• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1125-1128
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• 2001

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feeding undegradable intake protein (VIP) on body weight changes and the return to estrus of Awassi ewes during the early postpartum period. Twenty multiparous Awassi ewes $(BW=57.4{\pm}3.0kg)$ were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment (10 ewes per treatment) for 4 weeks in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous, isocaloric, and were formulated to contain either 20% (CON) or 35% (SBM) of the dietary CP as UIP. On day $9{\pm}3$ postpartum (day 0=parturition) ewes were housed in individual pens. Feed intake was recorded daily. Dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), crude protein intake (CPI), undegradable protein intake (UPI) and metabolizable energy intake (MEI) were higher (p<0.05) for ewes on SBM diets compared with ewes on CON diet. Ewes receiving SBM diet gained more (p<0.05) weight than the controls (5.3 vs 0.5 kg). There was a tendency (p>0.10) for SBM ewes to have more luteal activity than the controls. Ewes in the SBM group came into estrus 4 days earlier than CON ewes (p<0.10). These results indicate that Awassi ewes receiving adequate nutrition are capable of returning to estrus one month postpartum thus posing the possibility of being able to lamb every 6 months.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1340-1347
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• 2010

To study the effects of ${\alpha}$-galactosidase (${\alpha}$-Gal) supplementation on performance and energy metabolism, 216 Arbor Acres male broilers were placed in 36 cages of 6 birds each and allotted to 4 diets for 42 d, with 0-21 d as starter period and 22-42 d as grower period. The 4 diets were based on corn non-dehulled soybean meal in a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement, with 2 levels of ${\alpha}$-Gal (0 vs. 60 U/kg feed) and 2 levels of ME (normal metabolizable energy (NME) and low metabolizable energy (LME)). Bird performance was obtained at 21 and 42 d of age with samples of feces collected for nutrient digestibility from 19-21 d and 40-42 d. At 21 and 42 d, 1 bird from 6 cages of each treatment was killed to determine liver weight, intestinal pH and chyme viscosity. With the addition of ${\alpha}$-Gal the 42 d body weight (BW) and 0-42 d average daily gain (ADG) were significantly improved (p<0.05). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) of birds fed the LME diet was significantly increased compared to those fed the NME diet during starter (p<0.01) and grower (p<0.05) periods and overall (p<0.01). There was an interaction of ${\alpha}-Gal{\times}ME$ on 0-21 d ADFI (p<0.01). Supplementation of ${\alpha}$-Gal significantly improved (p<0.01) feed efficiency during the grower period and overall. Feed efficiency of birds fed the LME diet was significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared to those fed the NME diet during the starter period and overall. With the addition of ${\alpha}$-Gal apparent metabolizable energy (AME) was improved (p<0.01) by 2.1% and 1.8% during starter and grower periods, respectively. There was a main effect (p<0.05) of ${\alpha}$-Gal on the digestion of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) during the starter period and crude protein (CP), NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) during the grower period. With the addition of ${\alpha}$-Gal, the relative weight of liver was reduced (p<0.01) during the two phases. The duodenal and jejunal pH were significantly decreased (p<0.01) with the supplementation of ${\alpha}$at the two phases. ${\alpha}$-Gal addition reduced (p<0.01) chyme viscosity of the ileum during the starter and grower periods. Overall, ${\alpha}$-Gal showed a major effect on nutrient efficiency, improved ADG and feed efficiency, whereas LME decreased feed efficiency. The incorporation of ${\alpha}$-Gal into a LME diet could at least partially offset ME deficiency of non-dehulled soybean meal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1629-1634
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• 2008

A trial was conducted to determine the effect of low crude protein (CP) diets with constant metabolizable energy to crude protein (ME:CP) ratio on growth, body composition and nutrient utilization of broiler chicks from 1 to 26 days of age. Four dietary treatments having four levels of CP and ME as 23, 22, 21 and 20% and 3,036, 2,904, 2,772 and 2,640 kcal/kg, respectively, were formulated and a ME:CP ratio of 132 was maintained in all the diets. Digestible lysine was maintained at 1.10 of the diet. A total of 1,760 day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were randomly divided into 16 experimental units and each diet was offered to four experimental units at random. Feed intake was increased (p<0.05) while weight gain and feed conversion ratio were adversely affected (p<0.05) when the diets with low CP and ME were fed to broilers. Total protein intake and total ME intake were linearly decreased (p<0.05) and protein efficiency ratio and energy efficiency ratio were lower (p<0.05) than in the chicks fed dietary regimen with 22% CP and 2,904 kcal/kg ME. The whole body analysis of the birds revealed that chicks fed the lowest dietary regimens retained less (p<0.05) nitrogen and more ether extract than chicks fed the control diet, however, body dry matter, total body ash and fat free body protein were not affected. Similarly, protein and energy utilization were also unaffected by the dietary treatments. In summary, chicks fed low CP diets with constant ME:CP ratio grew slower, used feed less efficiently and retained less protein and more body fat than chicks fed the control diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.566-572
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• 1998

The present study examined the effects of excessive dietary protein and energy on growth response to clenbuterol in broilers. The chicks were allocated into 6 groups at 14d old, and used for a $3{\times}2$ factorial experiment. Birds were fed six diets, the control diet containing 21% crude protein (CP) and 3,100 kcal of metabolizable energy ME/kg, a high protein (30% CP) or a high energy (3,500 kcal/ ME/kg) diet, with or without 1 ppm clenbuterol, for 18 d. Clenbuterol feeding markedly decreased (p < 0.05) body weight gain by 23% in the high energy group. Feed intake was also decreased (p < 0.05) by clenbuterol administration across diet treatments. Abdominal fat weight was reduced (p < 0.05) by clenbuterol only when chickens were fed the high energy diet. Clenbuterol increased (p < 0.05) leg muscle weight in the control diet group, but decreased (p < 0.05) it in the high energy group. Muscle protein concentration was increased by 11 % in leg muscle only of the birds at the high energy level. In leg muscle, clenbuterol enhanced the protein/DNA ratio by 18%, except for the high protein group. These results indicate that feeding a diet containing excessive amounts of protein and more energy than normal did not necessarily improve growth response to clenbuterol.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1624-1628
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• 2008

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of yellow-seeded rapeseed meal (YRSM). In the first experiment nutrient retention was recorded by 48 Arbor Acres-broiler chickens (28-d old) to determine AMEn (nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy), coefficient of apparent protein digestibility based on ileal digesta nitrogen, excreta nitrogen and uric acid nitrogen. The second experiment was carried out with 304 Arbor Acres-broiler chickens to compare effects of SBM (soybean meal) and YRSM on performance, carcass and digestive tract status. In the control treatment, SBM was replaced by graded levels of YRSM at 15, 22.5 and 30% of diet. Digestibility of YRSM protein was significantly lower (p<0.001) than SBM protein. The protein digestibility based on ileal measurement was significantly higher (p<0.001) than protein digestibility from excreta samples. There was no significant difference (p>0.001) between ileal and excreta digestibility of protein based on uric acid. AMEn as a fraction of gross energy was 0.54 in SBM and 0.45 in YRSM. With the exception of 30% YRSM, other YRSM treatments resulted in major effects on length and weight of the gastrointestinal tract. The results of this study have shown no adverse effect on performance as well as protein digestibility and energy value in response to replacement of SBM by YRSM with the exception of 22.5 and 30% YRSM.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.381-388
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to determine protein quality and hematological properties of infant diets formulated from local food materials. The food materials were obtained locally, fermented, and milled into flour. The flours were mixed as 70% popcorn and 30% African locust bean (FPA), 70% popcorn and 30% bambara groundnut (FPB), and 70% popcorn, 20% bambara groundnut, and 10% African locust bean (FPAB). Proximate analysis, protein quality, hematological properties, and anthropometric measurements of the animals fed with the formulations were investigated. The protein contents of the formulated diets were significantly higher than that of Cerelac (a commercial preparation) ($15.75{\pm}0.01g$/100 g) and ogi (traditional complementary food) ($6.52{\pm}0.31g$/100 g). The energy value of FPAB ($464.94{\pm}1.22\;kcal$) was higher than those of FPA ($441.41{\pm}3.05\;kcal$) and FPB ($441.48{\pm}3.05\;kcal$). The biological value (BV) of FPAB (60.20%) was the highest followed by FPB (44.24%) and FPA (41.15%); however, BV of the diets was higher than that of ogi (10.03%) but lower than that of Cerelac (70.43%). Net protein utilization (NPU) of the formulations was 41.16-60.20%, whereas true protein digestibility was 41.05-60.05%. Metabolizable energy (232.98 kcal) and digestible energy (83.69 kcal) of FPAB were the highest, whereas that of FPA had the lowest values. The protein digestibility values corrected for amino acid score of the diets (0.22-0.44) were lower than that of Cerelac (0.52), but higher than that of ogi (0.21). The growth patterns and hematological properties (packed cell volume, red blood cells, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular volume) of the formulated diets were higher than those of ogi, but lower than those of Cerelac. In conclusion, we established that the FPAB food sample was rated best in terms of protein quality over the other formulated diets. Therefore, a FPAB blend may be used as a substitute for ogi.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.787-793
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• 2000

The purpose of the present study was to investigate effects of kochujang and red pepper on energy intake, body fat content and energy expenditure in rats fed on high-fat(30%) diet. Kochujang and red pepper power were added in the high-fat diet, adjusting the level to 95 and 22g/kg diet, respectively, The level of red pepper addition was corresponding was corresponding to the level of the content of red pepper powder in the kichujang-added diet. Kochujang induced a 30% reduction in body fat gain which was associated with a significant increase in energy expenditure. However, red pepper reduced body fat gain by only 15%. Furthermore, energy expenditure was not affected by red pepper. Metabolizable energy intake, apparent digestibility and body protein gain were not affected by either kochujang or red pepper. It has been known that capsaicin, a pungent component of red pepper, enhances activity of brown adipose tissue through increasing protein content. In the present study, in addition of protein content, DNA content of interscapular brown adipose tissue was also increased by kochujang. Therefore, it appeared that the anti-obesity effects of kochujang was greater than those of red pepper, indicating more than red pepper was involved in the expression of the anti-obesity effects of kochujang(Korean J Nutrition 33(8) : 787-793, 2000)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.609-624
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• 2003

The genesis of methods for defining the nutritional value of feeds and the nutrient requirements of animals, and their development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe and the USA are outlined. Current energy and protein feeding systems for ruminants are described. Particular reference is made to the Australian systems which are applicable to grazing animals as well as to those given prepared feeds, and enable the effective nutritional management of a imals at pasture by means of the decision support tool GrazFeed. The scheme for predicting intakes by cattle and sheep from pastures allows for the effects of selective grazing on the composition of the feed eaten, and for reduction in herbage intake when a supplementary feed is consumed. For herbage of any given concentration of metabolizable energy (ME) in the feed dry matter the changes with season of year in the net efficiency of use of the ME for growth and fattening and in the yield of microbial crude protein, g/MJ ME, which both vary with latitude, are defined. An equation to predict the energy requirements for maintenance (MEm) of both cattle and sheep includes predictions of the additional energy costs incurred by grazing compared with housed animals and the cost, if any, of cold stress. The equation allows for the change in MEm with feed intake. A flexible procedure predicts the composition of liveweight gain made by any given breed or sex of cattle and sheep at any stage of growth, and the variation with rate of gain. Protein requirements for maintenance, production including wool growth, and reproduction, are related to the quantities of microbial true protein and undegraded dietary protein truly digested in the small intestine.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1568-1575
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• 2000

Growing pigs (N=25; 18 kg) were used to study effects of L-carnitine and protein intake on plasma carnitine, energy and carnitine balance, and carnitine biosynthesis. Corn-soybean meal basal diets containing low or high protein (13.6% or 18%) were formulated so that protein accretion would be limited by metabolizable energy (ME). Each basal diet was supplemented with 0 or 500 mg/kg L-carnitine and limit fed to pigs for 10 d in a balance trial. Final carnitine concentration was compared with weight/age matched pigs measured on d 0 to calculate carnitine retention rates. Supplementation of carnitine increased (p<0.01) plasma free carnitine (by 250%), short-chain (by 160%) and long-chain acyl-carnitine concentrations (by 80%) irrespective of blood sampling time (p<0.01). The proportion of long-chain carnitine esters decreased by 40% (p<0.01) by carnitine supplementation; whereas, the proportion of short-chain acyl-carnitine concentration was not changed (p>0.10). All criteria of energy balance were unaffected by L-carnitine (p>0.10). Total body carnitine retention was increased by 450% over unsupplemented controls (p<0.01). Carnitine biosynthesis rates in pigs fed diets without L-carnitine were estimated at 6.71 and $10.63{\mu}mol{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ in low protein and high protein groups, respectively. In supplemented pigs, L-carnitine absorption and degradation in the intestinal tract was estimated at 30-40% and 60-70% of L-carnitine intake, respectively. High protein feeding effect did not affected plasma carnitine concentrations, carnitine biosynthesis or carnitine retention (p>0.10). We conclude that endogenous carnitine biosynthesis may be adequate to maintain sufficient tissue levels during growth, but that supplemental dietary carnitine (at 500 ppm) sufficiently increased plasma acyl-carnitine and total body carnitine.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.143-151
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• 2020

This study investigated the effects of the addition of commercial enzyme products to broiler feed with reduced levels of metabolizable energy and crude protein on the growth performance, blood profiles, and cecal microflora. A total of 750 seven-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five treatment groups with six replicates (25 birds/replicate) for 28 days. A corn-wheat-soybean meal-based diet was formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient recommendations and used as the control diet. Experimental diets with metabolizable energy reduced by 100 kcal/kg and crude protein by 1% were formulated containing four different commercial enzyme products. Feed intake and weight gain were not affected by the dietary treatments; however, feed conversion ratios were significantly lower (P<0.01) in the control group than in the other treatment groups during the entire experimental period. There were no significant differences in the blood profiles and cecal microflora between the dietary treatments. However, the viscosity of jejunal contents in chicks fed a diet with enzyme B was significantly lower than that in the other groups. The tentative marketing age was unaffected by any of the dietary treatments, and ranged from 26.39 d to 26.84 d. Collectively, the use of commercial enzymes contributed to a similar weight gain as that in chicks fed diets with reduced energy and crude protein levels; however, it failed to maintain the feed conversion ratio.