• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2011

A 35-day trial was conducted to examine the influence of floor density on the behaviour of broiler chickens. Day-old male broilers (n=756) were randomly assigned to one of four stocking densities (6 replicates of n=13, 25, 38 and 50) in 24 identical 2.6 $m^2$ pens. These stocking densities were coded very low (VL), low (L), medium (M) and high (H) and contained a floor space allowance per bird of 2,000 $cm^2$, 1,000 $cm^2$, 667 $cm^2$ and 500 $cm^2$, respectively. Scan sampling of all groups was carried out at 15-min intervals during two 1-h periods (10.00 h~11.00 h and 14.00 h~15.00 h) for five days each week. The numbers of birds engaged in different behavioural activities were recorded. It was found that the most common behaviour in all densities was lying. There was no clear effect of density during wks 1~4 of the trial, but in wk 5 birds in the L, M and H groups showed lower levels (P=0.07) of lying behaviour when compared to birds in the VL group suggesting that an increase in animal density results in decreased opportunities for undisturbed rest. This observation is supported by standing and walking behaviour, which was lower (P<0.05) in the VL group in wk 5. Foraging behaviour measured in the study by the numbers of birds pecking the ground declined as the trial progressed, but scratching increased in 2 wk then decreased. Birds in the VL group showed higher (P<0.05) level of pecking the ground behaviour compared to birds in the L, M and H groups, but scratching behaviour higher (P<0.05) and lower (P<0.05) in VL of 1 wk and 2 wk respectively. However, a peak in aggressive behaviour was observed in wk 2 and birds in the VL group showed less (P<0.05) agonistic behaviour than birds in the H and M groups. Other behaviours (dustbathing, preening, eating or drinking) were not influenced (P>0.05) by stocking density.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2010

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of temperature and stocking density on daily patterns and rates of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) excretion in juvenile red seabream Pagrus major (mean body weight: 29.0 g) under fasting and feeding conditions. Fish were acclimated over 7 days under four different temperatures (10, 15, 20, and $25^{\circ}C$) and at two different densities (5.5 and $11.0\;kg\;m^{-3}$). Each treatment had three replicates and a total of 216 fish were used. After 72 hours starvation, endogenous TAN excretion was measured for each temperature and density. To investigate exogenous TAN excretion, fish were handfed a commercial diet containing 51.6% crude protein twice a day for 7 days, at 08:00 and 16:00. Water was sampled from both inlets and outlets of chambers every 2 hours over a 24 hour period. Both endogenous and exogenous TAN excretion increased with increases in temperature and density (P<0.05). Mean daily endogenous TAN excretion rates at 10, 15, 20, and $25^{\circ}C$ were 88.8, 101.1, 125.0, and $143.3\;mg\;TAN\;kg^{-1}\;d^{-1}$ at low density, and 105.2, 119.2, 141.5, and $168.8\;mg\;TAN\;kg^{-1}\;d^{-1}$ at high density, respectively. Mean daily exogenous TAN excretion rates at 10, 15, 20, and $25^{\circ}C$ were 343.5, 403.7, 535.7, and $601.7\;mg\;TAN\;kg^{-1}\;d^{-1}$ at low density, and 391.9, 479.7, 611.9, and $683.4\;mg\;TAN\;kg^{-1}\;d^{-1}$ at high density, respectively. The exogenous TAN excretion rate peaked 10~12 hours after the first feeding under all temperatures and densities. The TAN loss for ingested nitrogen increased with increases in temperature and density (P<0.05), ranging from 27.9 to 50.1% at low density and 31.7 to 56.9% at high density. This study provides empirical data for estimating ammonia excretion and managing the culture of red seabream under the given temperatures and densities.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the effects of water temperature and stocking density and rotifer density on the mass production of larval red marbled rockfish, Sebastiscus tertius. Total length of the marbled rockfish larva grown in $23^{\circ}C$ of water temperature were 10.80mm, which was the best, while those grown in $29^{\circ}C$ of water temperature were 6.28mm, which was the lowest. The survival rates of red marbled rockfish larvae grown in $20^{\circ}C$ and $23^{\circ}C$ were 24.0% and 18.5%, respectively. However, the survival rate of red marbled rockfish larvae grown in $26^{\circ}C$ was $7^{\circ}C$ and no larvae survived in $29^{\circ}C$. The total length of red marvled rockfish larva stocked at the density of 5 and 10 larvaper liter of water were high, which were 11.52 mm and 11.22 mm, respectively, but those stocked at the density of 30 larva per liter of water were 7.55mm, which was the lowest. The survival rate of red marbled rockfish larva stocked at the density of 2.5 larva per liter of water was 52.0%, which was the best, but the lowest, 18.0% for the red marbled rockfish larva stocked at the density of 30 larva per liter. There was a trend toward decrease in survival rate of red marbled rockfish larva as their stocking density increased. The survival rates of red marbled rockfish larva fed rotifers at the density of 10 and 5 individuals per ml were high, 48.5% and 48.0%, and their total lengths were 11.92 and 11.89mm, respectively, which grew relatively fast. The survival rate and the total length of red marbled rockfish larva fed rotifers at the density of 30 individuals per ml were the lowest, which were 8.40mm and 21.5%, respectively. Also, red marbled rockfish larva fed rotifers at the density of more than 20 individuals per ml achieved poor survival and growth. These results indicated that the proper conditions for the mass production of larval red marbled rockfish were $23^{\circ}C$ of water temperature, fish larva stocking density of 5 to 10 larva per liter of water and rotifers density of 5 to 10 individuals per ml as live feed.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2021

Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 (IRF3) is a member of interferon-regulated transcription factor family and is known to play an important role in the innate immune response against viral infections. In this study, the expression of IRF3 in different tissues, developmental stages, and stocking densities of olive flounder was investigated. The expression of IRF3 was observed to gradually increase in early-stage juvenile fish. The highest expression was observed in later-stage juvenile fish when immune tissues were formed. High IRF3 expression was observed in the muscles and the brain tissues. The expression of IRF3 was observed in fish at different stocking densities after viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) infection. It yielded an interesting expression pattern in the muscles and the brain tissues of fish stocked at low density. These observations can be used as basic data for the study of the expression of immune response-related genes against viruses based on stocking density and immune systems in other fish species.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2014

The effects of different stocking densities on the growth and survival rate of the abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, were investigated in marine net cage for two years. Stocking density was set 15, 30, 45 and 60 percentage $(=per.)/m^2$ with share to cross-sectional area per shelter. The primary rearing period (PRP) and the secondary rearing period (SRP) were conducted by a year. One year mean water temperature of PRP and SRS showed the difference about $2^{\circ}C$. In the growth (initial mean shell length of abalone : $36.14{\pm}2.28mm$) of PRP, the absolute growth rate (ARG), daily growth rate (DGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) of the $15per./m^2$ were higher than those of density groups (P < 0.05). Survival rates of all density groups were showed no significant difference. In the growth (mean shell length of abalone : $55.26{\pm}6.93mm$) of SRP, ARG, DGR and SGR of stocking density groups showed no significant difference except for $45per./m^2$ density group. Survival rate in the low-density (15, $30per./m^2$) was more than 70%, and those of the high-density (45, $60per./m^2$) were less than 31% and 9%, respectively. These results showed that the appropriate stocking density for $15per./m^2$ was seven hundred fifty number per one net cage ($2.4{\times}2.4m$), during PRP using 3-4 cm abalone in length. Also for the secondary rearing period, the optimal stocking density (shell length 5-6 cm of abalone) consider with the economical efficiency was determined to be $30per./m^2$, resulting the productivity improved.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.414-420
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• 2011

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of the combined stressor induced by high stocking density with feed restriction on immunological parameters such as leukocyte differential counts and cytokine expression in laying hens. A total of forty White Leghorn laying hens were randomly allotted into the control (12 kg of body weight/$m^2$) and the stress (44 kg of body weight/$m^2$) groups, and then birds of the stress group were given 75% of voluntary intake of the control birds for 12-d on a daily basis. There was a significant decrease in body weight without affecting the relative weights of the liver and spleen after 12-d of the combined stressor. In hematological values, no significant difference in leukocyte differential counts including heterophils (H), lymphocytes (L), monocytes and H:L ratio was observed between the two groups. In cytokines, hepatic lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (LITNF-${\alpha}$) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression levels in the stress group were significantly (p<0.05) higher compared with those in the control group. However, the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-6 in the liver were not affected by the combined stressor. Splenic LITNF-${\alpha}$ expression in the combined stressor group was significantly (p<0.05) up-regulated compared with that in the control birds. However, the combined stressor did not affect splenic IL-4, IL-6 and iNOS expression. In conclusion, the combined stressor caused by high stocking density with feed restriction enhanced some pro-inflammatory cytokines including LITNF-${\alpha}$ and iNOS in lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs of birds, suggesting that altered cytokine expression to given stressors can be another parameter that can be used in assessing stress responses of birds.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2014

With Single Comb White Leghorn (WL) and Korean Native Chicken (KNC) breeds, we compared the stress response with chicken breeds that were subjected to a high stocking density. Stress response was analyzed by the quantity of telomeric DNA, the rate of DNA damage and the expression levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) genes on tissues and blood. The telomere length and telomere shortening rates were analyzed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization on the nuclei of lymphocytes and tissues. The DNA damage rate of lymphocytes was quantified by the comet assay. The expression levels of HSP70, HSP90-${\alpha}$, HSP90-${\beta}$ and HMGCR genes were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in lymphocytes. There was no significant difference between KNC and WL in body weight, weight gain, telomere shortening rate and DNA damage rate. However, the growth rate significantly decreased in chickens raised under high stocking density conditions, as compared to the control group. The telomere-shortening rate, DNA damage and HSPs expression of the lymphocytes were significantly higher in the high stocking density group than the control. The stress condition and breeds had a significant effect on the expressions of HSP70, HSP90-${\alpha}$ and HSP90-${\beta}$ in lymphocytes, except HMGCR. The stress response of WL was higher than that of KNC, as analyzed to the expression of HSP70 and HSP90-${\alpha}$. Therefore, we concluded that the chickens which were exposed to a high stocking density had increased the individual physiological stress response regardless of breeds, and White Leghorns are more susceptible to stress condition than Korean Native Chickens.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.194-204
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• 2018

In order to minimize the damage on the red sea bream Pagrus major by a harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides, we investigated the effect of feeding, starvation and stocking density on the survival rate, growth, growth restoration and physiological response of P. major exposure to C. polykrikoides. The experimental groups were divided into three groups such as F-HD (feeding and high density with $6.4kg/m^3$), S-HD (starvation and high density with $6.4kg/m^3$) and S-LD (starvation and low density with $3.2kg/m^3$) according to stocking density and starvation in marine cage ($11m{\times}11m{\times}5m$). The F-HD was fed throughout the experiment for 9 weeks, whereas S-HD and S-LD were not fed for 5 weeks and then refeeding for 4 weeks. Survival rate was the lowest in F-HD (85.5%) and S-LD was the highest (97.3%). The growth rates of S-HD and S-LD were significantly lower than F-HD during starvation period for 4 weeks, but rapidly recovered after feeding. The nutritional status such as ALB, TP, TCH, TG were similar to tendency of growth data. Ht, Hb, AST, ALT and GLU levels were significantly higher in the F-HD than in the starvation groups at the same time (in 3 week) during starvation period. But starvation groups did not differ during starvation period. As a result, F-HD is more sensitive to stress than S-HD and S-LD. Thus, during C. polykrikoides bloom period, starvation and stocking density control can help survival and growth restoration of the red sea bream.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2011

To determine whether rearing density affects the hypermelanosis on the blind side (ambicoloration) of olive flounders Paralichthys olivaceus, we reared fry with an unpigmented non-eyed (blind) side in duplicate at densities of 150 individuals/$m^2$ (commercial production density: control) and 450 individuals/$m^2$ (high density group) for 90 days in 1-t dark-green fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP) tank. We recorded feed intake, feed conversion efficiency (FE), growth and survival, and measured the ratios of staining blind-side area (staining area) and ambicolored fish every 30 days. Daily feed intake (DFI), feed conversion efficiency (FE), growth rate, condition factors, and survival rate were calculated at the end of the experiment. Although the FE was higher in the high-density compared to the control, the two density groups showed similar feed intakes, growth, and survival. The ratio of staining area as well as the ratio of ambicolored fish significantly were significantly higher in the high-density group than in the control from days 30 to 60, but significantly increased and evened out by the end of the experiment (P<0.05). In conclusion, we determined that rearing density is not the main cause of the blind-side hypermelanosis, but found that increasing the rearing density can accelerate the ambicoloration in olive flounders.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.815-826
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• 2021

The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of stocking density (SD) and dietary supplementation of vitamin C on growth performance, meat quality, intestinal permeability, and stress indicators in broiler chickens. The study was conducted using a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of 2 different SD and 2 supplemental levels of dietary vitamin C. A total of 1,368 Ross 308 broiler chickens of 21 days of age with similar body weights (BW) were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 treatments with 6 replicates each. Different numbers of birds per identical floor pen (2.0 m × 2.4 m) were used to create 2 different SD levels of low SD (9 birds/m²) and high SD (18 birds/m²). The basal diet was formulated with no supplemental vitamin C to meet or exceed nutrient recommendations of the Ross 308 manual. The other diet was prepared by supplementing 200 mg/kg vitamin C in the basal diet. The study lasted for 14 days. At the end of the study, 3 male birds per replicate were selected to analyze meat quality, intestinal permeability, and stress indicators such as blood heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) and feather corticosterone (CORT) concentrations. Results indicated that there were no interactions between different SD and dietary supplementation of vitamin C for all measurements. For the main effects of SD, birds raised at high SD had less (p < 0.01) BW, BW gain, and feed intake with increasing stress responses including greater blood H:L and feather CORT concentrations (p < 0.01) than those raised at low SD. Transepithelial electrical resistance in the jejunal mucosa was decreased (p < 0.05) at high SD, indicating an increase in intestinal permeability. However, the main effects of dietary supplementation of 200 mg/kg vitamin C were insignificant for all measurements. In conclusion, high SD of broiler chickens impairs growth performance and intestinal barrier function with increasing stress responses. However, dietary supplementation of vitamin C may have little beneficial effects on broiler chickens raised at the high SD condition used in the present study.