• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of organic acid mixture on growth performance, cecal microflora, blood characteristics and immune response in broiler chicks and to prove the possibility of organic acid mixture as an alternative to antibiotics growth promotor. A total of four hundred eighty, 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross$\times$Ross 308) were randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates of 30 birds each. The treatments were NC (free antibiotics), PC (basal diet with virginiamycin 10 ppm and salinomycin 60 ppm), 0.3% organic acid, and 0.5% organic acid. The final body weight and body weight gain were significantly higher in organic acid 0.5% than NC (P<0.05). The feed conversion ratio in all treated groups were significantly improved as compared to that of NC (P<0.05). The carcass rate and relative organs weight were not significantly difference among the groups. The relative weight and length of small intestine in PC were significantly decreased than the other groups. The numbers of cecal coliform bacteria and Salmonella in all treated groups were significantly lower than NC (P<0.05). The number of cecal lactic acid bacteria was not different among the groups. No significant differences among the groups were observed in the contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in blood serum. The contents of total protein and globulin in blood serum of PC and organic acid treated groups were significantly increased as compared to those of NC (P<0.05). Therefore, albumin:globulin ratio of PC and organic acid treated groups was significantly lower than NC (P<0.05). The total white blood cell (WBC), heterophil, lymphocyte, and stress indicator (heterophil:lymphocyte ratio) were not significantly different among the groups. No significant difference was observed on the expression rate of splenic cytokines mRNA in organic acid treated groups compared to the control. Consequently, supplemental organic acid mixture improved the growth performance, and influenced positive effects on the intestinal microflora by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria without any adverse effects on relative weights of organs and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chicks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.262-269
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of breeder age and stocking density on performance, carcass characteristics and some stress parameters (H-L ratio, serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, tonic immobility test (TI), antibody production, relative asymmetry (RA) and external appearances). This experiment was carried out with 705 one-day old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) obtained from three different ages of broiler breeder (32, 48 and 61 wks). Each age group was randomly divided into two stocking density groups (11.9 and 17.5 broilers per $m^2$) with 5 replications per group. The experimental period was 6 weeks. Broilers from 32 wk-old breeders had lower initial weight (p<0.001), body weight gain of the first 3 week of rearing (p<0.01), the percentage of abdominal fat (p<0.001) and serum cholesterol level (p<0.01); higher percentage of gizzard (p<0.01) and longer TI duration (p<0.001) than those from 48 and 61 wk-old breeders. Broilers reared at 17.5 b/m2 had lower final BW, body weight gain, feed consumption, feather condition and foot health (p<0.001), higher percentage of heart, H-L ratio, serum glucose and cholesterol levels (p<0.001), and longer TI durations (p<0.001). There were no significant interactions in examined parameters except for feed to gain ratio between breeder age and stocking density.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.305-312
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• 2020

Objective: The present trial was conducted to determine the influence of different dietary fatty acid (omega-3 and omega-6) sources on reproductive performance of female broiler breeders and growth performance and carcass traits of their progeny. Methods: Two hundred and twenty, 25 weeks old Ross-308 male (20) and female (200) broiler breeders were used in the experiment for the period of 6 weeks. All birds were randomly divided into four dietary treatments (containing 2% soybean oil, 2% sunflower oil, 2% flaxseed oil, and 2% fish oil) each with five replicates of one male and ten females. Throughout this experiment hatching performance of broiler breeders, progeny growth performance and carcass parameters were recorded. Results: The results showed that the inclusion of different fatty acid sources in female broiler breeders diet had no significant effects (p>0.05) on number of fertile eggs, post-hatch mortality, and fertility rate. The soybean oil supplemented group had significantly (p<0.05) higher late embryonic mortality compared to other three treatments. Conclusion: It was concluded that inclusion of 2% of different sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (especially 2% flax seed oil) in broiler breeders' diet can reduce late embryonic mortality. The other reproductive characteristics of parents and growth and carcass characteristics of progeny remained unaltered by dietary sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.135-142
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• 2020

The objective of this experiment was to determine the apparent (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in five feed ingredients for male broiler chickens (Ross 308). The test feed ingredients consisted of corn, wheat, soybean meal (SBM), canola meal (CM), and corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The birds were fed a standard starter diet for the first 19 d. On day 19, nine hundred sixty birds were assigned to six dietary treatments with eight replicate cages (20 birds/cage) in a randomized complete block design. All experimental diets contained chromic oxide (0.5% in the diet) as an indigestible index. The diets were offered ad libitum for 4 d. At the end of the experiment, all birds were euthanized and ileal digesta samples were collected immediately. The indispensable AA with the least AID and SID were Thr for all the ingredients used in the present study, except for DDGS, in which Lys had the lowest digestibility. For indispensable AA, the AID and SID of Leu, Phe, Arg, and Met were the greatest in corn, DDGS, wheat, SBM, and CM, respectively. The results from the present study showed that there are variations in both the AID and SID of CP and AA among feed ingredients.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.152-160
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• 2011

The author previously reported that the addition of inuloprebiotics to broiler diets produces growth performance that is superior to antibiotic supplementation. The present study furthered this work by evaluating the quality with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of the meat from chickens fed inuloprebiotics produced using Korean Jerusalem artichoke. Male Ross 308 broilers (n=240) were randomly allotted to a 35 day regimen of dietary control (no supplementation), dietary antibiotics supplementation (8 mg avilamycin/kg diet), or dietary inuloprebiotic supplementation (450 mg inuloprebiotics/kg diet). The pH, water holding capacity, L*value (lightness), and b*value (yellowness) of the chicken meat weres ignificantly higher in the inuloprebiotic group. The TBARS value of chicken meat stored at low temperature tended to increase according to the length of storage, and was significantly lower in the inuloprebiotics group. The sensory scores of the cooked chicken meat were significantly higher in the inuloprebiotics group. The results indicate that the addition of inuloprebiotics as anantimicrobial agent to broiler diets can greatly improve the quality and self-life with reducing TBARS of chicken meat.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of phytase on the growth performance, organ weight, and tibia ash of broilers. A total of 1008 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (mixed gender) with body weight 42 ± 0.90 g (mean ± SD) were used in a trial for 32 d. Chicks were assigned to one of the two treatment diets. Each treatment consisted of 28 replicate cages, with 18 birds per cage. The dietary treatments were as follows: CON, basal diet; TRT1, basal diet + phytase 1,500 Fan Terminal Unit (FTU)/kg diet. Dietary inclusion of 1,500 FTU/kg phytase supplementation in broilers showed only slight improvements in daily feed intake (P=0.086) and feed conversion ratio (P=0.065) on day 9 compared with that in the control group. However, organ weights of the breast muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, and bursa of Fabricius were not affected by the dietary treatments. In addition, the dietary inclusion of 1,500 FTU/kg phytase supplementation in the broiler diet had no effect on tibia ash. The addition of 1,500 FTU/kg phytase in the basal diet of broilers did not have any adverse effect on growth performance, organ weight, and tibia ash, suggesting that phytase supplementation in broiler diets will exhibit comparable effects as that of corn-soybean meal-based diet.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.953-961
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of dorsal cranial myopathy (DCM) on chicken meat quality. Methods: Sixty-six Ross 308 AP broilers, 47 days old, of both sexes, weighing about 3.51 kg, were slaughtered according to standard industrial practices, and evaluated for meat color, pH, chemical composition, collagen content, fatty acid profile, and histopathological parameters. Comparisons between normal and DCM-affected meat were performed using Student's t-test at the 5% significance level. Results: Histological analysis of muscle tissues affected by DCM showed myofiber degeneration, proliferation of inflammatory cells, fibroplasia, and necrosis with fibrosis. DCM samples had lower protein content and higher moisture, ash, insoluble collagen, total collagen, and pH. DCM-affected meat was redder and more yellowish. There were no differences in lipid or soluble collagen contents between groups. DCM-affected meat had higher percentages of arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3). Conclusion: This study revealed that DCM-affected meat exhibits considerable changes in quality parameters.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.1393-1402
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• 2023

Objective: In this study effects of three types of beddings on broiler leg health and bone biomechanics were evaluated. Methods: A total of 504 male chicks (Ross 308) were randomly placed on three beddings (4 replicates/group; 42 birds/pen), zeolite-added litter (ZL), plastic-grid flooring (PF), and wood shavings (WS). On day 42, chickens were weighed, slaughtered, and samples (bone, muscle, and drumstick) were collected. Bones were subjected to leg health tests, morphometric measurements, biomechanical testing, and ash analysis. Results: Broilers in PF and WS groups showed higher live weight than the ZL group (p<0.001), and the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) and varus valgus deformity due to distal bending was significantly higher in PF (p<0.001). Multinomial logistic regression showed that bedding has a significant (p = 0.038) contribution toward the development of TD. Tibial strength (p = 0.040), drumstick width (p = 0.001), and total femur and epiphyseal ash contents (p = 0.044, 0.016) were higher in the ZL group. Chicken live weight was correlated with tibial length and weight (r = 0.762, 0.725). Conclusion: Flooring and the type of bedding material directly affect broiler bone length, strength and leg health. Plastic bedding improves the slaughter weight of chickens on the expense of leg deformities, and zeolite litter improves leg health and bone strength.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.555-566
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• 2024

The aim of the present experiment was to determine the standardized ileal digestible (SID) methionine (Met) requirement during the grower phase (22 to 29 days). A total of 192 Ross 308 male broilers (745 ± 50.5 g) were assigned to six dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design, with eight replicate cages per treatment. The experimental diets were formulated based on corn, soybean meal, and synthetic amino acids (AA), with different levels of dietary SID Met ranging from 0.40% to 0.65%, in increments of 0.05%. Individual body weight and feed intake per cage were measured at the beginning and end of the experimental period. Weight gain (g/bird), feed intake (g/bird), gain-to-feed ratio (g/kg), feather weight (g), and relative feather percentage (% of body weight) were analyzed for linear or quadratic responses using orthogonal polynomial contrasts. Final body weight, weight gain, and feed intake increased quadratically as dietary SID Met concentration increased (p < 0.05). However, the composition of AA in the feathers showed no quadratic or linear effect based on dietary SID Met concentrations, except for Ile (p = 0.05; quadratic). The SID Met requirements for optimum and maximum weight gain of 22 to 29-days-old male broilers were estimated using the broken-line and quadratic-line models to 0.45% and 0.55%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2016

A total of 144 one-day-old male broilers (ROSS ${\times}$ Ross 308) ($42{\pm}0.1g$) were used in a completely randomized design and allotted to one of three dietary treatments to give 6 replicates per treatment (8 birds per cage). The three watery dietary treatments were 1) a corn-soybean meal-based relation [Negative control (NC); no antimicrobial compounds added] with tab water, 2) 8 ppm liquid-alpha-lipoic acid [Positive control (PC)] or 3) 100 ppm liquid-resveratrol. All dietary treatments were continuously provided as a liquid form. Birds were housed in a battery cage (n=48), and were offered liquid dietary treatments at all times. The ambient temperature was maintained at $32{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for the first 3 weeks and decreased gradually to $28{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ by the end of the experiment (d 35) to induce moderate heat stress. One bird per pen (n=6) was euthanized via cervical dislocation at day 21 to obtain terminal ileum to measure villous height and crypt depth, while another bird per pen (n=6) was similarly euthanized at day 35 and used to harvest breast meat and drumsticks to evaluate meat quality traits. Birds fed liquid-resveratrol did not improve (P>0.05) body weight and average daily gain compared with those fed other dietary treatments from day 1 to day 35. Birds fed liquid-resveratrol had no effect (P>0.05) on villous height compared with birds were in other dietary treatments at day 21. Liquid-resveratrol had no effect (P>0.05) on thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in drumsticks compared with other dietary treatments at day 35. Furthermore, birds fed liquid-resveratrol had no effect (P>0.05) on DPPH radical scavenging activity both in breast meat and drumsticks compared with those fed other dietary treatments at day 35. Morphological changes of ileum were not observed by immunofluorescence, and the level of occludin protein from ileum extracts also did not differ among groups. Our results suggested that liquid form of antioxidant compounds used in the current study such as alpha-lipoic acid (8 ppm) or resveratrol (100 ppm) did not improve growth performance, meat quality traits and histology of terminal ileum compared with those fed negative control in broiler chickens under moderate heat stress for 35 days.