• Title/Summary/Keyword: Live-weight Gain

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Effect of Probiotic Supplemention on the Performance and Quality Characteristics of Meat from Finishing Pigs (복합생균제의 첨가급여가 비육돈의 생산성과 육질특성에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Hee-Yoon;Kim, Young-Jik;Park, Gu-Boo
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.53-59
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    • 2007
  • This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with probiotics on the growth and meat quality of finishing pigs. A total of forty eight ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc$) pigs ($55.3{\pm}1.5 kg$ average initial body weight) were randomly assigned to four groups and fed on a diet supplemented with 0, 0.2, 0.5 or 1% probiotics for 58 days. The pigs were slaughtered at approximately 105 kg live weight. Supplementation with 0.2% probiotics significantly (p<0.05) increased daily gain compared to the control. The daily gain of pigs in the 0.2% probiotic group was 0.95 kg whereas that of the control was 0.85 kg. The average feed intake was 2.79-2.84 kg and there were no significant differences in feed intake between the control and test groups. The feed conversion of the 0.2% probiotic group was 2.96 kg whereas the control showed a feed conversion of 3.28 kg. The results of this study imply that supplementation with 0.2% probiotics may improve the feed conversion of pigs. There were significant differences in carcass weight, carcass ratio, backfat thickness, and frequency percentage of A grade carcasses between the control and probiotic test groups. In addition, the moisture, crude protein and crude ash contents of the probiotic treated groups did not differ significantly from the control group, however the crude fat values of the 0.2% probiotic test group was significantly tower than the other groups. The muscle pH levels of all samples ranged from 5.63-5.67 which is the normal pH of pork. The supplementation of probiotics resulted in decreased lightness ($L^*$) values and increased redness ($a^*$) values. Furthermore, the saturated fatty acid contents of the 0.2% and 0.5% probiotic test groups decreased and the unsaturated fatty acid contents increased relative to the control.

The Study on Growth Performance and Carcass Yield of Meat-type Korean Native Ducks (토종오리 육용종의 생산성과 도체수율)

  • Kim, Hak-Kyu;Kang, Bo-Seok;HwangBo, Jong;Kim, Chong-Dae;Heo, Kang-Nyeong;Choo, Hyo-Jun;Park, Dae-Sung;Suh, Ok-Suk;Hong, Eui-Chul
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.39 no.1
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    • pp.45-52
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    • 2012
  • This study was carried out to investigate the growth performance and the carcass ratio of meat-type Korean Native Ducks. Four hundred twenty Korean Native Ducks' chicks were selected and divided into four treatments (7 replications/ treatment, 15 birds/replication) by strains (A and B) and gender(male and female) with $2{\times}2$ fractal factors. There was no significant difference between A and B on the body weight at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks old (P>0.05). However, body weight of female was higher at 2 weeks old than male while that of male was higher at the 8 weeks old (P<0.01). Daily feed intake of male was higher compared to female during 6~8 weeks (P<0.05). On weekly body weight gain, there was no significant difference between strains, but gained body weight of male was higher until 2 weeks old while that of female was higher during 6~8 weeks (P<0.01). On the live body weight and carcass weight by strains and genders, B strain was higher than A strains at the 8 weeks of age (P<0.01). Carcass yield was the highest at 8 weeks of age in both strains (P<0.05). These results may provided the basic data on growth performance and carcass ratio of meat-type Korean Native Ducks.

Genetic Correlation of Carcass and Meat Production Traits with Hormones and Metabolic Components in Hawoo (가축의 혈청 호르몬 및 대사물질 농도와 도체 및 산육형질에 대한 유전상관에 관한 연구)

  • Jeon G. J.;Juong H. Y.;Cho K. H.;Kim M. J.;Kim I. C.;Kim J. B.
    • Journal of Embryo Transfer
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.255-269
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    • 2005
  • This study was aimed to investigate genetic relationships, variables, and correlations between economic traits and metabolic materials in serum components according to bleeding periods and breeding locations for the castrated and not castrated Hanwoo cattle at National Livestock Research Institute. Analysis of variance for serum hormones and metabolic materials showed significant differences by breeding locations except for testosterone and globulin. Statistical differences for serum components were detected by birth year except for cortisol, total protein, globulin and creatinine, and by castration except for total protein and BUN. All the serum components were tended to have sire effects except for testosterone resulting in some degree of additive gene actions. Breeding locations showed statistical significances for carcass weight and back fat thickness, but not in carcass rate, KPH, live weight and transportation weight loss. Effects of breeding locations and castration were significant for all weight measurement periods except for 9 month and 6 month, respectively. A significant sire effect was observed in all weight measurements. Least squared means for concentration of serum components by breeding year, season and castration were not significant. High concentration of cortisol, creatinine and triglyceride and low concentration of IGF-1 and glucose were detected in castrated cattle. Concentration of testosterone with castrated cattle was $5.2\%$ corresponding to non castrated cattle. Estimation of heritabilities of serum components using a sire model with restricted maximum likelihood were ranged 0.07 to 0.58. High heritabilities were estimated for total protein, albumin, globulin, cortisol, creatinine and BUN were 0.53, 0.54, 0.42, 0.45, 0.58 and 0.54, respectively. Low heritabilities were estimated fur calcium, testosterone and IGF-1 for 0.07, 0.15 and 0.12, respectively. Heritabilities for carcass weight, back fat thickness, meat yield index, KPH, and IMF were estimated as 0.39, 0.45, 0.30 0.13, and 0.93. Heritabilities of weights on 18, 12, 9, 6, and 24 month were estimated as 0.78, 0.76, 0.62, 0.58 and 0.58. Estimated heritabilities for average daily gain on 6${\~}$2, 12${\~}$18, and 18${\~}$24 month were 0.80, 0.75 and 0.19, respectively.

Studies on the Meat Production and Woolskin Processing of Sheep and Korean Native Goats for Increasing Farm Income as a Family Subsidiary Work (농가부업(農家副業)의 소득향상(所得向上)을 위한 양육생산(羊肉生産) 및 모피가공(毛皮加工)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Kwon, Soon-Ki;Kim, Jong-Woo;Han, Sung-Wook;Lee, Kyu Seung
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.93-114
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    • 1978
  • The purpose of the study was to find out possible ways for increasing farm income through the sheep and Korean native goats farming, and to investigate meat productivity, wool productivity; woolskin utility, physiological characteristics and correlation between economical college animal farm of the Chungnam National University and sample farms in the suburbs of Dae jeon City were selected for feeding 20 heads of Corriedale wethers and another 20 heads Korean native kids as research materials for the periods of 5th May-26th November, 1977. The data such as growth rate, carcass, viscera weight, blood picture and plamsa components, hebage intake and economic traits were obtained and analysed. The result of the study are summarized as follows: 1. Meat production and quality 1) After 196days of feeding, the body weight of sheep and Korean native goats was increased by two times of those at the beginning of the trial, i.e. 20kg and 8kg respectively. 2) There was no significance of growth rates of sheep in housing and grazing. 3) The growth rate of Korean native goats were excellent at the mountainous areas of Gong ju-Gun where infectious diseases were not found 4) Accroding to the body measurements of 18-month-old sheep, percentages of hip height, body length, rump length, chest depth, chest width, hip width, chest girth and forearm circumference to the withers height were 103,%, 104%, 33%, 44%, 31%, 23%, 135% and 15% respectively, and those of hip height, body length, chest depth and chest girth of 8-month-old native goats to the withers height were 106%, 109%, 46% and 122,% respecitively. As a result, it was found that the percentage of hip height, body length and chest depth of Korean native goats were higher than those of sheep while that of the chest girth of goats was lower. 5) In the carcass data, 47, $52{\pm}2.27%$ of carcass percentage, $34.61{\pm}1.62%$ of lean meat, $26.07{\pm}2.51%$ of viscera, $9.75{\pm}1.4%$ of bone, and $20.95%{\pm}2.14%$ of woolskin for sheep, and $45.58{\pm}5.63%$ of carcass percentage, $27.62{\p}3.81%$ of meat, $34.86{\pm}4.16%$ of viscera, $11.66{\pm}1.83%$ of bone, $3.63{\pm}1.61%$ of skull and $9.26{\pm}2.41%$ of woolskin for native goats were obtained. 6) The contents of moisture, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash in native goat meat were much similar in both plots of housing and grazing. It was, however, known that the contents of moisture and protein were higher in grazinrg than in housing, while fat content was lower in grazing plots. 7) The weights of visceral organs shown similar tendency for both of sheep and native goats. For the weights of liver, heart, kidney and spleen, significance was not reconized among the treatments. Those of rumen, reticulum, small and large intestine were heavier in grazing than in housing, while the amount of visceral fat was heavier in housing. 2. Wool productivity and woolskin 1) The wool production of sheep for 7 months was $3.88{\pm}1.02kg$, and wool percentage, staple length, straighten length, wool growth per day and number of crimps were $9.27{\pm}1.48%$, 8. $47{\pm}1.00cm$, $10.63{\pm}0.99cm$, $0.40{\pm}0.04cm$ and $2.78{\pm}0.40$ respecitively. 2) The tensile strength and tear strength of woolskin treated by alum tanning were highest on the skin obtained from rump, i.e. $1,351kg/mm^2$ and $2,252kg/mm^2$ respectively, and they are in order of loin and shoulder. 3. Utilization and improvement of pasture. 1) The difference of herbage intake of native goats was not recognized between grazing and tethering, but the intake in the afternoon was s lightly higher than that in the morning. However the hervage intake of sheep was superior in grazing and in the afternoon. 2) The cultivation effect was lower in the native goat plots due to their cultivation abilities, in other words, the establishment rates of pasture by hoof cultivation were 60.25% in the goat plots and 77.35% in the sheep plots. 4. Correlation among economical traits. 1) The correlation between live weight of sheep and daily gain was higher. On the other hand, the correlation between other traits was not significant except that live weight, daily gain and lean meat percentage to the length of thoracic vertebrae. The live weight of native goats and meat production were highly correlated, and high correlation was also found between weights of carcass and meat. However, negative correlation was shown between viscera weight and live weight as well as daily gain. 2) The correlatoin between fleece weight of sheep and other traits such as live weight, daily gain and fleece percentage is very high at the 1% siginficant level, and this means that rapid-growth individuals can produce much fleece. 3) The correlation between the factors such as weights of live body, lean meat and viscera of sheep and body measurements, i. e. chest girth and body length was highest, and weights, of carcass and lean meat was highly correlated to chest width and depth. It will be therefore reasonable that the meat productivity estimates will have to be made on the basis of chest girth and body length. The meat production traits of native goats were highly correlated to the most of body measurement data, and the correlation coefficient between chest girth and weights of live body, carcass, lean meat and bone percentage was very high, i. e. 0.992-0.974 in particular. The correlations of meat production traits to chest depth, forearm circumference, body length were 0.759-0.911, 0.759-0.909 and 0.708-0.872 respectively. Therefore, the meat production of native goats will have to be estimated on the basis of chest data. 5. Blood picture and plasma components. 1) The number of erythrocyte and MCHC of native goats were $12.93{\times}10^6/mm^3$ and 36.14%, and those of sheep were $10.68{\times}10^6/mm^3$ and 36.26 respectively. The values of native goats were significantly higher than those of sheep. 2) The hemoglobin concentration, PVC, MCV and MCR of native goats were 10.92 g/100ml, $23.40{\mu}^3$ and 10.94 pg, and those of sheep were 11.73 g/100ml, 36.25 ml/100ml, $33.97{\mu}^3$ and 30.2 ml/100ml 8.43 pg respectively. The values of native goats were significantly lower those of sheep. 3) The number of leukocytes of native goats was significantly higher than that of sheep, that is, $11.64{\times}10^3/mm^3$ in native goats and $9.32{\times}10^3/mm^3$ in sheep. 4) In differential count of leukocyte, neutrophil was significantly high in native goats while lympocyte in sheep. On the other hand, the basophil, eosinophil and monocyte were not significant between native goats and sheep. 5) The amounts of total protein and glucose in the plasma of native goats were 6.2g/100ml and 53.6mg/100ml, and those of sheep were 5.6g/100ml and 45.7mg/100ml, which means that the values of native goats were significantly higher that those of sheep. The amount of total-lipid of native goats(127.6mg/100ml) was significantly than that of sheep(149.6mg/100ml). 6) The amount of non-protein nitrogen, cholesterol, Ca, P, K, Na and Cl were not different between native goats and sheep. 6. Economic analysis. 1) The gross revenue of a farm which fed native goats and sheep was 4,000won per head and the optimum size for feeding them in a farm as a subsidiary work is 5-10 heads. 2) Since there was no difference between housing and grazing, they can be fed in group for farm's subsidiary work. 3) They can be also fed by youths and house wives in the suburbs of cities, because labour requirement is estimated as only two hours per days for feeding 5 heads of native goats and sheep.

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Correlation Analyses on Growth Traits, Body Size Traits and Carcass Traits in Hanwoo Steers (한우 후대검정우 체중, 체척 및 도체형질간 상관분석)

  • Lee, Jae-Gu;Choy, Yun-Ho;Park, Byung-Ho;Choi, Jae-Kwan;Lee, Seung-Su;Na, Jong-Sam;Roh, Seung-Hee;Choi, Tae-Jeong
    • Journal of agriculture & life science
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    • v.46 no.1
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    • pp.123-131
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    • 2012
  • This study was conducted to estimate correlation structure between Hanwoo steer growth traits - body weights at 6 month, 12 month, 18 month and 24 month of age, average daily gain, carcass traits, body size traits at 18 months of age. Hanwoo progeny test data(body weight, body size traits) collected from 2004 to 2008 on a total of 1,838 steers at Hanwoo Improvement Main Center(NACF) were analyzed. Carcass traits were used to score the 24 months of age and slaughter. Correlation analyses were performed with observed scales of the traits and with residuals considering fixed effects in generalized linear models. The correlated coefficient estimated between live weight at slaughter(24 months of age) and cold carcass weight was high at 0.92. Correlation between beef yield index values and backfat thickness was estimated to be high and negative at -0.92. Hip height and wither height was found to be highly correlated(0.89). Chest width and chest depth also was found to be highly correlated at 0.73. Rump width was highly correlated with chest depth(0.75) and chest width(0.74). Correlation between pelvic width and rump width was estimated to be 0.74. Hipbone width was shown to be highly correlated with chest depth(0.73), chest width(0.70), rump width(0.75), or pelvic width(0.75). Correlation between wither height and carcass weight was 0.48 in observed scale. Chest girth was phenotyically (residual correlation) correlated with carcass weight (0.51), the estimates of which were some higher than than with the other carcass traits. This study will be utilized for Hanwoo Steers genetic evaluation.

The Optimal TDN Levels of Concentrates and Slaughter Age in Hanwoo Steers (거세한우에 있어서 배합사료의 적정 TDN 수준과 도축 월령)

  • Kim, K.H.;Lee, J.H.;Oh, Y.G.;Kang, S.W.;Lee, S.C.;Park, W.Y.;Ko, Y.D.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.47 no.5
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    • pp.731-744
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    • 2005
  • Ninety Hanwoo steers(initial BW=167.2$\pm$13.4kg) were used to determine the effect of energy concentrations in concentrates and slaughter age on performance, carcass characteristics. Steers were allotted by BW to one of eighteen pens. Eighteen pens were randomly allotted to a low(70-70-71-72% for the growing, the early, the middle or the late fattening periods), medium(70-71-72-73%) or high(70-72- 73-74%) TDN level of concentrates. Five steers for each treatment of energy level were slaughtered every one month from 26 month of age to 31 month of age. Concentrates was fed restrictedly to achieve a predicted gain of 0.7-0.9kg from growing stage to middle fattening stage. All steers were fed orchard grass(Dactylis glomerata L.) hay as roughage during the growing period, fed rice straw gradually substituted for orchard grass hay during the early fattening period, and fed rice straw only thereafter. Overall body weight and feed intake were not affected by TDN levels of concentrates. Average daily gain for all treatments was higher than 0.9kg/d during the 19-21 month of age and decrease thereafter, but sustained above 0.7kg/d. Mean concentrates intake for all treatments was 1.0-1.3% of live BW during the growing period and 1.5% during the early fattening. Thereafter, it decreased up to 1.4% during the middle fattening and 1.0% during late fattening period. Delay of slaughter end point resulted in a gradual increase of rib-eye area, back fat thickness and marbling score, especially after slaughter age of 29 month there was significant increases(P<0.05). The appearance rate of 1+ and 1 grade related to the slaughter ages was 100% at 29, 30 and 31 months of age, whereas those at 26, 27 and 28 months were 93, 86 and 80%, respectively. Dressing rate was significantly(P<0.05) increased and rate of retailed cut weight significantly(P<0.05) decreased when slaughter age increased. In economic analysis, there was pronounced increase in net income up to 32-46% after slaughter age of 29 months. Under the conditions of this study, high TDN intake is not necessarily required for high quality Hanwoo meat production and slaughter age of 29 month might be the optimum for Hanwoo steers.

Effects of the Energy Level of the Finisher Diet on Growth Efficiency and Carcass Traits of 'High'-Market Weight Pigs (비육후기 사료의 에너지 수준이 '고체중' 출하돈의 성장효율 및 도체특성에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, C.Y.;Kim, M.H.;Ha, D.M.;Park, J.W.;Oh, G.Y.;Lee, J.R.;Ha, Y.J.;Park, B.C.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.471-480
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    • 2007
  • The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a low-energy finisher diet on feed and growth efficiencies and carcass traits of ‘high’-market weight (MW) finishing pigs and thereby to extrapolate optimal dietary energy level for the high-MW swine. A total of 160 (Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc-crossbred finishing gilts and barrows weighing approximately 90 kg were fed a low-energy (3,200 kcal DE/kg) diet (LE) or control (3,400 kcal) diet (CON) ad libitum in 16 pens up to 135- and 125-kg live weights, respectively, at which the animals were slaughtered and their carcasses were analyzed [2 (sex) × 2 (diet) factorial experimental design]. Average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed efficiency did not differ between the two sex or diet groups. Backfat thickness was less (P<0.05) in LE (22.4 mm) than in CON group (24.3 mm) in gilts, but not in barrows (24.4 ± 0.4 mm). The percentage of C- & D-grade carcasses was over 90% because of the ‘over-weight’ problem in gilts, whereas in barrows, percentages of A plus B grades and C plus D grades were 79% and 21%, respectively. The yield percentage of each trimmed primal cut per total trimmed cuts (w/w) did not differ between the two sex or diet groups. Physicochemical characteristics of longissimus muscle including color (lightness and redness), pH, drip loss and chemical composition, which overally were within the range of normal carcass, also did not differ between the two sex or diet groups. In conclusion, both LE and CON are judged to be adequate for the high-MW swine during the latter finishing period. If fat deposition of a given herd of high-MW pigs needs to be suppressed by a dietary treatment, the energy content of the diet will have to be reduced to a level lower than 3,200 kcal DE/kg.

The Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Egg-Type Male Growing Chicken and White-Mini Broiler in Comparison with Commercial Broiler (Ross 308)

  • Choo, Yun-Kyung;Oh, Sung-Taek;Lee, Kyung-Woo;Kang, Chang-Won;Kim, Hyun-Wook;Kim, Cheon-Jei;Kim, Eun-Jib;Kim, Hee-Sung;An, Byoung-Ki
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
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    • v.34 no.5
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    • pp.622-629
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    • 2014
  • The present study was conducted to compare the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of the egg-type male growing chicken (EM), white-mini broiler (WB), and commercial broiler (Ross 308, CB). A total of 360 1-d-old chicks were reared together using a completely randomized design with 4 replicates for each group under the identical feeding and rearing conditions. The ADG and gain:feed were the highest in CB, intermediate in WB, and the lowest in EM (p<0.05), and the live and carcass weights of CB and EM were significantly higher than those of WB (p<0.05). The pH of breast meat from WB and CB was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that from EM with a similar body weight. The EM had the lowest moisture (p<0.05) and the highest protein content (p<0.05), whereas the fat and ash contents were not different among groups. The mystiric acid (C14:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1 ${\omega}7$), and oleic acid (C18:1 ${\omega}9$) levels were significantly higher in breast meat from CB (p<0.05). The monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content showed the highest (p<0.05) levels in CB. In contrast, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents of breast meat, including linoleic acid (C18:2 ${\omega}6$) and arachidonic acid (C20:4 ${\omega}6$), were higher (p<0.05) in EM and WB than in CB. In conclusion, the EM and WB had less growth performances in comparison with CB, but they each had some unique features (taste, flavor, and physiological characteristics) when raised under the identical rearing and feeding conditions.

Effects of Probiotics Supplementation on Growth Performance , Blood Composition, and Fecal Noxious Gas of Broiler Chickens (사료내 생균제의 첨가가 육계의 성장, 혈액성상 및 분내 유해가스 함량에 미치는 영향)

  • 권오석;김인호;홍종욱;한영근;이상환;이제만
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.1-6
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    • 2002
  • This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding probiotics on the growth performance, blood composition, and fecal noxious gas in broiler chickens. Two hundred eighty eight broiler chickens were randomly allocated into three treatments with eight replications for live weeks. Dietary treatments included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) PB 0.5 (basal diet +0.5% probiotics), 3) PBI.0 (basal diet + 1.0% Probiotics for 0 to 1 wk of age, 0.5% probiotics for 1 to 3 wk of age, 0.25% probiotics for 3 to 5 wk of age) . There were no significantly difference among treatments for the body weight gain, but the feed intake of control group significantly (p<0.05) increased as compared with the PBI.0 group in overall experimental period. Digestibility of DM in PB0.5 group (80.84%) was significantly (p<0.05) improved as compared with those in PB 1.0 (79.34%) or control group (79.15%). Although N digestibility was slightly higher in broiler chicks fed probiotics than Control, there was no significance between probiotic groups. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were not significantly different among the treatments. NH$_3$-N concentration in feces with PBI .0 treatment was lower (p<0.05) than Control or PB 0.5 treatments. These results indicated that locally obtained probiotics can be effectively used for reduction of ammonia nitrogen.

PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF GRASS SILAGE WITH WHOLE-CROP CEREAL SILAGE FOR GROWING BEEF CATTLE

  • Raza, S.H.;Rowlinson, P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.281-287
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    • 1995
  • A study was conducted to investigate the effect of different inclusion levels of urea treated whole-crop wheat silage (UWCWS) in grass silage based rations on the performance of growing beef cattle. The winter wheat (variety, Riband) was harvested (in the summer of 1991) at a dry matter proportion of 520 g/kg and treated with feed grade urea at the rate of 37 kg/tonne crop dry matter and preserved in a heavy duty plastic bag using a silo press. The urea treated whole crop wheat silage (UWCWS) was mixed with grass silage to replace 0.00 (S100), 0.33 (S33) and 0.67 (S67) parts of the forage dry matter and fed ad libitum in a cross over design to 18 Simmental X Holstein Friesian growing beef animals. Two energy sources {one high in starch, rolled barley (RB) and one high in digestible fibre, sugar beet pulp (SBP)} were fed to supply sufficient energy for the efficient use of nitrogen by the rumen micro-organisms. The data on DMIF (dry matter intake of forage), TDMI (total dry matter intake), DLWG (daily live weight gain), FCR (feed conversion ratio) were recorded and faecal samples were collected to determine the digestibility coefficients. Results revealed that with the inclusion of UWCW in the animals' diets the DMI of the forage was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The highest DMIF was found in the treatment "S33" ($6.28{\pm}0.25kg$) where 67% of the silage dry matter was replaced with the UWCW and the lowest value for DMIF was observed in the control treatment ($5.03{\pm}0.23kg$). The DLWG did not differ significantly between the treatments. However, treatment "S100" showed a trend towards a superior DLWG. Feed conversion ratio in the control treatment differed significantly from "S67" and "S33". The addition of the UWCW in the animals' diet resulted in the lower FCR There was no effect of type of energy supplement on any aspect of performance either overall or in interaction with grass silage: UWCWS ratio. The regression and correlation coefficients for DMIF (r = 5.22 + 0.0184x*), DLWG (r = $1.04-0.00086x^{NS}$) and FCR (r = 4.78 = 0.022x*) on the inclusion of UWCW in the diet were calculated. The effect of the inclusion of UWCW on the overall digestibility coefficients was significant (p < 0.05). The addition of the UWCWS in the diet decreased the digestibility of the DM, OM, ADF and NFE but effect on the protein digestibility was non significant. The results of present study suggests that a DLWG slightly over 1 kg can be achieved with UWCW during the store period (period in which animal performance targets are low especially during winter) and the prediction of ME was overestimated as the high intake of DM did not reflect in improved animal performance.