• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1233-1242
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• 2011

The in vivo digestibility of mulberry leaves (Morus alba) and the effects of the partial replacement of cotton seed with fresh mulberry leaf in rations on the performance of growing Vietnamese cattle was investigated. For the in vivo digestibility trial, twenty castrated rams of Phanrang breed (a local prolific breed) with an initial weight of 23-25 kg, were first assigned to four groups according to weight and then randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments to determine digestibility of nutrients in mulberry leaves (M. alba), natural Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and buffalo grass (Panicum maximum cv. TD 58). All forages were cut and chopped daily before being offered (at 120% maintenance) to the sheep. In the feeding trial, 20 Laisind (Vietnam yellow cows${\times}$Red Sindhy bulls) crossbred bulls averaged 18 month old and 184 kg were used to investigate the effect of partial replacement of cottonseed in the diet by mulberry leaves on live weight gain and feed conversion rate. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with four levels of fresh mulberry leaves which varied from 0 to 15% of total dietary dry mater and five animals per treatment over an 84 day period. The in vivo digestion trial showed the superior quality of mulberry leaves compared with the grasses. Chemical analysis indicated that mulberry leaves had the highest CP and the lowest NDF contents (22.3 and 31.1% DM, respectively) among the four forages tested. Digestibility of DM and OM of the mulberry leaf (66.4 and 71.8%, respectively) was also the highest but that of CP (58.2%) and NDF (58.4%) was the lowest of the four forages evaluated (p<0.05). Consequently, the ME value and therefore net energy (NE) and unit feed for lactation (UFL) values of the mulberry leaves, which was estimated from chemical composition and digestibility values, were the highest among the forages investigated in the present study. Results of the feeding trial showed no treatment effect on average daily gain (ADG) of the cattle. The values were 554, 583, 565 and 568 g/d for animals in the diets of 0, 5, 10, and 15% mulberry leaves inclusion, respectively. Total DM intake of the animal was not affected by the treatment when expressed as kg/animal/d. However, when adjusted for metabolic weight of the animal the DM intake was reduced (p<0.05) as whole cottonseed was replaced by mulberry leaves in the ration. When the level of mulberry leaves in the ration increased from 5 to 15% of dietary DM at the expense of whole cottonseed, CP and ME intakes of the cattle were significantly decreased (p<0.05) and the feed to gain ratio reduced by 8 to 14% as compared with the control diet (p<0.05). Mulberry leaf is a good feed ingredient for ruminants because of its high level of crude protein and high digestibility of nutrients and energy. Mulberry leaves can be efficiently used as a source of protein supplement to replace cottonseed, a more expensive animal feeds ingredient, in the diet for Vietnamese cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.122-142
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• 2012

The importance of rainfed areas and animal agriculture on productivity enhancement and food security for economic rural growth in Asia is discussed in the context of opportunities for increasing potential contribution from them. The extent of the rainfed area of about 223 million hectares and the biophysical attributes are described. They have been variously referred to inter alia as fragile, marginal, dry, waste, problem, threatened, range, less favoured, low potential lands, forests and woodlands, including lowlands and uplands. Of these, the terms less favoured areas (LFAs), and low or high potential are quite widely used. The LFAs are characterised by four key features: i) very variable biophysical elements, notably poor soil quality, rainfall, length of growing season and dry periods, ii) extreme poverty and very poor people who continuously face hunger and vulnerability, iii) presence of large populations of ruminant animals (buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep), and iv) have had minimum development attention and an unfinished wanting agenda. The rainfed humid/sub-humid areas found mainly in South East Asia (99 million ha), and arid/semi-arid tropical systems found in South Asia (116 million ha) are priority agro-ecological zones (AEZs). In India for example, the ecosystem occupies 68% of the total cultivated area and supports 40% of the human and 65% of the livestock populations. The area also produces 4% of food requirements. The biophysical and typical household characteristics, agricultural diversification, patterns of mixed farming and cropping systems are also described. Concerning animals, their role and economic importance, relevance of ownership, nomadic movements, and more importantly their potential value as the entry point for the development of LFAs is discussed. Two examples of demonstrated success concern increasing buffalo production for milk and their expanded use in semi-arid AEZs in India, and the integration of cattle and goats with oil palm in Malaysia. Revitalised development of the LFAs is justified by the demand for agricultural land to meet human needs e.g. housing, recreation and industrialisation; use of arable land to expand crop production to ceiling levels; increasing and very high animal densities; increased urbanisation and pressure on the use of available land; growing environmental concerns of very intensive crop production e.g. acidification and salinisation with rice cultivation; and human health risks due to expanding peri-urban poultry and pig production. The strategies for promoting productivity growth will require concerted R and D on improved use of LFAs, application of systems perspectives for technology delivery, increased investments, a policy framework and improved farmer-researcher-extension linkages. These challenges and their resolution in rainfed areas can forcefully impact on increased productivity, improved livelihoods and human welfare, and environmental sustainability in the future.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1433-1438
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• 2002

The study was carried out to evaluate leucaena seeds as a protein replacement of mustard seed cake (MSC) in the concentrate mixture of growing lambs. Fifteen owing male lambs (Local${\times}$Corridale) with an average body weight of 16.3 kg were allocated into three dietary treatments (T1, T2, and T3) with five animals in each group. Animals were offered dry mixed grass, berseem hay and concentrate mixture to meet their nutrient requirements. In concentrate mixture of T1, (Control) MSC was used as protein source, while in T2 and T3 groups, 25 and 50% of MSC was replaced by leucaena leucocephala seeds. On completion of three months (90 days) of feeding, a digestion cum-metabolism trial was conducted to determine DMI, nutrient utilization, and nitrogen balance. Changes in body weight were recorded at 15 day internals and eating patterns were recorded for 3 consecutive days at the end of the feeding trial. MSC had higher CP contents than leucaena seeds (27.0%). Mimosine contents in leucaena seeds were 1.1 compared to 0.2 and 0.4% in concentrate mixture of T2 and T3 group, respectively. Dry matter intake varied non-significantly ($79.3{\pm}1.2$ to $83.4{\pm}1.3g/kg$ $w^{0.75}$) across the dietary treatments. Digestibility of DM and cell wall polysaccharides (NDF, ADF. Cellulose and hemicellulose) were comparable, however CP digestibility was relatively lower in leucaena luecocephala seeds based groups (T2 $45.5{\pm}1.7$ and T3 $46.7{\pm}3.5$) compared to MSC supplemented group (T1 $47.7{\pm}0.9%$). The growth rate of lambs was non-significantly higher in T1 ($79.2{\pm}5.4$) compared to T2 ($73.8{\pm}8.8$) and T3 ($73.9{\pm}7.0$), respectively. The animals were in positive nitrogen balance and N-balance varied from 1.8 to 2.9 g/d across treatment groups. The eating rate (% of total offered) of concentrate up-to 15 min was relatively higher in T1 (82.4) than T2 (74.2) and T3 (77.8%). However no effect of leucaena seeds was recorded on total DMI of animals. The results of the study revealed that the inclusion of up to 50% leucaena seeds, as protein source in concentrate mixture of lambs had no adverse effect on DMI, nutrient utilization, eating patterns, nitrogen balance and growth performance of lambs.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.155-163
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• 1997

The Mongolian ger is ideally suited to the mongol's steppe climate and the nomadic way of life. This is a multipurpose dwelling which can be easily collapsed, transported to another place and put up again fully preserving its original shape. The pastoral nomadic ger has two key components: the wooden framework and the felt cover. The wooden parts are the walls(khana), the long poles(un), the smoke escape(toono) and its supports(bagana). One wall consists of 10-15 branches of willow tree. each about 1.5m high bound together in a way making it possible to fold it for transportation and then unfold it like an accordion. The unfolded walls are connected to form a circle. The long poles(un) are fastened to the upper part of the walls, with the other end passed through the toono hole, the only sky window and smoke escape through it from the ger. The toono is propped up by two posts, called bagana. All this forms the wooden framework of the ger, which is covered with felt. When the herders fire up their metal stoves, the temperature inside the ger becomes quite comfortable. Because the nomads live in a climate where there is only one growing season in a year, they do not make long migrations to new pastures. Livestock subsist on standing vegetation for eight months of the year. The basic pasture migration strategy is to leave enough standing vegetation at the end of the growing season in September to suffice until the new growth appears the following May. Mongolians use a type of compressed tea leaf that is called "brick" tea in English because it is rock solid and roughly the shape of a brick. And they consume a larger percent(88%) of fat from animal products such as meat, milk, butter, and cheese than any other people in the world. Milk products made from the milk of sheep, yak, and goats are major foods in the nomad's diet, but they are produced mainly in summer when all the animals are lactating. Mongolians made their special nomadic food culture on the steppe.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1989

This experiment was carried out to determine the seasonal herbage production and utilization during the growing season of pasture on the forest (shading 30%). Plant height, leaf area index(LAl), dry matter(DM) production and distribution, chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility(IVDMD), herbage utilization percentage and chewing efficiency were investigated using the Corridale sheep. Experimental field was treated by one plot design(3 rep.) and performed from 1987 to 1988 at Chungnam National University, Daejon. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The highest plant height and LA1 were observed in May(35.0 cm, 4.89), followed by April(28.0 cm, 4.23), while the plant height and LA1 in October (13.0 cm, 0.49) showed very low. 2. During the growing season, about 58.3 % of annual DM production (7240 kg/ha) was produced during the spring (April, May and June) and the highest DM production was obtained in May (2040 kg/ha), which was more than 28.2 % of total DM production. However, DM production in July and August was about 24.2 % and those in September and October (17.5 %) was very low, but the difference of DM production from June to September was small. 3. The maximum DM production per day (65.8 kg/ha) was observed in May, followed by June (28.7 kglha), while DM production per day in October (16.5 kg/ha) showed very low (p <0.01). 4. Crude protein content and IVDMD of herbage samples during the spring (April, May and June) were higher, while crude fiber, ADF, and NDF content were lower in an summer growth herbage samples (July and August), but autumn growth herbage samples was intermediate. Crude ash content and IVDMD of collected herbage samples were slightly more, while crude fiber, ADF and NDF content were slightly less than offered and residued herbage samples during the growing season. 5. The maximum DM intake per metabolic body size was observed in May(68.9 g), followed by October (66.7 g), while very low in August (52.5 g). Significant positive correlation (p <0.05) was found between DM intake and IVDMD. 6. Herbage utilization percentage was very high in April (83.4 %), while very low in August (64.0 %). The percentage of annual herbage utilization was about 75.5 %. 7. The maximum ruminating and chewing efficiency of herbage samples were observed in May, followed by October, while very low in August.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2008

The present study was designed to explore the immunotoxic effects of orally administered aluminum (AI) on pregnant rats (n = 60) and their growing fetuses and consequently on the animal wealth. The animals were randomly allocated into three equal groups of 20 rats each. The first group has no treatment and kept as a control (G1). The second and third groups of pregnant rats were treated orally with aluminum chloride at 345 mg/Kg b.wt. The second group (G2) received the tested compound from the $6^{th}$ day of gestation to the end of weaning, whereas the third group (G3) received the tested compound from the $15^{th}$h day of gestation to the end of weaning. Control and treated animals (dams and offspring) were immunized ip with (0.5 ml) 20% sheep red blood cell (SRBC) suspension seven days before the end of experiments. At the end of exposure, ten dams and ten offspring from each group were used for assessment of cell-mediated immunity and a similar number of animals were sacrificed for evaluating the humoral immune response and serum protein profile. Aluminum chloride exposure of dams ($G_2&G_3$) caused significant suppression of both cell mediated and humoral immune responses in the obtained offsprings compared to the control group ($G_1$) without any significant effect on the immune responses of these dams. Moreover, the serum total globulins, albumin/ globulin (A/G) ratio and gamma globulin fraction were significantly decreased in the treated dam's offsprings compared to the corresponding controls while the serum total protein and all serum protein fractions showed non significant difference between the control and treated dams and between the two treated dam groups themselves. There were no histopathological changes observed in thymus, spleen and liver of the control and treated dams. Thymus of treated dam's offsprings (G2) showed lymphoid depletion in both cortex and medulla. Their spleens showed lymphoid depletion in the white pulps and congestion with hemosiderosis in the red pulps. Liver of treated dam's offsprings showed dilation and congestion of its central vein with degenerative changes in the hepatocytes. These histopathological changes were more severe in G2 than in G3 offsprings. It can be concluded that gestational and/ or lactation exposure of pregnant dams to AI chloride caused suppression of both cellular and humoral immune responses of their offsprings.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.409-422
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to identify the bacteria isolated from acute endodontic lesions by cell culture and 16S rDNA sequencing. The necrotic pulpal tissue was collected from 17 infected root canals, which were diagnosed as being either an acute pulpitis or acute periapical abscess. Samples were collected aseptically from the infected pulpal tissue of the infected root canals using a barbed broach and a paper point. The cut barbed broaches and paper points were transferred to an eppendorf tube containing 500 ul of 1 XPBS. The sample solution was briefly mixed and plated onto a BHI-agar plate containing $5\%$ sheep blood. The agar plates were incubated in a $37^{\circ}C$ anaerobic chamber for 7 days. The bacteria growing on the agar plate were identified by 16S rRNA coding gene (rDNA) cloning and sequencing at the species level. Among the 71 colonies grown on the agar plates, 56 strains survived and were identified. In dental caries involving the root canals, Streptococcus spp. were mainly isolated. Actinomyces, Clostridia, Bacteroides and Fusobacteria were isolated in the periapical lesion without dental caries. Interestingly, two new Actinomyces spp. (ChDC B639 and ChDC B631) were isolated in this study. These results showed that there was diversity among the species in endodontic lesions, This suggests that an endodontic infection is a mixed infection with a polymicrobial etiology. These results may offer the bacterial strains for pathogenesis studies related to an endodontic infection.