• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.395-400
• /
• 1993

Four sheep per treatment were fed either control or 3% calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids (Ca-LCFA) in a total mixed ration (TMR). Feed and free water intakes were not different, but digestibilities of crude protein and crude fiber were lower (p<0.05) and that of crude fat was higher (p<0.05) for sheep fed Ca-LCFA than for control sheep. Dry matter digestibility, ruminal pH and microbial protein yield were not different between treatments and ammonia-N concentration in the rumen was higher for sheep fed Ca-LCFA than for control sheep. A 60-day milk production trial was conducted with thirty lactation Holstein cows. Fifteen cows per treatment were fed TMR containing either control or 3% Ca-LCFA ad libitum. Feed intake was not different between treatments, but milk yield was significantly higher (p<0.05) for cows fed Ca-LCFA than for control cows. Milk fat percentage was slightly higher and milk protein was lower for cows fed Ca-LCFA than for control cows. Lactose and total solid contents in milk were not different between treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.529-533
• /
• 2003

The intake, dry matter (DM) digestibility, total mean retention time (TMRT) and weight changes were investigated in four fat tailed and four Dorper sheep fed on a maize stover crop residue. Animals were subjected to five dietary treatments, which were: 90, 135 and $180g\;DM/kgBW^{0.75}/day$ of chopped maize stover offered with urea, and in subsequent dietary treatments $180g\;DM/kgBW^{0.75}/day$ of stover supplemented with either dried bean husks or poultry manure. Although not statistically different (p>0.05) fat tailed sheep had higher maize stover intake than the Dorper sheep when expressed per metabolic body weight. The DM intake and digestibility increased significantly (p<0.001) in both sheep breeds when the maize stover offer levels were increased from 90 to $135g/kgBW^{0.75}/day$. Dorper sheep had significantly (p<0.001) higher DM digestibility and longer total mean retention times for both the liquid and solid matter than the fat-tailed sheep. Fat-tailed sheep gained 4.75 kg while Dorper sheep gained 3.75 kg over the entire experimental period. The weight change per dietary treatment was affected by the amount of maize stover and the type and amount of supplement consumed. The higher DM digestibility and longer total mean retention time in Dorper sheep shows that the breed has adapted to utilize the low quality roughage diets. An indigenous fat tailed, has the potential to ingest high volumes of fibrous feed and has higher voluntary intakes relative to its body size. The two sheep breeds are a valuable genetic resource in sub Saharan Africa that is characterized by long dry season with no readily available and affordable conventional feeds for small ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.8
• /
• pp.1158-1161
• /
• 2004

This study chiefly aims to ascertain the effect of birth weight and litter size on productive performance in rabbits. After delivery kits were removed from their mothers for individual weighing and randomly assigned to one of the following three experimental treatments: Group (KT 6) with six tiny kits (about 45 g) per litter (21 litters); Group (KT 8) with eight tiny kits (about 45 g) per litter (17 litters); Group (KN8) with eight normal kits (about 70 g) per litter (20 litters). The litters, separated from their mothers by putting them in a closed cage, suckled one time a day for 15 minutes. Daily milk production was measured by weighing the does immediately before and after suckling; body weight of kits was measured on a weekly basis. At weaning 60 rabbits per group were raised for six weeks to ascertain post-weaning performance and health. Compared with the two other groups, the kits of group KT8 ingested smaller quantities of milk both during the first 3 weeks (497.7 vs. 520.0 vs. 544.3 g, respectively for groups KT8, KN8, KT6) and the following period (261.3 vs. 285.0 vs. 302.7 g, respectively for KT8, KN8, KT6). The differences between groups KT8 and KT6 were statistically significant (p<0.01) in the first period while in the second period also KN8 group showed milk intake different in respect of KT8 (p<0.01) and KT6 (p<0.05) groups. Solid feed intake was significantly (p<0.05) lower in group KT6 (23.1 vs. 26.2 vs. 26.8 g/d, respectively for groups KT6, KN8, KT8). At weaning the kits of group KN8 always weighed more (966 vs. 894 vs. 888 g; p<0.01, respectively for groups KN8, KT6, KT8). After weaning, no parameter considered (daily weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality and risk sanitary index) was affected by birth weight and litter size.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.10
• /
• pp.1411-1418
• /
• 2012

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationships between terpenes… intake and their presence in animal tissues (blood and milk) as well as in the final product (cheese). Eight dairy goats were divided in two balanced groups, representing control (C) and treatment (T) group. In T group oral administration of a mixture of terpenes (${\alpha}$-pinene, limonene and ${\beta}$-caryophyllene) was applied over a period of 18 d. Cheese was produced, from C and T groups separately, on three time points, twice during the period of terpenes… oral administration and once after the end of experiment. Terpenes were identified in blood by extraction using petroleum ether and in milk and cheese by the use of solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) method, followed by GC-MS analysis. Chemical properties of the milk and the produced cheeses were analyzed and found not differing between the two groups. Limonene and ${\alpha}$-pinene were found in all blood and milk samples of the T group after a lag-phase of 3 d, while ${\beta}$-caryophyllene was determined only in few milk samples. Moreover, none of the terpenes were traced in blood and milk of C animals. In cheese, terpenes' concentrations presented a more complicated pattern implying that terpenes may not be reliable feed tracers. We concluded that monoterpenes can be regarded as potential feed tracers for authentification of goat milk, but further research is required on factors affecting their transfer.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.241-250
• /
• 2009

This study was conducted to develop an prototype automatic feeder (AF) for growing-finishing pigs. The main components of AF were a feed storage hopper, a feeding motor, a feed agitator, a control box and a programmable IC, which were controlled by a personal computer. The powder type feed transfer rate of AF was average $9.83{\pm}0.4\;g\;s^{-1}$. In feeding test, growing pigs (Landrace) of about 43 kg live weight were used in the study, and was fed over a 6 weeks in pens with solid concrete floors. For feeding trials with AF, the operation time of the feeding motor was set to 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 seconds per feeding. Pigs frequently used AF from 05:00 to 11:00 and from 11:00 to 17:00 without relationship to the operation time of the feeding motor. The AF operation time of the feeding motor to minimize feed loss was between 2 and 4 seconds. Pigs fed with AF had same or slightly higher average daily gam (0.8~0.9 kg) than that with a commercial feeder, and average daily feed intake (2.76~2.93 kg) and feed conversion ratio (3.10~3.66) of pigs fed with AF were same or lower than those with the commercial feeder except the operation time of the feeding motor set to 6 seconds. As a result, AF would help to use and improve the productivity of growing-finishing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.568-578
• /
• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate effects of supplementation of culture media from solid-state fermented Isaria cicadae (I. cicadae) on performance, serum biochemical parameters, serum immune indexes, antioxidant capacity and meat quality of broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 648 Arbor Acres male broiler chickens(1 d; average body weight, 42.93±0.47 g) were randomly assigned to 6 treatments, each with six replicates and 18 broiler chickens per replicate. Broiler chickens were fed phase I (d 1 to 21) and phase II (d 22 to 42) diets. The phase I diets were corn and soybean-meal based diets supplemented with 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10% culture media from solid-state fermented I. cicadae respectively. The phase II diets were corn and soybean-meal based diets supplemented with 0%, 1.33%, 2.67%, 4.00%, 5.32%, or 6.67% culture media from solid-state fermented I. cicadae respectively. Results: In phase I, the broiler chickens with the supplementation of culture media had increased body weight gain and feed intake (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) with increasing inclusion of culture media. The levels of serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased linearly (p<0.05). In phase II, levels of serum T-AOC and interleukin-1β increased linearly (p<0.05), and GSH increased (p<0.05). In the kidney, GSH and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) concentrations increased (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) and SOD concentration increased linearly (p<0.05). Compared to the control, shear force and drip loss of breast muscle decreased (linear and quadratic, p<0.05). Drip loss of leg muscle decreased linearly and quadratically (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of culture media from solid-state fermented I.cicadae which was enriched in both wheat and residual bioactive components of I. cicadae enhanced the growth performance of broiler chickens. It also improved body anti-oxidative status and contributed to improve broiler meat quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.1659-1666
• /
• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) and Gliricidia sepium (gliricidia) supplementation on intake, digestion, outflow rates, microbial protein yield and live-weight changes in sheep fed with ammoniated rice straw (ARS). In experiment 1, three rumen cannulated Japanese Corriedale wether (mean body weight of 35.6 kg) in $3{\times}3$ Latin Square Design were used. Animals were fed ad libitum ARS alone, or supplemented with 200 g of either leucaena or gliricidia. In experiment 2, twenty-four growing native Philippine sheep with average body weight of $13.5{\pm}0.25kg$ were used in a completely randomized design (CRD) and offered similar diets to those of experiment 1. Supplementation increased total dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility except for fiber (p<0.05) without affecting ARS consumption. Nitrogen balance revealed that absorbed and retained N was significantly higher in leucaena and gliricidia. The significant improvement in N utilization and more digestible OM intake brought about by the inclusion of leucaena and gliricidia to ARS resulted in increased (p<0.05) microbial N yield. Efficiency of microbial N supply in supplemented group was not significantly different, but higher (p<0.05) than the 24.92 g N/kg DOMR for ARS group. Liquid outflow rate was 7.8 and 6.8 %/h, while the solid phase of rumen digesta was 4.4 and 3.8 %/h for the leucaena and gliricidia group respectively, which were significantly higher than 5.30 and 2.50 %/h in the control diet. The increase in total DMI resulted to higher (p<0.01) growth performance and efficient feed utilization. Average daily gain (ADG) was 19.3, 34.6 and 33.9 g/d for the ARS, leucaena and gliricidia respectively. It is therefore concluded that addition of leucaena and gliricidia to ARS in could increase nutrient intake and digestibility, subsequently improving N utilization and livestock performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.608-619
• /
• 1998

The small and the large intestine of swine represent the organs that extract nutrients from feedstuffs through digestion and fermentation and that allow their absorption and incorporation into the blood circulation. Special attention is directed towards the small intestine of young pigs since the transition to a solid diet at weaning exerts major impacts on the structural and functional integrity of the small intestine. Dietary factors involved in postweaning changes of gut morphology and biochemistry such as removal of bioactive compounds in sows milk at weaning, anti-nutritional factors in weaner diets, dietary fiber and the role of voluntary feed intake will be elucidated. The microbial function of the large intestine which is carried out by a diverse population of microorganisms is dependent on substrate availability. Short chain fatty acids as main fermentation products contribute to the energy supply of the host but they are also important for the maintenance of the morphological and functional integrity of the epithelium in the colon. As a result of bacterial nitrogen assimilation in the large intestine, nitrogen is shifted from the urinary to the fecal excretion route thus saving metabolic energy to the pig because less ammonia would become available for conversion to urea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.304-312
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of total neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and forage-derived NDF (fNDF) on nutrient intake and milk production in Holstein dairy cows. Thirty-six Holstein dairy cows at weeks 4 to 20 of lactation were included in this study. The cows were arranged in a randomized complete block design and assigned to one of six diets: 1) 38% NDF with 18% fNDF (HN-HF); 2) 38% NDF with 15% fNDF (HN-MF); 3) 38% with 12% fNDF (HN-LF); 4) 34% NDF with 18% fNDF (LN-HF); 5) 34% NDF with 15% fNDF (LN-MF); and 6) 34% with 12% fNDF (LN-LF). The cows were fed a total mixed ration twice daily (07:00 and 18:00 h) and given ad libitum access to feed and water throughout the experiment. Data on the intake of nutrients (DM, NEl, CP, NDF, fNDF, NFC), milk yield, composition, fat-corrected milk (FCM), fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM), and energy corrected milk (ECM) were analyzed. Lower dietary concentrations of total NDF or fNDF resulted in an increase in DM, NEl, and NFC intake (p<0.01), milk yield (p<0.05) and a lower milk fat concentration (p<0.01). The LN treatment showed no significant differences in milk fat concentration compared to the HN however, further reduction in fNDF decreased milk fat content (p<0.01). The lowest level of milk fat was observed in the LN-LF diet group. Changes in the dietary concentrations of NDF or fNDF did not affect the concentrations of milk protein or SNF (solid not fat), although the yield of milk protein and SNF increased with higher milk yield (p<0.01). The level of fNDF influenced the level of FCM (p=0.07), as well as FPCM and ECM yield (p<0.05). A highly positive correlation between fNDF intake and milk fat concentration was observed in animals with low NDF compared to those offered high NDF. A strong correlation was also observed between milk yield and low NDF intake compared to high NDF intake.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.117-122
• /
• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of pelleted-Italian Ryegrass (IRG) as a source of fiber on reproduction performance in pregnant sows. A total of 24 pregnant sows were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, which was given a corn-soybean diet with 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% pelleted-IRG from 105 days prepartum to 7 days postpartum. During experimental period, the sows fed the IRG supplemented diet showed the lower feed intake than the sows fed the control diet (p<0.05). The changes of body weight in sows from initial to pre- and/or post-partum was significantly smaller in sows fed the IRG supplemented diet than control group. It is thought that the lower weight gain in IRG supplemented groups is caused by low feed intake. Although there was no significant difference, sows fed the IRG supplemented diet tended to increase the litter size and birth weight in piglets compared with sows fed the control diet. This result suggests that the dietary supplementation of IRG has the positive effects to improve the reproductive performance in sows. But, the excessive feeding of IRG to sows might cause to retard the days of return to estrus, and decrease the contents of solid, milk protein, and milk fat in colostrum. Thus, the addition of about 10% IRG is desirable to increase the reproductive performance. Meanwhile, the feeding energy diet is better effective than feeding the fiber diets to improve overall productivity in sows after postpartum.