• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1341-1347
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• 2002

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of oral administration of $Diakur^{TM}$ (an additive of glucose and electrolytes for young calves) on growth performance and some physiological responses in male broilers reared in a high temperature. A 2 by 3 factorial arrangement test of 2 temperatures (24 and $36^{\circ}C$) and 3 levels of oral administration of the glucose and electrolytes additive, $Diakur^{TM}$, (0, 150 and 300 mg/day/100 gBW) were applied in the experiment. Male broiler chicks (2 weeks of age) were assigned to six groups and received dietary and temperature treatments for 7 days. The additive of glucose and electrolytes was suspended with water and intubated into crop twice a day (08:00 and 17:00). Oral administration of the additive prevented decreases in food intake and growth rates in broilers due to exposure of the hot environment. Oral administration of the additive also improved a lowered electrolyte ($Na^+$ + $K^+$ - $Cl^-$) balance in plasma, low mitogenic response of blood mononuclear cell and an increase in glucose concentration due to exposure to the high environmental temperature. Oral administration of the additive increased rectal temperature regardless of environmental temperatures. On the other hand, blood pH, $pCO_2$ and $HCO_3$ - concentration, and plasma creatine kinase activity were not affected by the oral administration. The results suggested that oral administration of the glucose and electrolytes additive, $Diakur^{TM}$ during heat stress did not only prevent decrease in growth performance, but also normalized some physiological and immunological responses in male broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.325-334
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to determine the roughage to concentrate (R:C) ratio with rain tree pod meal (RPM) supplementation on in vitro fermentation using gas production technique. The experiment design was a 6${\times}$4 factorial arrangement in a CRD. Factor A was 6 levels of R:C ratio (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100) and factor B was 4 levels of RPM (0, 4, 8 and 12 mg). It was found that gas kinetic, extent rate (c) was linearly increased (p<0.01) with an increasing level of concentrate while cumulative gas production (96 h) was higher in R:C of 40:60. In addition, interaction of R:C ratio and RPM level affected $NH_3-N$ and IVDMD and were highest in R:C of 0:100 with 0, 4 mg of RPM and 40:60 with 8 mg of RPM, respectively. Moreover, interaction of R:C ratio and RPM level significantly increased total volatile fatty acids and propionate concentration whereas lower acetate, acetate to propionate ratios and $CH_4$ production in R:C of 20:80 with 8 mg of RPM. Moreover, the two factors, R:C ratio and RPM level influenced the protozoal population and the percentage of methanogens in the total bacteria population. In addition, the use of real-time PCR found that a high level of concentrate in the diet remarkably decreased three cellulolytic bacteria numbers (F. succinogenes, R. flavefaciens and R. albus). Based on this study, it is suggested that the ratio of R:C at 40:60 and RPM level at 12 mg could improve ruminal fluid fermentation in terms of reducing fermentation losses, thus improving VFA profiles and ruminal ecology.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1689-1697
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• 2013

This study was designed to determine the effect of physical form and urea treatment of rice straw on rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis and nutrient digestibility. Four rumen-fistulated dairy steers were randomly assigned according to a 2 (2 factorial arrangement in a 4 (4 Latin square design to receive four dietary treatments. Factor A was roughage source: untreated rice straw (RS) and urea-treated (3%) rice straw (UTRS), and factor B was type of physical form of rice straw: long form rice straw (LFR) and chopped (4 cm) rice straw (CHR). The steers were offered the concentrate at 0.5% body weight (BW) /d and rice straw was fed ad libitum. DM intake and nutrient digestibility were increased (p<0.05) by urea treatment. Ruminal pH were decreased (p<0.05) in UTRS fed group, while ruminal ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were increased (p<0.01) by urea treatment. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations increased (p<0.01) when steers were fed UTRS. Furthermore, VFA concentrations were not altered by treatments (p>0.05), except propionic acid (C3) was increased (p<0.05) in UTRS fed group. Nitrogen (N) balance was affected by urea treatment (p<0.05). Microbial protein synthesis (MCP) synthesis were greater by UTRS and CHR group (p<0.05). The efficiency of microbial N synthesis was greater for UTRS than for RS (p<0.05). From these results, it can be concluded that using the long form combined with urea treatment of rice straw improved feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and efficiency of microbial N synthesis in crossbred dairy steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.250-257
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• 2001

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of phytase supplementation to the diets containing different levels of non-phytate phosphorus (NPP). A $3{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments was employed. There were three dietary NPP levels of control (C) (0.45% for starter diet and 0.35% for grower diet), C-0.1% NPP (0.35% for starter diet and 0.25% for grower diet), and C-0.2% NPP (0.25% for starter diet and 0.15% for grower diet) and two phytase levels (0 and 500 U/kg). Reduced dietary NPP decreased feed intake and weight gain and increased mortality whereas dietary phytase increased feed intake and weight gain and decreased mortality. Supplemental phytase improved availabilities of dry matter, crude fat, ash, P, Zn, Mg, and Cu whereas dietary NPP level did not affect availabilities of nutrients except decreased Zn availability and increased Cu availability in reduced NPP diets. Nutrient retention of N, ash, Ca, P, Mg, and Zn were linearly decreased as dietary NPP levels reduced but dietary phytase increased their retention. Reduced dietary NPP increased ash excretion but decreased P and Cu excretion while dietary phytase decreased N excretion. Weight, length, girth and contents of ash, Ca, P and Mg of tibia linearly decreased as dietary NPP levels reduced. Dietary phytase increased length and ash content of tibia. It is concluded that dietary phytase can reduce P excretion and alleviate adverse affects caused by feeding low dietary NPP. Effects of phytase were greater in the lower NPP diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1434-1439
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• 2001

Eighty crossbred pigs (Large White x Landrace) weighing 9.9 kg were assigned on the basis of sex, weight and Jitter to one of five dietary treatments in a factorial $(5\;treatments\;{\times}2\;sexes)$ arrangement to compare the nutritive value of hulled and dehulled peas fed with or without enzyme (0.25% Allzyme PF and 0.5% Biogal-S). A barley and soybean meal diet served as a control. Eight castrates and eight gilts were fed each diet. Digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein and energy were higher for diets containing dehulled peas than hulled peas. In addition, enzyme supplementation modestly increased the digestibility of all three nutrients. Over the entire experimental period (9.9 to 103.3 kg), there were no performance differences (p>0.05) between pigs fed soybean meal based diets or diets based on any of the pea products. In addition, there were no differences in performance between pigs fed diets containing hulled or dehulled peas or between pigs fed diets with or without dietary enzyme. Castrates gained weight significantly faster, consumed more feed but had a poorer feed conversion than gilts (p<0.05). There were no differences in carcass traits between pigs fed diets based on soybean meal or any of the pea products. Carcass traits were similar for pigs fed hulled or dehulled peas while enzyme supplementation also had no effect on carcass data. Castrate pigs had a lower carcass value index, estimated lean yield and loin lean depth (p<0.05). Loin fat depth was greater for castrates than gilts (p<0.05). The overall results of this experiment provide little support for the need for enzyme supplementation of pea based diets fed to swine. In addition, dehulling did not appreciably improve the nutritive value of peas. Therefore, since the process adds to the cost of the raw product, its use is unlikely to be economical.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.923-931
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• 1999

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of lysine on performance and carcass composition of broilers under heat stress during the grower period (3-6 weeks). A factorial arrangement of three levels of dietary protein (18, 20, and 22%), three levels of dietary lysine (1.26, 1.39, and 1.52%), and two rearing temperature regimens were used in this study. Birds were kept under either moderate temperature ($24{\pm}1^{\circ}C/24h$) or hot cycling temperature ($26-34^{\circ}C/6h$, $34{\pm}1^{\circ}C/12h$, and $34-26^{\circ}C/6h$). Body weight (BW), weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion (FE), carcass weight (CW), carcass yield (CY), and percentages of breast meat (BM), abdominal fat (AF), drumsticks (DS), and thighs (TH) were determined at the end of experiment. Exposure to high ambient temperature significantly (p<0.05) decreased BW, WG, FI, FE, CW, BM, AF, and increased CY, DS, and TH. High dietary protein significantly (p<0.05) decreased AF and TH, and improved CW only under moderate temperature, resulting in significant (p<0.05) protein by temperature interaction. High dietary lysine significantly (p<0.05) decreased BW, WG, FI, CW, CY and AF, while BM was reduced only when high dietary protein was fed, resulting in significant (p<0.05) protein by lysine interaction. It is concluded that increasing dietary lysine adversely affected broilers' performance and carcass composition irrespective of rearing temperature.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.914-922
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• 1999

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary energy and protein on performance and carcass composition of broilers under heat stress during the growing period (3-6 weeks). A factorial arrangement of three levels of energy (3.0, 3.2 and 3.4 kcal/g), three levels of protein (18, 20 and 22%), an two rearing temperatures were used in this study. Groups of birds were kept under moderate temperature ($24{\pm}1^{\circ}C/24h$) or hot cycling temperature ($26-34^{\circ}C/6h$, $34{\pm}1^{\circ}C/12h$, and $34-26^{\circ}C/6h$). Body weight (BW), weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion (feed : gain) (FC), carcass weight (CW), carcass yield (YP), breast meat (BM), abdominal fat (AF), drumsticks (DS), and thighs (TH) percentages were determined at the end of the experiment. Hot cycling temperature significantly (p<0.05) decreased BW, WG, FI, CW, and BM, increased FC, YP, DS, and TH but did not affect AF. High energy significantly (p<0.05) increased BW, WG, CW, YP, AF, and TH, decreased FI and FC but did not affect BM or DS. This improvement was observed only under moderate temperature resulting in significant (p<0.05) energy by temperature interaction. High protein significantly (p<0.05) increased BW, WG, CW and BM, decreased AF but did not affect FI, FC, TP, DS, or TH. There were no significant protein by temperature interactions for any of the parameters tested except CW. It is concluded, under the conditions imposed in this experiment, that increasing dietary energy did not alleviate the depressing effect of heat stress while increasing dietary protein up to 22% improved the performance of broilers irrespective of rearing temperature.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.837-844
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• 2006

Four, lactating dairy cows were randomly assigned according to a $2{\times}2$ Factorial arrangement in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to study supplementation of urea level (U) at 2 and 4% and sodium dl-malate (M) at 10 and 20 g/hd/d in concentrate. The treatments were as follows U2M10, U2M20, U4M10 and U4M20, respectively. The cows were offered the treatment concentrate at a ratio to milk yield at 1:2.5 and urea-treated rice straw was fed ad libitum. The results have revealed that rumen fermentation and blood metabolites were similar for all treatments. The populations of protozoa and fungal zoospores were significantly different as affected by urea level and sodium dl-malate. In addition, the viable bacteria were similar for amylolytic and proteolytic bacteria. Cellulolytic bacteria were significantly affected by level of sodium dl-malate especially Selenomonas ruminantium and Megasphaera elsdenii while Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens was significantly affected by level of urea supplementation. In conclusion, the combined use of concentrate containing high level of cassava chip at 75% DM with urea at 4% in concentrate and sodium dl-malate at 20 g/hd/d with UTS as a roughage could improv rumen ecology and microbial protein synthesis efficiency in lactating dairy cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2008

Eighty-four Holstein cows were used to evaluate effects of feeding two diets that differed in dietary cation-anion difference (cationic; +28 or anionic; -138 mEq/kg DM) on prepartum and postpartum dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), serum Ca concentrations and on subsequent milk production and composition. Treatments were in a $2{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial arrangement that included prepartum diet, dry period length (30 d dry, 30 d dry+estradiol cypionate (ECP), and 60 d dry), and prepartum and postpartum bST ($POSILAC^{(R)}$ 10.2 mg/d). No interaction of prepartum diet with dry period length or bST supplementation was detected for any measure evaluated either prepartum or postpartum. No significant effects of prepartum diet on prepartum DMI, BW or BCS were observed. Mean DMI during the first 28 d postpartum were similar for cows fed the cationic or anionic diets prepartum (25.5 vs. 26.1 kg/d). During postpartum wk 1 to 14, no differences in mean BW or BCS were detected due to prepartum diet fed but decreases for both groups were observed during the first 6 wk postpartum. No differences due to prepartum diet were observed for mean milk or 3.5% FCM yields or for milk composition during the first 10 wk of lactation. Similarly, mean milk yield of cows during the first 21 wk did not differ significantly due to prepartum diet fed (38.5 vs. 38.6 kg/d). Overall, cows fed the prepartum cationic or anionic diets had similar mean postpartum serum concentrations of Ca (9.34 vs. 9.35 mg/dl). Subsequent milk production, milk composition and concentrations of Ca did not differ. Importantly, the two prepartum diets were equally satisfactory in minimizing incidence of milk fever and in supporting initiation of lactation, irrespective of dry period length and supplemental ECP and bST.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1348-1354
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• 2008

Two inorganic (zinc sulfate and zinc oxide) and three organic (zinc acetate, zinc-methionine, and zinc-lysine) zinc sources were evaluated for their effects on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. The birds were randomly assigned to one control (non-supplemented) and 15 treatment (supplemented) groups consisting of four replicates of 10 chicks each in a $5{\times}3$ factorial arrangement of treatments (five zinc sources and three supplemental zinc levels). Birds were kept in floor pens in a temperature-controlled room from 1 to 42 d of age and fed a non-supplemented basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with 40, 80 or 120 mg/kg of Zn as mentioned sources. Dietary zinc source had considerable effect on feed intake in all experimental periods. Increasing Zn level from 80 to 120 mg/kg decreased the average feed intake in the growth stage (p<0.01) and also in the entire experimental period (p<0.001). Similarly, the average daily gain during the entire trial period was affected by the type of Zn source (p<0.001) and supplemental level (p<0.01). One degree of freedom contrast comparisons showed that the inclusion of organic zinc sources into the diets caused significant increases in feed intake and body gain when compared with inorganic counterparts. Except in wk 1, dietary supplementation with organic sources improved (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio; FCR values were not affected by dietary Zn source or supplementation level. Breast meat yield increased with supplemental levels of organic Zn sources; however, other carcass parameters were not affected by dietary Zn source. On the other hand, organic versus inorganic zinc supplementation caused a significant increase in liver, breast and carcass weight percentages. The present findings suggest that supplemental levels of organic Zn compounds had beneficial effects on broiler performance, and Zn requirements can be reduced using these feed supplements in poultry rations.