• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.18.1-18.5
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• 2014

Background: A six-week study involving two hundred and fifty (250) Harco Black layer birds at point of lay was conducted to investigate the effects of potential natural colorant on performance and Egg quality traits. The birds were assigned to five (5) dietary treatments, each containing supplements either of control, Baobab Leaf (BL), Waterleaf (WL), Red Pepper (RP), Canthaxanthin (CTX) at 40 g/kg feed and 50 mg/kg feed of natural and commercial colorants, respectively. Results: Performance records shows that there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in feed intake across the supplements of Red pepper, Water leaf, Canthaxanthin and control diet, however, birds fed Baobab leaf treatment had a significantly lower (p < 0.05) feed intake value (94.07 g) when compared with other treatments. Body weight gain and Hen Day Production were not significant influenced (p > 0.05) by the dietary treatments, although laying hens fed Baobab leaf supplement had lowest mean HDP of 48.80%, while birds fed Red pepper and Water leaf supplement had an average value of 52.79%. There was no significant effect (p > 0.05) of colorants on egg external traits, compared with the control; birds fed Canthaxanthin treatment had higher mean egg weight (51.79 g), egg length (4.55 g), egg breadth (3.29 g); Red pepper treatment had highest mean shell thickness (0.29 g), however these differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Yolk height, Albumen height, Yolk index, and Haugh unit were not significantly affected (p > 0.05) across treatments. Yolk width was lowest (p < 0.05) in Baobab leaf treatment (2.54 cm); Red pepper, Water leaf and Canthaxanthin (2.89 cm, 2.62 cm and 2.89 cm respectively) were not significantly (p > 0.05) different from the control (2.73 cm). Yolk colour score was significantly highest (p < 0.05) in Red pepper treatment (7.50); Water leaf, Baobab leaf and Canthaxanthin ranged between 2.25-3.31 on the DSM yolk colour fan, Control treatment had the lowest yolk colour score (p < 0.05) of 1.31. Conclusion: The study showed Red pepper as a worthy alternative to commercial yolk colorant. Water leaf and baobab are not good substitutes for canthaxanthin as a yolk colourant.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2011

The study was conducted to select and optimize microsatellite (MS) markers for evaluate Korean Native Chicken (KNC) breeds in order to provide standard for the classification and breed definition of the indigenous breeds. The study also aimed to characterize and classify each KNC populations for inventory and management of avian genetic resources. A total of 462 chickens from 11 populations of chicken breeds including eight KNC breeds and three commercial chicken breeds were analyzed with 19 MS markers. KNC breeds, especially Long-Tail Chicken breeds, formed separate cluster from those commercial chicken breeds. Genetic distances between KNC populations (0.11~0.18) were relatively shorter. Genetic uniformity of KNC (except KNCR breed) (0.86~0.88) were higher than that of commercial breeds (except Cornish) (0.95~0.97). On the other hand, genetic uniformity of KNC Long Tail (KNCLT) were relatively higher (0.91~0.97). The result can be used to evaluate and manage animal genetic resources at national scale.