05) nutrient digestibility of dry matter than birds fed control diet. The TBARS values of breast muscle obtained from birds fed 100 and 200 ppm GE were lower than breast muscle of control birds on day 8 and 12 of storage. The breast muscle of birds fed 200 ppm GE had higher (p<0.05) $L^*$ values than breast muscle of birds fed control and 100 ppm GE diets. The carcass characteristics, meat and bone composition, CIE $a^*$ and $b^*$ values did not differ among the dietary treatments. In conclusion, supplementation of GE enhanced feed efficiency and nutrient digestibility in broilers.