• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.12
• /
• pp.1718-1728
• /
• 2011

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the in vitro ability of keratinase to hydrolyze soybean glycinin and ${\beta}$-conglycinin and to evaluate the in vivo effects of keratinase when included in corn-soybean diets with different levels of crude protein and fed to nursery pigs. In experiment 1, a saturated keratinase solution (1 ml) was added to two blank controls of either glycinin or ${\beta}$-conglycinin resulting in the hydrolysis of 94.74% glycinin and 88.89% ${\beta}$-conglycinin. In experiment 2, 190 pigs (8.3${\pm}$0.63 kg BW) were allotted to one of four treatments in a 2${\times}$2 factorial arrangement on the basis of body weight, and sex was balanced among the pens. The effects of crude protein (19 vs. 22%) and keratinase (0 vs. 0.05%) were studied. Each treatment was applied to six pens with seven (two pens) or eight pigs per pen. Pigs were fed the experimental diets for 21 d. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio were improved (p<0.05) with keratinase supplementation while feed intake was reduced (p<0.05). Keratinase supplementation increased (p<0.05) the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, energy, crude protein and phosphorus. Keratinase supplementation also increased n-butyric acid in the cecum and colon, lactobacilli and total anaerobe counts in the colon as well as the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the ileum. Additionally, fecal score, ammonia nitrogen and branch chain volatile fatty acids in the colon, E. coli and total aerobe counts in the colon, crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum as well as serum interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 concentrations were also decreased (p<0.05) by keratinase supplementation. A reduction in dietary crude protein decreased (p<0.05) colon ammonia nitrogen concentration and cecal propionic acid and branch chain volatile fatty acid concentrations. In addition, cecal E. coli counts, colon total anaerobe counts, ileal crypt depth, and serum interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 concentrations were also decreased (p<0.05) with the reduction of dietary crude protein. With the exception of fecal scores, there were no significant interactions between crude protein and keratinase. This study provides evidence that dietary keratinase supplementation improved nursery pig performance by improving intestinal morphology and ecology, thus improving nutrient digestibility and alleviating the inflammatory response.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 2018

This study examined the effects of dietary processed pine needle tree powder (PPNP) on growth performance, visceral organ parameters, ileal digestibility, blood metabolites and ileal morphology of broiler chickens for 5-week after hatch. In total, 220 1-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 30 pens (seven birds per pen), and each pen was assigned to one of five dietary treatments, a diet without PPNP (control) and diets with 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% PPNP. The body weight and feed intake were measured weekly. One bird from each pen was selected randomly and gently euthanized to collect the blood, visceral organs and digesta samples on 2, 3 and 5 week of age. Birds fed 2.0% PPNP showed decreased (P<0.05) overall body weight, average daily gain and average daily feed intake compared to those fed control, 0.5 and 1.0% PPNP. The small intestine length increased (P<0.05) as the level of PPNP in the diet increased. A deeper crypt depth was observed (P<0.05) when birds fed 2.0% PPNP compared to those fed the control diet at week 2. A higher V:C ratio was observed (P<0.05) in birds fed 1.0% PPNP than in those fed other treatments at week 3. Ileal protein digestibility improved (P<0.05) when birds fed 0.5% and 1.0% PPNP compared to that in those fed the control diet at week 3. The feed conversion ratio, ileal dry matter digestibility and blood urea nitrogen and cholesterol, and gizzard and ceca weights were not affected (P>0.05) by supplementation of any levels of PPNP. These results demonstrated that inclusion of PPNP in broiler diets could be a possible factor in improving overall growth performance suggesting early gut development when 1% PPNP is supplemented.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.202-210
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine effects of ridging systems and plastic film mulch types on growth, yield, and profitability of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in spring cropping using paddy field and to suggest profitable ridging system and plastic mulch type.METHODS AND RESULTS: Two potato cultivars ('Goun', and 'Atlantic') were grown at paddy field located in Gangneung in spring. For treatments, ridging systems were one-row ridge (OR) and two-row ridge (TR). Mulch types were no-mulch (NM), black plastic film mulch (BPM), and transparent plastic film mulch (TPM). Emergence of sprout was affected by the mulch types and the fastest level was shown at TPM treatment. Accumulative soil temperature during sprouting was 16.2℃ higher at TR than at OR and also higher at TPM than at BPM or NM. Stem length was not affected by ridging systems or mulch types. Leaf area index (LAI) was influenced by mulch types, while not by ridging systems. The highest LAI was shown at TR with TPM and OR of BPM. There was no significant difference in specific gravity or dry matter rate by ridging systems and mulch types. Tuber yield was significantly influenced by ridging systems and mulch types. Mean tuber weight was heavier at OR treatment than at TR and also the heaviest at TPM among mulch types. The highest marketable yield was found at OR with BPM. Based on marketable tuber yield and market price, the highest income ratio in two cultivars was found at OR with BPM and it was 20~82% higher than the ratio at TR with TPM.CONCLUSION: In spring potato cropping using paddy field, OR with BPM is better for high yield and is more profitable for farmer's income than the conventional cultivation method, TR with TPM.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.239-246
• /
• 2015

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the dietary supplementation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal morphology and cecal microflora in broiler chickens. A total of two hundred and eighty eight 1-d-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allocated to one of four experimental treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment was fed to eight replicate cages, with nine birds per cage. Dietary treatments were composed of an antibiotic-free basal diet (control), and the basal diet supplemented with either 15 mg/kg of virginiamycin as antibiotic growth promoter (AGP), 30 mg/kg of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-based DFM (DFM 30) or 60 mg/kg of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-based DFM (DFM 60). Experimental diets were fed in two phases: starter (d 1 to 21) and finisher (d 22 to 42). Growth performance, nutrient utilization, morphological parameters of the small intestine and cecal microbial populations were measured at the end of the starter (d 21) and finisher (d 42) phases. During the starter phase, DFM and virginiamycin supplementation improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR; p<0.01) compared with the control group. For the finisher phase and the overall experiment (d 1 to 42) broilers fed diets with the DFM had better body weight gain (BWG) and FCR than that of control (p<0.05). Supplementation of virginiamycin and DFM significantly increased the total tract apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM) and gross energy during both starter and finisher phases (p<0.05) compared with the control group. On d 21, villus height, crypt depth and villus height to crypt depth ratio of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were significantly increased for the birds fed with the DFM diets as compared with the control group (p<0.05). The DFM 30, DFM 60, and AGP groups decreased the Escherichia coli population in cecum at d 21 and d 42 compared with control group (p<0.01). In addition, the population of Lactobacillus was increased in DFM 30 and DFM 60 groups as compared with control and AGP groups (p<0.01). It can be concluded that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-based DFM could be an alternative to the use of AGPs in broilers diets based on plant protein.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The present study is aimed at examining the drying characteristics of sea tangle through a combination of microwave and far-infrared drying experiment and finding the optimal drying conditions. Methods: Sea tangle was cleaned and cut into fine pieces (5mm) before they were subjected to combinational drying by microwave and far-infrared ray. The amount of specimen per drying is 2 kg. The finely cut pieces of sea tangle were preheated in a microwave dryer for three different lengths of time (10, 15, and 20 min). Subsequently, they were dried using a far-infrared dryer at tow temperatures ($90^{\circ}C$ and $100^{\circ}C$) at an air velocity of 0.8 m/s until the final moisture content reduced to 10%. Results: Sea tangle dried under the condition of 20 min of preheating in the microwave dryer and drying at $100^{\circ}C$ by the far-infrared dryer. Of the drying models verified in this study, the logarithmic model showed high accuracy with the coefficient of determination $R^2>0.7825$ and RMSE<0.1095. The rehydration ratio of sea tangle was the highest (12.87 g water/g dry matter) under the condition of 15 min of preheating in the microwave dryer and drying at $100^{\circ}C$ by the far-infrared dryer. The energy consumption for the combination of microwave and far-infrared drying was the lowest (4.78 kJ/kg water) under the condition of 20 min of preheating in the microwave dryer and drying at $100^{\circ}C$ by the far-infrared dryer. Conclusions: Considering the drying time, discoloration during drying, rehydration ratio, and energy consumption for the drying of sea tangle, the optimal drying conditions for high-quality sea tangle are 15 min of preheating in a microwave dryer and drying at $100^{\circ}C$ by a far-infrared dryer.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.55-60
• /
• 2004

The effects of concentrate to roughage ratios on duration and frequencies of rumination and chewing in Hanwoo steers were determined. Five Hanwoo steers fitted with rumen fistula were used to evaluate the effects of concentrate to rice straw ratio on eating and ruminating behavior. Experimental diets were formulated with different concentrate to rice straw ratios(50 : 50, 60: 40, 70: 30, 80: 20, 90: 10). When level of roughage feed was increased by 10, 20, 30, 40 to 50% of total dry matter of the diet, total chewing time was increased linearly from 286.99, 321.09, 390.29, 406.63 to 423.30 min/d, which was mainly due to increased ruminating time from 204.91 to 342.80 min/day. However, the level of roughage did not affect eating time. The number of chews per day for rumination and number of chews per rumination were significantly decreased(p < 0.05) as roughage level was increased. In summary, the duration and frequencies of rumination in Hanwoo increased with increased rice straw level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 1988

This study was conducted to relate among growth characteristics, quality, and chemical components for flue-cored tobacco. The results are summarized as follows : 1. Starch content in harvested green leaf was correlated negatively with leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and leaf weight of harvested green leaf, respectively, while positively with total sugar content in cured leaf, and the ratio of leaf length to leaf width of harvested green leaf. 2. Organic matter and total nitrogen contents in the soil were correlated positively with nicotine content in cured leaf, respectively, and total nitrogen in the soil negatively with total sugar content in cured leaf. 3, Amount of fertilizer, application date of MH, priod of harvesting, and yield were correlated positively with nicotine content in cured leaf, respectively , while negatively with total sugar content. Application amount of MH was correlated positively with total sugar content, but negatively with nicotine content in cured leaf. Also amount of compost was correlated negatively with nicotine content in cured leaf. 4. The ratio of total sugar to nicotine (TS/N) per plant was correlated positively with price (Won/kg) and specific leaf area, but negatively with leaf length. leaf width, leaf area, harvested leaves, and leaf weight in cured leaves, respectively. Yield was correlated negatively with TS/N per plant. 5. TS/N of the best quality tobacco per plant was 12.0. Those of the best quality tobacco in each stalk position were 42.1 for first~third leaf, 28.4 for 4th~6th leaf , 23.7 for 7th~9th leaf, 7.7 for l0th~12th leaf , and 7.8 for over 13th leaf from bottom, respectively. 6, When TS/N was 12.0, optimum values of growth characteristics per plant were 100.5 $\pm$ 10.3g for leaf dry weight, 755.1$\pm$53.2cm for leaf length, 294.4$\pm$25.1cm for leaf width, 8, 892$\pm$111cm2 for leaf area, 16.0$\pm$0.6 leaves for harvested leaves, and 7.32$\pm$0.44mg/cm2 for specific leaf area, respectively. 7. When TS/N was 12.0, optimum values of chemical components per plant were 1.92$\pm$0.28% for nicotine content, and 20.4$\pm$ 1.4 % for total sugar content, and that of yield was 238.3$\pm$ 9.8kg/10a.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2011

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the fertilizer sources and ground cover mulches on nutrient release, growth, and photosynthesis in small one-year-old apple (Malus ${\times}$ domestica Borkh.) trees in controlled conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatments included no fertilizer (NF), commercial organic fertilizer (CF), and poultry litter (PL) for fertilizer treatments, and wood chips (WC), shredded paper (SP), green compost (GC), and grass clippings (GR) for cover mulch treatments. All treatments were applied proportionally based on the volume ratio equivalent to the soil. CF, PL, and GR treatments that had optimum carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) ratios (less than 30:1) for N mineralization through the microbes released the greatest $NH_4^+$ concentrations in the pot media at 90 days after the treatments, but GC mulch with the optimum C:N ratio did not. CF-, PL- and GR-treated plants had the largest leaf area, thickest stem diameter, longest shoot extension, and greater dry matter production. CONCLUSION(s): CF and PL showed an suitable organic nutrient source for improving plant growth in an orchard. Interestingly, GR also could be a nutrient source for tree growth, if vegetation competition is controlled by maintaining vegetation height and recycling enough grass clippings to the soil in an orchard.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 1995

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of activated carbon (AC) on growth, ruminal charateristics, blood profiles and feed digestibility in sheep, using roughage-based or concentrate-based diets. Twelve Suffolk breed of sheep of similar age and weight were distributed into 4 groups in a $2{\times}2$ factorial design. Two groups were fed a roughage-based diet with (R + AC) and without AC (R - AC), while the other two were fed a concentrate-based diet with (C + AC) and without AC (C - AC), respectively. The addition of 0.3% AC was based on dry matter of feed offered to animals. The incorporation of AC in roughage and concentrate based diets had no marked effects on feed intake, daily gain and feed conversion of the animals within experimental diets. The results obtained might be due to the low level of AC added in the diet. The animal on both concentrate-based diets were higher than the roughage-based diets in terms of daily gain and feed conversion ratio. However, it was observed that the animals provided with AC in the concentrate-based diet did not suffer from diarrhea and easily adjusted to high concentrate feeding. Further, the pH value for all diets before feeding was noted to be similar. After feeding, however, pH was shown to be higher in R + AC (p < 0.05) than in C + AC diet. Rumen protozoa number was decreased after feeding for both + AC diets, but in C - AC diet it was higher than in the roughage-based diets. For ammonia-nitrogen, C - AC was found to be higher than C + AC diet and the roughage-based diets before feeding. Total volatile fatty acid concentration, propionate and valerate molar ratios for both diets and time of collection were not affected. However, acetate, butyrate and valerate molar ratios were observed to be affected by diets and time of collections. The diets with AC increased (p < 0.05) before feeding for acetate molar ratio, but not different within diet, however, the roughage diets were found to be higher (p < 0.05) in acetate than the concentrate diet. In the blood parameters, the glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), red and white blood cell (RBC, WBC) counts and packed cell volume (PCV) did not differ within and among the diets. Likewise, the WBC differential count in both diets with either - AC or + AC were similar in trend. However, lymphocyte count was noted to be increased in R + AC than the R - AC diet. The addition of AC in both diets did not affect nutrient digestibilities within diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.64-70
• /
• 2017

Objective: In the present study, role of increasing levels of Ecklonia cava (seaweed) supplementation in diets was investigated on growth performance, coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients, serum immunoglobulins, cecal microflora and intestinal morphology of weanling pigs. Methods: A total of 200 weaned pigs (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Duroc; initial body weight $7.08{\pm}0.15kg$) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments on the basis of body weight. There were 5 replicate pens in each treatment including 10 pigs of each. Treatments were divided by dietary Ecklonia cava supplementation levels (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, or 0.15%) in growing-finishing diets. There were 2 diet formulation phases throughout the experiment. The pigs were offered the diets ad libitum for the entire period of experiment in meal form. Results: The pigs fed with increasing dietary concentrations of Ecklonia cava had linear increase (p<0.05) in the overall average daily gain, however, there were no significant differences in gain to feed ratio, CTTAD of dry matter and crude protein at both phase I and phase II. Digestibility of gross energy was linearly improved (p<0.05) in phase II. At day 28, pigs fed Ecklonia cava had greater (linear, p<0.05) Lactobacillus spp., fewer Escherichia coli (E. coli) spp. (linear, p<0.05) and a tendency to have fewer cecal Clostridium spp. (p = 0.077). The total anaerobic bacteria were not affected with supplementation of Ecklonia cava in diets. Polynomial contrasts analysis revealed that villus height of the ileum exhibited a linear increase (p<0.05) in response with the increase in the level of dietary Ecklonia cava. However, villus height of duodenum and jejunum, crypt depth, villus height to crypt depth ratio of different segments of the intestine were not affected. Conclusion: The results suggest that Ecklonia cava had beneficial effects on the growth performance, cecal microflora, and intestinal morphology of weanling pigs.