• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.351-359
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate dietary effects of extracts of Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) (SCE) grown in Korea on growth performance, immune and physiological responses in broiler chickens. Total of seven-hundred fifty 1-d-old Ross male broiler chicks were divided into five groups and fed control diets (antibiotics medicated or non-medicated commercial diets) or each experimental diet (non-medicated diets containing 0.1, 0.3 or 0.5% SCE) for 5 weeks. The body weight gain and feed conversion rate in the groups fed diets containing 0.1% or 0.3% SCE were significantly improved as compared with those of non-medicated control group (P<0.05). The levels of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol of blood were not influenced by feeding the SCE. The average antibody titers against NDV and IBV in the groups fed diets containing SCE were significantly increased compare to those of the control groups (P<0.05). The number of coli form bacteria was significantly reduced by feeding 0.3% or 0.5% SCE as compared to that of non-medication control (P<0.05). The results demonstrated that the SCE used in this study modulated humoral immunity and the profiles of cecal microflora and thus can be used as a potential alternative substance to replace antibiotics for feeding broiler chicks.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2004

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic iron supplemented to feed for broilers. One hundred forty four Ross broiler chicks were assigned to 6 treatments: control containing 80mg Fe from iron sulfate per kg diet(FE-80), FE-160 (control multiplied two times), YM-80 containing 80mg Fe from yeast mutant, YM-160 (YM-80 multiplied two times), YF-80 containing 80mg Fe from ferritin containing yeast, YF-160 (YF-80 multiplied two times) in the experiment. Each treatment had four replications of 6 birds each. The weight gain of the YM-160 was significantly higher (P＜0.05) than that of the control (FE-80). The YM and YF in the serum cholesterol level were significantly higher (P＜0.05) than the control. In the cholesterol level of carcass, although the control (FE-80) was highest and the YM and YF were very low; however, there were no significant differences among treatments. In the iron level of carcass, the control (FE-80) showed the lowest level among treatments; the YM and YF were significantly higher (P＜0.05) than the control. In conclusion, the supplementation with organic iron to broiler chicks improve productivity. We also expect the possibility on chicken meat with reinforcing iron.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.605-614
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• 2020

This study was conducted to compare the growth performances of three groups of commercial Korean native chickens (KNCs) including two strains of crossbreeds and H3 (Hanhyeop 3) from hatch to twelve weeks of age. (1A, 2A, and H3). A total of 468 one-day-old chicks were allocated in a completely randomized design with 15 replicates per treatment for the crossbreeds and 9 replicates per treatment for H3 (12 birds per cage). Commercial broiler diets (i.e., Week 0 - 5 crude protein [CP] 22.0%, metabolizable energy [ME] 3,025 kcal·kg^-1; week 5 - 8 CP 20.0%, ME 3,100 kcal·kg^-1; week 8 - 12 CP 19.0%, ME 3,150 kcal·kg^-1) were provided according to the Korean Feeding Standard for Poultry on an ad-libitum basis with fresh clean water during the twelve-week period. Body weight gain and shank length (SL) were measured weekly until week 6 and bi-weekly during week 6 to 12. Compared to H3, the two crossbreed groups had a higher body weight (BW) on weeks 3 to 8; however, the bodyweight of H3 on week 10 was significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of H3 was higher than that of the two crossbreed groups from hatching to 84 days except for week 3, and H3 showed a lower average daily gain (ADG) on weeks 3 and 10 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, H3 had a higher feed conversion ratio compared to another crossbreed chicken on weeks 1 to 8 and the last week after hatching. Among all the groups, there was no significant difference for shank length during the experimental period.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2009

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with chitosan feeding levels and feeding forms on the performance, proximate composition, pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), water holding capacity (WHC), shear force, meat color, and fatty acid of chicken thigh meat. Two hundred broilers (Arbor Acre Broiler, male) were randomly assigned to five groups and were fed for five weeks and slaughtered. Thigh muscle was evaluated in this experiment. The amounts of proximate composition, crude fat of control and T3 for the chitosan-treated groups were significantly higher as compared with T2 (P<0.05), but no significant effects were detected on moisture, crude protein, and crude ash. By comparison, pH was significantly increased when chitosan was included at 2% into diet or more than 1% into drinking water. TBARS was significantly lower at chitosan treated groups it was decreased with increasing chitosan level in the diets (P<0.05). Therefore, chitosan had the possibility to improve shelf life of chicken meat. Higher chitosan levels and feeding additive increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and reduced total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P<0.05). $L^*$ and $a^*$ of chitosan treated group was higher than the control. As the dietary chitosan levels increase, the composition of palmitic acid and oleic acid levels was increased, however, those but the rates of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid were decreased. It is concluded that dietary chitosan has a positive effect on increasing HDL-C and oleic acid and decreasing total-C, LDL-C and TBARS values. Therefore, the treatment with the most significant effects in the current study was the high level of chitosan.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.255-262
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• 2019

The micronutrients and flavor compounds of three new native chicken strains (A, C, and D) being developed in a breeding program (Golden Seed Project) were compared with a commercial native chicken strain (H) and the Baeksemi (W, white semi broiler). After 100 male chicks in each strains were reared for 5 weeks, the breast muscles from randomly selected 40 birds were analyzed at 8 replications. Native chicken strain A had greater amounts of α-tocopherol and α-tocotrienol compared with strain W. Native chicken strains showed higher contents of vitamin B₁₂ than Stain W. Stain H strain had the highest values of cholesterol content and strain D did the lowest. There was no different content of most minerals between native chickens (A, C, D, and H) and W, but Cu were more contained in native chicken strains compared with W. In terms of nucleotide-related flavor compounds, Stain A had the lowest content of hypoxanthine and strain D had highest inosine monophosphate. Native chicken strains had higher contents of umami-related free amino acids (glutamate and aspartate) than W. Among native chickens, strain A had more amounts in the contents of taurine, tasty flavor compounds, and certain vitamins, despite of the relatively low growth productivity. This result will provide information to select a strain with characteristic meat quality in a chicken breeding program.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.336-350
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• 2023

Two experiments were conducted in this research. Experiment 1 investigated the spatial expression characteristics of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) transporters in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of 21-day-old broilers provided with adequate nutrient feed. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of dietary vitamin D₃ (VD₃) concentration (0, 125, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 IU/kg) on growth performance, bone development, and gene expression levels of intestinal Ca and P transporters in 1-21-day-old broilers provided with the negative control diet without supplemental VD₃. Results in experiment 1 showed that the mRNA levels of calcium-binding protein 28-kDa (CaBP-D28k), sodium-calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1), plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1b (PMCA1b), and IIb sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-IIb) were the highest in the broiler duodenum. By contrast, the mRNA levels of inorganic phosphate transporter 1 (PiT-1) and 2 (PiT-2) were the highest in the ileum. Results in experiment 2 showed that adding 125 IU/kg VD₃ increased body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), bone weight, and percentage and weight of Ca and P in the tibia and femur of 1-21-day-old broilers compared with the negative control diet (p < 0.05). The rise in dietary VD₃ levels from 125 to 1,000 IU/kg further increased the BWG, FI, and weights of the bone, ash, Ca, and P (p < 0.05). No difference in growth rate and leg bone quality was noted in the broilers provided with 1,000 and 2,000 IU/kg VD₃ (p > 0.05). Supplementation with 125-2,000 IU/kg VD₃ increased the mRNA abundances of intestinal Ca and P transporters to varying degrees. The mRNA level of CaBP-D28k increased by 536, 1,161, and 28 folds in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, respectively, after adding 1,000 IU/kg VD₃. The mRNA levels of other Ca and P transporters (PMCA1b, NCX1, NaPi-IIb, PiT-1, and PiT-2) increased by 0.57-1.74 folds by adding 1,000-2,000 IU/kg VD₃. These data suggest that intestinal Ca and P transporters are mainly expressed in the duodenum of broilers. Moreover, the addition of VD₃ stimulates the two mineral transporter transcription in broiler intestines.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1079-1087
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• 2021

To analyze gut microbiota of livestock in Korea and compare taxonomic differences, we conducted 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis through next-generation sequencing. Fecal samples from broiler chickens, pigs, and cattle were collected from domestic feedlots randomly. α-diversity results showed that significant differences in estimated species richness estimates (Chao1 and ACE, Abundance-based coverage estimators) and species richness index (OUTs, Operational taxonomic units) were identified among the three groups. However, NPShannon, Shannon, and Simpson indices revealed that abundance and evenness of the species were statistically significant only for poultry (broiler chickens) and mammals (pigs and cattle). Firmicutes was the most predominant phylum in the three groups of fecal samples. Linear discriminant (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis was conducted to reveal the ranking order of abundant taxa in each of the fecal samples. A size-effect over 2.0 on the logarithmic LDA score was used as a discriminative functional biomarker. As shown by the fecal analysis at the genus level, broiler chickens were characterized by the presence of Weissella and Lactobacillus, as well as pigs were characterized by the presence of provetella and cattele were characterized by the presence of Acinetobacter. A permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) showed that differences of microbial clusters among three groups were significant at the confidence level. (p=0.001). This study provides basic data that could be useful in future research on microorganisms associated with performance growth, as well as in studies on the livestock gut microbiome to increase productivity in the domestic livestock industry.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the appropriate levels of crude protein (CP) and phytase in the diet of broiler chicks in order to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus contents in feces while maintaining performance of broilers. Six hundred forty-eight 1-day-old male broilers (41.9±0.91 g) had a total of 3 × 3 complex factor of 3 levels of CP (22%, 21%, 20%) and 3 levels of phytase (1,000, 800, 500 FTU/kg) in the diet. Divided into 9 treatments, 4 replications per treatment, 18 birds per replication, were completely randomly assigned and reared in a metabolic cage for 7 days. Seven-day-old body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) of broilers were significantly lower at CP 20% treatment (P<0.05), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower at CP 21% and phytase 800 FTU/kg treatment (P<0.05). Nitrogen and phosphorus contents in chicken excreta were significantly lower in CP 20% and phytase 500 FTU/kg treatment, respectively (P<0.05). Interactions between CP and phytase in the feed were shown for nitrogen and phosphorus in feces (P<0.05). In conclusion, considering the broiler performance and excretion contents of nitrogen and phosphorus, it is thought that CP and phytase levels of broiler chicks diet can be reduced by 21% and 800 FTU/kg, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2013

This study was investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of Yacon by-products and pine needle powder on growth performance, carcass characteristics, pH, TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance), WHC (water holding capacity), shear force, and meat color of chicken thigh meat. Broiler chicks were fed diets for five weeks containing 0% Yacon by-products and pine needle powder (Control), 0.5% Yacon by-products powder (T1), 1.0% Yacon by-products powder (T2), 0.5% pine needle powder (T3), and 1.0% pine needle powder (T4). There was no significant difference in growth performance among treatments, but mortality was decreased in diets by the supplementation of Yacon by-products and pine needle powder than that of control. The chicken fed control diet had higher cholesterol. LDL-cholesterol. triglyceride compared to those chicken fed Yacon by-products and pine needle powder regardless of concentrations, and HDL-cholesterol of control was lower than treatment. The pH and TBARS were significantly decreased by the supplementation of Yacon by-products and pine needle powder compared to the control (P<0.05), especially, pine needle powder group was significantly more effective in improving freshness compared to other test groups (P<0.05). The WHC and shear force were not significantly different. CIE $L^*$ and $a^*$ value of test groups showed significantly higher value compare to the control, however, no difference in the CIE $b^*$ values was observed among test groups. In conclusion, a supplementation of Yacon by-products and pine needle powder were effective in decreasing pH, TBARS, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and increasing HDL-cholesterol concentration. Pine needle powder supplementation was most effective (T3 and T4).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.847-854
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• 2014

Different herbs and spices have been used as feed additives for various purposes in poultry production. This study was conducted to assess the effect of feed supplemented with black pepper (Piper nigrum), turmeric powder (Curcuma longa), coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum) and their combinations on the performance of broilers. A total of 210 (Cobb) one-d-old chicks were divided into seven groups of 30 birds each. The treatments were: a control group received no supplement, 0.5% black pepper (T1), 0.5% turmeric powder (T2), 2% coriander seeds (T3), a mixture of 0.5% black pepper and 0.5% turmeric powder (T4), a mixture of 0.5% black pepper and 2% coriander seed (T5), and a mixture of 0.5% black pepper, 0.5% turmeric powder and 2% coriander seeds (T6). Higher significant values of body weight gain during the whole period of 5 weeks (p<0.001) were observed in broilers on T1, T3, T5, and T6 compared to control. Dietary supplements with T1, T2, T3, and T6 improved the cumulative G:F of broilers during the whole period of 5 weeks (p<0.001) compared with control. The dressing percentage and edible giblets were not influenced by dietary supplements, while higher values of relative weight of the liver (p<0.05) were obtained in T5 and T6 compared to control. The addition of feed supplements in T5 and T6 significantly increased serum total protein and decreased serum glucose, triglycerides and alkaline phosphatase concentrations compared with the control group (p<0.05). Broilers on T6 showed significant decrease in the serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase concentration (p<0.05) compared to control. The broilers having T5 and T6 supplemented feed had relatively greater antibody titre (p<0.001) at 35 d of age than control. It is concluded that dietary supplements with black pepper or coriander seeds or their combinations enhanced the performance and health status of broiler chickens.