• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.558-563
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• 2013

The present study was conducted to estimate energy requirements for maintenance in laying hens by using indirect calorimetry and energy balance. A total of 576 28-wk-old Nongda-3 laying hens with dwarf gene were randomly allocated into four ME intake levels (86.57, 124.45, 166.63 and 197.20 kcal/kg body weight $(BW)^{0.75}$ per d) with four replicates each. After a 4 d adaptation period, 36 hens from one replicate were maintained in one of the two respiration chambers to measure the heat production (HP) for 3 d during the feeding period and subsequent 3 d fast. Metabolizable energy (ME) intake was partitioned between heat increment (HI), HP associated with activity, fasting HP (FHP) and retained energy (RE). The equilibrium FHP may provide an estimate of NE requirements for maintenance (NEm). Results showed that HP, HI and RE in the fed state increased with ME intake level (p<0.05). Based on the regression of HP on ME intake, the estimated ME requirements for maintenance (MEm) was 113.09 kcal/kg $BW^{0.75}$ per d when ME intake equals HP. The FHP was decreased day by day with the lowest value on the third day of starvation. Except for lowest ME intake level, the FHP increased with ME intake level on the first day of starvation (p<0.05). The FHP at the two higher ME intake levels were greater than that at the two lower ME intake levels (p<0.05) but no difference was found between the two lower ME intake levels. Linear regression of HP from the fed state to zero ME intake yielded a value of 71.02 kcal/kg $BW^{0.75}$ per d, which is higher than the extrapolated FHP at zero ME intake (60.78, 65.23 and 62.14 kcal/kg $BW^{0.75}$ per d for the first, second and third day of fasting, respectively). Fasting time, lighting schedules, calculation methods and duration of adaptation of hens to changes in ME intake level should be properly established when using indirect calorimetry technique to estimate dietary NE content, MEm and NEm for laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2004

Hisardale male lambs (n=24, 4-5 month of age) were maintained on a conventional ration for a month, to equilibrate the body mineral status. Six lambs were sacrificed after one month of feeding; the samples of organs were analyzed to ascertain mineral status. The remaining 18 lambs were divided into 3 groups of 6 each on body weight basis. Three dietary treatments containing 100 ($T_1$), 110 ($T_2$) and 120% ($T_3$) of minerals (Ca, P, S, Zn and Mn) as specified by NRC (1985) were formulated and each treatment was alloted ad libitum to a group for 120 days. Blood and wool samples were collected at monthly intervals. At the end of the experiment a balance trial of 5 days duration was conducted to study the balance of mineral elements. The effective intake of minerals was Ca, 111 and 120, P, 110 and 122; S, 112 and 129; Zn, 112 and 126 and Mn, 109 and 123 percent in $T_2$ and $T_3$, respectively, in comparison to $T_1$ (100). The additional mineral supplementation had no significant effect on dry matter intake. The average daily weight gain was higher (p<0.01) in $T_2$ and $T_3$ than the control ($T_1$). The lambs under treatments $T_2$ (8.72) and $T_3$ (8.47 kg) consumed apparently lesser amount of dry matter per unit gain as compared to $T_1$ (10.81 kg). Significantly higher (p<0.05) dry matter and crude protein digestibility (%) were observed in $T_2$ and $T_3$ than in $T_1$. The mean balances for different elements were Ca, 1.14, 1.68 and 1.67 g; P, 1.70, 1.95 and 2.18 g; S, 0.54, 0.92 and 1.11 g; Zn, 22.56, 25.30 and 28.71 mg; Cu, 7.94, 5.71 and 5.53 mg; Fe, 33.19, 32.94 and 31.03 mg and Mn, 8.24, 14.40 and 16.07 mg/lamb/day. The retention of supplemental minerals increased (p<0.01) while that of Cu decreased (p<0.01) due to supplementation of minerals (Ca, P, S, Zn and Mn). Retention as per cent of intake increased statistically for S and Mn while that of Cu decreased. It can be concluded that supplementation of minerals (Ca, P, S, Zn and Mn) higher than the recommended level improved body weight gain and feed to gain ratio. The retention of minerals increased due to supplementation. Therefore, an additional supplementation of deficient minerals (Ca, P, S, Zn and Mn) by 10% was beneficial for Hisardale male lambs under tropical condition in India.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.109-115
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• 2004

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of taurine (Tau) supplements on broiler growth performance, serum constituents and antibody production. In Exp. 1, 3 day old chicks received a basal diet supplemented with Tau at 0, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 or 0.40% for 6 weeks. Although dietary Tau supplementing at 0.30 or 0.40% enhanced feed conversion and reduced feed consumption during 0 to 3 weeks (p<0.05), neither serum total cholesterol or anti-Newcastle disease virus (NDV) titer were affected. In Exp. 2, dietary Tau supplement at 0.25-0.75% enhanced feed conversion of broilers during 0 to 3 weeks, but daily gain and feed consumption were not affected. The 0.75% Tau supplement group displayed lower serum total cholesterol at 6 weeks (p<0.05) comparing with the control group but no difference in anti-NDV titers. In Exp. 3, broilers were treated with dietary Tau of 0 or 0.50% combined with low (0/0%), medium (0.18/0.08%), or high (0.36/0.16%) methionine (Met) levels for 6 weeks (0 to 3/3 to 6 weeks). The addition of Met significantly improved daily gain and feed conversion of broilers during 0 to 3 weeks (p<0.01). Dietary Tau interacted significantly with Met on daily gain and feed consumption. Broiler serum amino acids revealed that Met supplements only increased serum Met level, but only serum Tau level was enhanced as given dietary Tau supplementation. The broilers receiving Tau normalized serum triglycerides level by feeding with the low Met diet and tended to display higher anti-NDV titers (p<0.10). The experimental results suggest that the growth response obtained by Tau supplements results partly from interactions with sulfur amino acids. However, the modulation of the broiler lipid metabolism may be responsible for dietary Tau.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1729-1735
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• 2004

A total of 140 weaning pigs were used to determine the effects of digestive enzyme supplementation to corn-soybean meal diets on growth performance, physiological changes of small intestine, microorganisms and pH in the gastrointestinal tract. Two kinds of enzyme complex (A, B) were used in this experiment. Pigs were allotted in a completely random design (CRD) to five replicates with four pigs per pen. Diets and water were provided for ad libitum consumption. Treatments included 1) Control: without enzyme supplementation, 2) Enzyme A 0.05%, 3) Enzyme A 0.10%, 4) Enzyme A 0.15%, 5) Enzyme B 0.05%, 6) Enzyme B 0.10%, 7) Enzyme B 0.15% in the diets. A total of 24 crossbred barrows 25.78${\pm}$0.55 kg BW fitted with simple ileal T-cannulas were used to evaluate the effect the enzyme addition on the nutrient digstibility. Pigs were allotted 4 treatments (No enzyme, enzyme A 0.05%, enzyme A 0.1%, enzyme A 0.15%), 6 replicates according to a completely random design (CRD). Another digestibility trial was followed for enzyme complex B. Twenty pigs, average 31.92${\pm}$0.37 kg BW, fitted with simple ileal T-cannulas for digestibility trial. Neither enzyme A nor enzyme B affected on fecal or ileal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash (p>0.05). The apparent fecal digestibilities of all the nutrients were higher in total feces collection method than in indirect method. At the end of feeding trial, 21 pigs were slaughtered for examining the morphological changes of small intestine and the concentration of microorganisms in the ileum and the colon. Growth performance, intestinal morphology and pH of ileum and colon were not affected by the either enzyme complex supplementation (p>0.05). These results suggested that enzyme complex A and enzyme complex B were of no benefit to early-weaned pigs when corn-soybean meal based diet was provided.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1299-1303
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• 2001

For the Exp. 1, a total of fifty four crossbred [(Duroc Yorkshire)${\times}$Landrace] pigs ($77.67{\pm}1.42kg$ average initial BW) were used in a 41-d growth assay to determine the effects of yucca extract supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum characteristics of finishing pigs. Dietary treatments included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) YE60 (basal diet+60 ppm yucca extract), 3) YE120 (basal diet+120 ppm yucca extract). Average daily gain was not improved by yucca extract supplementation during the whole experimental perid (d 0 to 41). Pigs fed control diet showed the best average daily gain. Pigs fed control and YE120 diets tended to increase average daily feed intake compared with pigs fed YE60 diet (quadratic effect, p<0.0001). Gain/feed with control treatment was significantly better than the YE groups (linear effect, p<0.071). However, there was no significant difference among levels of yucca extract (p>0.10). Apparent digestibility of dry matter in pigs fed yucca extract were greater than for pigs fed control diets (linear effect, p<0.017). Pigs fed YE120 tended to have higher digestibility of nitrogen than pigs fed the control diets (linear effect, p<0.019). There were no significant differences in Total-, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol concentrations of serum, and the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations in serum was not influenced by the yucca extract supplementation (p>0.10). For the Exp. 2, fifteen [(Duroc${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Landrace] pigs ($25.00{\pm}0.50kg$ average initial BW) were used in a 30-d metabolism experiment to determine the effects of yucca extract supplementation on fecal ammonia gas production. Treatments were : 1) Control (basal diet); 2) YE (basal diet+150 ppm yucca extract); 3) BD (basal diet+100 ppm Bio-Dr; yucca extract+far infrared emitted materials). Fecal ammonia gas production differences between d 0 and d 30 were significantly reduced (p<0.05) by feeding BD compared to control and YE. Also, when pigs were fed the diet with YE tended to be decreased ammonia gas production compared to pigs fed the control diet without significant differences (p>0.05). There were no differences for DM and N digestibility among pigs fed the treatment diets. In conclusion, yucca and (or) far infrared radiological materials can be used to make environment-friendly diets for growing-finishing pigs without negative effects on growth performance and nutrient digestibility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1138-1143
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• 2001

A total of 96 piglets were weaned at 19 and 13 days in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively, and allotted to one of four diets: three with different spray dried plasmas (SPs) and one with hydrolysed casein (HC). SPs were from pigs (SPP), mixed origin (SMP), and mixed origin with standardized level of immunoglobulins (SMPIG). All the diets contained 1.7% total lysine, 25% of the test protein source, 45% corn starch, 15% lactose, 2% sucrose, 7% soybean oil. At d 4 and d 2 in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively, piglets were perorally challenged with $10^{10}$ CFU E. coli K88. Growth performance, immunity, and health condition were measured for 15 days and 14 days in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. To investigate apparent ileal digestibility and nutrient deposition, all piglets were sacrificed at d 14 in Exp. 2. In 1. 3 piglets died in HC diet and 1 in SPP diet. HC diet showed higher mortality (p<0.01) than other diets. In Exp. 2, no clinical sign of infection was detected, no difference for the content of E. coli K88 was found in feces at 4 and 6 days after the infection, and no E. coli K88 was found in the jejunum at the end of experiment. In both experiments, feed intake was lower for HC diet and ADG was 96, 106, 122 and 155 for HC, SPP, SMP and SMPIG diet, respectively (HC vs others, p<0.05; SMPIG vs other SP, p<0.01). Heal apparent digestibility of nitrogen in sacrificed piglets was higher for HC diet (p<0.05). After the challenge, K88-specific titers in saliva (Exp. 1) and in plasma (Exp. 2) were reduced in SMP and SMPIG. The piglets positive to the adhesion of the used E. coli strain to the intestinal brush borders had a significantly reduced growth (p<0.01) and a higher K88-specific IgA titer in plasma, in comparison with negative ones. This effect was independent of the diet. The data show the relevance of spray dried plasma sources and particularly of SP with standardized level of immunoglobulins for the feeding of early-weaned at the risk of infection by enterotoxigenic bacteria.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1118-1124
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• 2001

Fifteen lactating crossbred cows were randomly allotted to three groups of 5 each, and fed three isoproteinous concentrate mixture varying in RDP and UDP ratios, viz. 71: 29 (T1) and 58: 42 (T2) and 44: 56 (T3), along with green maize and wheat straw given as 2/3 and 1/3 of total roughage respectively, for a period of 120 days. The DM intake (kg/d) differed significantly (p<0.01) among the treatments as well as among the fortnights over a period of 120 days. DMI (kg/d) progressively increased from first to eighth fortnight in all the treatments. The daily DMI (% BW) was significantly (p<0.01) lower in T1 (2.37) than those of T2 (2.82) and T3 (2.67). The body weights of cows decreased up to 4th fortnight in T1 and up to 3rd fortnight in T2 and T3, then it showed an increasing trend till the end of the experiment in all the treatments. Cows in T1 lost 10 kg body weight but cows in T2 and T3 gained 23 and 12 kg the body weight, respectively. Both the milk and FCM yield differed significantly (p<0.01) among the fortnights. The FCM yield increased up to 2nd fortnight in all the treatments and thereafter, the FCM yield declined gradually as the lactation advanced. The FCM yield (kg/d) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T3 (10.47) than in T2 (9.81) and T1 (9.68), however, milk yield, SCM yield and milk energy yield did not differ among the treatments as well as among the fortnights. Fat and protein % in milk increased as the lactation advanced. However, fortnightly SNF % in milk showed an irregular trend. The % fat, protein, SNF and total solids in milk differed significantly (p<0.01) among the fortnights. The % fat and protein in milk varied significantly (p<0.01) among the treatments, being lowest in T1 and highest in T3. The feed efficiency for milk production showed a non-significant variation among the treatments as well as among the fortnights, but increased with the increase in UDP level. It is concluded that by increasing the UDP level from 29 to 56 per cent of CP in the diet of medium producing cows, the milk production increases and cost of milk production reduces.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.203-208
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• 1999

An 8 week feeding trial was conducted with 864 ISA Brown laying hens, 48 weeks old, to determine if microbial phytase $(Natuphos^{(R)})$ supplementation can reduce non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) level in laying diets. The experiment consisted of four dietary treatments: T1, control diet with 0.26% NPP (0.55% total P) wand no supplementary phytase; T2, 0.21% NPP (0.50% total P) diet with 250 U of phytase/kg of diet; T3, 0.16% NPP (0.45% total P) diet with 250 U of phytase/kg of diet; and T4, 0.11% NPP (0.40% total P) diet with 250 U of phytase/kg of diet. T3 showed the highest egg production and egg weight and the lowest feed conversion while T4 gave the lowest egg production and the highest feed conversion and mortality. Daily feed consumption ranged from 130.4 g (T4) to 132.7 g (T2). T1 and T2 were not significantly different in the production parameters. Eggshell strength, egg specific gravity, and eggshell thickness were not significantly different among treatments. However, broken egg ratio was significantly lower in T2 and T4 than in T1. Retentions of Ca, P, Mg, and Cu were greater in phytase supplemented treatments (T2, T3, and T4) than the control (T1), and those in T3 and T4 were greater than in T2. Excretions of P in phytase supplemented treatments (T2, T3, and T4) were significantly (p<0.05) smaller than in T1 but excretions of N were not significantly different among the treatments. Contents of ash in tibiae were not significantly affected by treatments, but contents of Ca, P, Mg, and Zn was increased and that of Cu decreased by phytase supplementation. It is concluded that the NPP concentration in the diet of Brown layers consuming about 130 g/d of feed can be safely lowered from 0.26% (0.55% total P) to 0.16% (0.45% total P). The excretion of P was reduced by the inclusion of 250 U phytase/kg of diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.877-883
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• 2006

A feeding trial was conducted on commercial broilers for a period of 35 days to determine the individual and combined effects of aflatoxin (AF) and T-2 toxin (T-2) on performance, organ weights and immune status. The efficacy of dietary glucomannan-containing yeast product (GYP) ($Mycosorb^{(R)}$) and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) in preventing the adverse effects of aflatoxin and T-2 toxin was also evaluated. Twelve dietary treatments ($4{\times}3$ factorial) comprising two dietary levels each of AF (0 and 2 mg/kg), T-2 toxin (0 and 1 mg/kg), GYP (0 and 1 kg/ton) and HSCAS (0 and 10 kg/ton) were tested on 720 commercial broiler chickens divided at random into 36 replicates of 20 chicks each (10 males and 10 females). Weight gain and feed intake were recorded weekly. Organ morphology and antibody titers for Newcastle disease (ND) and infectious bursal disease (IBD) were measured on the $35^{th}$ day. AF and T-2 toxin individually decreased weight gain and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p<0.05). AF alone (p<0.05) increased weights of liver, kidney, gizzard and spleen and reduced thymus and bursal weights. T-2 toxin (p<0.05) increased liver and gizzard weights and decreased thymus weight. Both AF and T-2 toxin when fed individually affected ND and IBD titers in a significant manner. Significant interactions between AF and T-2 toxin were observed for their additive effects on weight gain, FCR, organ weights and antibody titers. Addition of GYP (p<0.05) improved weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and restored the organ weights. Antibody titers against ND and IBD were significantly improved with the supplementation of GYP. Supplementation of HSCAS (p<0.05) resulted in improvement in weight gain and restored organ weights in the groups fed AF alone, but not in T-2 toxin fed groups. HSCAS inclusion did not influence FCR in toxin fed groups. Addition of HSCAS (p<0.05) improved the antibody titers against ND and IBD only in AF fed groups. Thus, the results indicate that addition of GYP is effective in averting the individual and combined toxicity of aflatoxin and T-2 toxin in commercial broilers, while HSCAS is effective only against aflatoxin.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.398-405
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• 2014

This study was conducted to compare growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of 4 breeds of local chicken. A total of 480 1-d-old chicks were distributed to 16 pens, with 4 treatments of breed, 4 replicates and 30 chicks per pen. Three Korean local breeds of white-mini broiler, Hanhyup-3-ho, and Woorimatdag, and a breed of silky fowl were raised under identical rearing and feeding conditions for 31-d, 37-d, 36-d, and 59-d, respectively. The BW and feed consumption on a pen basis were weekly measured for all pens, and ADFI, ADG and gain:feed were calculated for each pen. The ADFI and ADG of 3 breeds of Korean local chicken were greater than those of silky fowl (p<0.05). Within the Korean local breeds, ADFI of white-mini broiler was the highest (p<0.05), and ADG of Hanhyup-3-ho and white-mini broiler was the highest (p<0.05). Gain:feed of silky fowl was less than that of the 3 breeds of Korean local chicken. The carcass and breast yield of white-mini broiler were the greater than those of other breeds (p<0.05). The breast meat color (CIE $L^*$, $a^*$, and $b^*$) of 3 breeds of Korean local chicken were higher than that of silky fowl (p<0.05). The breast meat of Hanhyup-3-ho had greater cooking loss (p<0.05), whereas water holding capacity and pH were less than those of other breeds (p<0.05). The color score of 3 breeds of Korean local chicken was higher than that of silky fowl (p<0.05). Woorimatdag had a higher score on tenderness (p<0.05), whereas flavor score was less than that of other breeds (p<0.05). In conclusion, 4 local breeds of chicken have some unique features and seem to have more advantages, and this information can help consumers who prefer healthy and premium chicken meat.