• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.848-854
• /
• 2005

We examined the effect of dietary Turkish propolis and flavomycin on growth performance, carcass characteristics, internal organ weights and some serum variables in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) birds. One hundred and fifty day-old quails were randomly divided into five groups, with ten replicate pens per treatment and three birds per pen. One group received the basal diet (antibiotic-free), the control. The flavomycin at 10 mg/kg diet and propolis at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/kg diet were added to the basal diet. Body weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency were determinated weekly. Carcass characteristics, internal organ weights and serum variables were determinated at the end of the study (35 day). The results showed that body weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass weight were improved significantly (p<0.01) when compared to control group for birds fed diets containing propolis and flavomycin between 14 to 35 days. The addition of 1 g/kg propolis to the diet resulted in significantly (p<0.01) better-feed efficiency as compared to control and other treatment groups. There were no significant differences in carcass yield, abdominal fat, liver gizzard, proventriculus and intestinal weight and intestinal pH among the groups. In addition, serum ALP, total protein, uric acid, cholesterol and triglyceride were not influenced by the any supplementation. However, birds fed with propolis tended to have higher serum HDL and lower level than birds fed the control diet. In conclusion, supplementation of propolis and flavomycin during the growth period showed similar effects on growth performance in quail. Therefore, it can serve as a natiral substitute for antibiotics in poultry diets.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2003

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of natural and synthetic commercial pigments on the growth performances, skin pigmentation and color difference of broiler chicks. Experimental diet was formulated to have isocalories and isonitrogen for experimental period, and xanthophyll concentration in the diet was 8.45g/1on. The experiment was conducted for six weeks with 450 broiler chicks. The birds were assigned to 10 treatment groups and each group had 15 chicks with three replications. Results showed that the types of pigments did not have any effect on body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency. The mortality was lower with higher pigment supplementation and greater in the natural pigment groups than in the synthetic ones. Dressed carcass, abdominal fat pad and gizzard weight were not significantly different among treatments. The pigmentation of shank skin was increased with high pigment supplementations, and the pigmentation effect was greater with synthetic pigments than in natural pigments. In the shank meat or skin, the color difference(L*, a*, b*, c* and h*) was not consistently related to pigmentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.557-564
• /
• 2009

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of various levels of full-fat sunflower seeds (FFSS) on broiler performance and carcass characteristics. In the first experiment, FFSS was included in a basal diet at 70, 140, and 210 g/kg and the $AME_n$ values of the experimental diets were determined. The linear regression equation of $AME_n$ values on rate of inclusion was calculated. Extrapolation value for the $AME_n$ of FFSS at 100% inclusion was 14.22 MJ/kg. In the second experiment, diets containing various levels (0, 70, 140, and 210 g/kg) of FFSS were given to broilers (Ross strain) from 0 to 49 d. At 28 days of age, blood parameters and digestive enzyme activities were determined and carcass parameters were evaluated at 49 days of age. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved (p<0.05) when broilers were fed various levels of FFSS in the starter and finisher diets. Breast, thigh, gastrointestinal tract and gizzard weight percentages were not affected by dietary treatments; however, liver weight percentage was decreased significantly (p<0.05) and weight of abdominal fat decreased but this effect was not significant. The activities of digestive enzyme (protease and ${\alpha}$-amylase) were not influenced by the treatments. Activity of alkaline phosphatase, concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, glucose, triglyceride, protein, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were not affected by incorporation of FFSS in the broiler diet. Although concentration of HDL increased and LDL decreased, these effects were not significant. The results of this study indicate that FFSS can be used at up to 21% in broiler diets without adverse effects on performance or other parameters of chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.550-556
• /
• 2009

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary prebiotic (mannan oligosaccharide = MOS) and probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae = SC) in finishing turkey diets on carcass, cut yield, meat composition and colour. A total of 72 ten-weeksold Big6 male turkey poults were used in the trial. There were eight replicate floor pens per floor with three birds in each. The experiment lasted up to 20 wks of age. The trial was set up as a completely randomized design with 3 dietary treatments. The treatments were: i) negative control (C, no additive); ii) MOS 1 g per kg of diet and iii) SC 1 g per kg of diet (strain SC47, $300{\times}10^{10}$ CFU/kg). Body weight (BW) and feed intake were determined for each of the two week intervals. Twenty-four birds were slaughtered and eviscerated to determine carcass, carcass parts and internal organ weights at 20 wks of age. Meat colour and pH levels were measured 24 h after slaughter. The dietary treatments did not affect BW and average daily gain during the trial (p>0.05). The average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of turkey toms fed with MOS were higher than those of control and SC groups during the overall period (p<0.05). The dietary treatments did not affect carcass yield, breast meat, thigh, wing, liver, heart, empty gizzard, intestine, and abdominal fat pad proportions and meat pH, composition and pigmentation (p>0.05). These results suggest that the addition of MOS and SC is not likely to produce any performance or carcass characteristics in finishing turkeys at 10 to 20 wks of age.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.8
• /
• pp.1159-1168
• /
• 2012

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of Alisma canaliculatum with probiotics (ACP) on the growth performance, meat composition, oxidative stability, and fatty acid composition of broiler meat. Sixteen probiotic strains were tested for their levels of acid, bile, and heat tolerance. Among them, Lactobacillus acidophilus KCTC 3111, Enterococcus faecium KCTC 2022, Bacillus subtilis KCTC 3239, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCTC 7928 were selected for use in ACP. Exactly 140 Ross broiler chicks were assigned to four dietary treatments in five replications for 5 wks in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments were NC (Negative control; basal diet), PC (Positive control; basal diet with 0.005% Chlortetracycline), ACP-0.5% (basal diet with 0.5% ACP powder), and ACP-1% (basal diet with 1% ACP powder). According to the results, body weight of the broilers increased, and feed conversion ratio improved in the ACP-0.5% group compared to the NC group (p<0.05). Crude protein content of breast meat was higher (p<0.05) in the ACP-0.5% group, whereas crude fat content of thigh meat was lower (p<0.05) in the supplemented groups. Breast meat absolute and relative weights were both higher (p<0.05) in the ACP groups compared to the control group. Further, ACP diets increased gizzard and decreased large intestine relative weights, whereas kidney relative weight decreased upon the addition of a higher level (1%) of ACP (p<0.05). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values of breast and thigh meats were reduced (p<0.05) by ACP supplementation compared to control. Regarding the fatty acid composition of breast meat, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, PUFA, and n6 fatty acid levels decreased (p<0.05) in the ACP groups, whereas the levels of linoleic acid, PUFA, PUFA/SFA, and n6 fatty acid in thigh meat decreased (p<0.05) by ACP and PC diets. It can be suggested based on the study results that ACP-0.5% diet could be an effective feed additive for broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.2031-2038
• /
• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of intermittent feeding and cold water on performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens between 4 to 6 wk of age exposed to daily high temperature. Methods: Broilers were assigned to four treatment groups according to a 2×2 factorial design between 22 to 42 d of age (80 broilers per treatment, 4 replications). Broilers were divided into two main groups as feeding type (ad-libitum [AL] and intermittent [IF] for 6 h daily) and sub-groups as water temperature (normal [NW], 24.9℃ and cold [CW], 16.4℃). Heat treatment was applied between 11.00 to 17.00 h daily between 22 to 42 d of age. Results: Live weight at 6th wk was not affected by feeding type and water temperature, but the live weight was significantly higher in IF chickens at the 5th wk (p<0.05). Average weekly gain of IF broiler chickens were higher compared to AL group at 4, 5, and 6 wk of age (p< 0.05). Although feeding type did not affect feed intake in 4 and 5th wk, feed intake was higher in IF chickens at 6th wk (p<0.01). In addition, feeding type and water temperature did not affect feed conversion ratio and interactions were not significant (p>0.05). Water temperature had no significant effect on heart, liver, gizzard, and abdominal fat percentages (p>0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that IF increased the average weekly gain in chickens reared under daily heat stress for 6 h between 22 to 42 d of age. IF in hot environmental conditions slightly increased performance without adversely affecting health, welfare, and physiological traits, whereas CW implementation had no significant effect on performance. It can also be said that IF suppresses a sudden increase in body temperature depending on age and live weight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.1157-1163
• /
• 2005

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of replacing soyabean meal (SBM) at 50 and 100% with conventional (CMC) and low glucosinalate mustard cakes (LGMC) in iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets in broiler chickens. All these diets contained 0.1% choline chloride with a purity of 50% (w/w). Another diet was prepared by replacing SBM in toto with CMC with no supplemental choline to find out the possible role of supplemental choline in mustard cake (MC) based diets. Two hundred and seventy day-old broiler chicks were distributed randomly in 54 stainless steel battery brooder pens of five chicks in each pen. Each experimental diet was allotted at random to nine battery brooders and offered ad-libitum from day 2 through 42 days of age. Body weight gain was significantly depressed by total replacement of SBM with either LGMC or CMC at 21 days of age. Non-supplementation of choline significantly depressed the growth compared to those fed CMC 100% with supplemental choline. However, at 42 days of age, such an effect was seen only with CMC. Replacement of SBM with CMC 100% with or without choline supplementation depressed the body weight gain. The concentrations of cholestorol and tryglicerides in serum and the relative weights of ready to cook yield, giblet and gizzard decreased by incorporation of mustard cakes in broiler diets. The trend in fat and protein contents in breast and thigh muscles and liver was not clearly attributable to the treatment effect. Based on the results, it is concluded that SBM can be replaced in toto with LGMC (535.0 and 466.5 g/kg starter and finisher diets, respectively) or up to 50% (215.0 and 186.7 g/kg starter and finisher diets, respectively) with CMC in commercial broiler chicken diets. Choline supplementation at 0.1% level in broiler diets containing CMC was found to be beneficial during starter phase.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.7
• /
• pp.1026-1031
• /
• 2009

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of graded levels of butyric acid (butyrate) on performance, gastrointestinal tract health and carcass characteristics in young broiler chickens. Control starter (0-3 wk) and finisher (4-5 wk) diets were formulated to contain 2,900 kcal ME/kg and 22% CP, and 3,000 kcal ME/kg and 20% CP, respectively. Subsequently, four other experimental diets were formulated to contain 0.05% antibiotic (furazolidone) or 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% butyric acid. Each diet was fed at random to 8 replicates of 6 chicks each throughout the experimental period (0-5 wk). The results showed that 0.4% butyrate in the diet was similar to antibiotic in maintaining body weight gain and reducing E. coli numbers but superior for feed conversion ratio. No added advantage on these parameters was obtained by enhancing the concentration of butyrate from 0.4 to 0.6% in the diet. Feed intake and mortality were not influenced by the dietary treatments. A reduction in pH of the upper GI tract (crop, proventiculus and gizzard) was observed by inclusion of butyrate in the diets of broilers compared to either control or antibiotic-fed group. Butyrate at 0.4% was more effective in reducing the pH than 0.2% butyrate. Within the lower GI tract, 0.4 and 0.6% butyrate was effective in lowering pH in the duodenum, but no effect was found in either the jejunum or ileum. The villus length and crypt depth in the duodenum increased significantly in all the butyrate treated diets irrespective of the level tested. Carcass yield was higher and abdominal fat content was lower significantly in all the butyrate treatment groups compared to the control or antibiotic group. From these findings, it is concluded that 0.4% butyric acid supplementation maintained performance, intestinal tract health, and villi development and carcass quality in broiler chickens.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.4.1-4.7
• /
• 2014

The effect of sodium and sodium salts on carcass and body organ characteristics of broilers under a four phase feeding program were investigated. A basal diet (0.08% dNa with NaCl) was formulated and one of two sources of dNa ($NaHCO_3$ and $Na_2SO_4$) were supplemented to obtain four different percentages of dNa (0.17, 0.26, 0.35, and 0.44%) for each treatment. There was a linear decrease in dressing percentage (DP) with source ${\times}$ level interaction ($p{\leq}0.001$), while there was a linear increase in breast yield and thigh yield with increasing dNa supplementation ($p{\leq}0.001$). Chicks fed 0.35% $NaHCO_3$ and 0.44% dNa $Na_2SO_4$ supplemental salts had lower abdominal fat ($p{\leq}0.04$). Chicks that received increasing levels of dNa (from 0.17 to 0.44%) showed increasing gizzard weight ($p{\leq}0.02$) and decreasing spleen weight ($p{\leq}0.02$). When both salts were supplemented at 0.26% dNa, the chicks showed their lowest bursa weight ($p{\leq}0.001$). Consequently, chicks at higher dNa showed an increase in breast and thigh meat yield, and increasing capacity of their digestive organ. The higher levels of dNa should be tested with other cations and anions to fully understand acid base homoeostasis.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.159-167
• /
• 2016

A total of 528 broilers ($47{\pm}0.1g$; 1 day of age) were used in a 35-day feeding trial to evaluate probiotics, prebiotics and their interactive effects on growth performance, blood characteristics, relative organ weight and meat quality. Broilers were randomly distributed into 1 of 6 treatments on the basis of body weight (BW) (4 replicate pens per treatment, 22 broilers per pen). The dietary treatments were CON, basal diet; B, CON + 0.1 g kg-1 Bacillus subtilis; K, CON + 1 g kg-1 Kefir; G, CON + 1 g kg-1 ${\beta}-glucan$; GB, G + 1 g kg-1 Bacillus subtilis; and GK, G + 1 g kg-1 Kefir. The overall effects indicated that broilers fed the K, G and GK diets had greater body weight gain (BWG) than those fed the CON diet (P<0.05). The number of white blood cells increased (P<0.05) in the GB group compared with the CON, B and G treatments; however, the lymphocyte percentage in the B group was higher than in the G group. The weight of bursa fabricii was lower in the B and G groups compared to the K group (P<0.05), whereas a higher spleen weight was observed in chickens that were fed the GB and GK diets compared to the B group (P<0.05). The treatments did not affect the meat quality parameters, except for meat redness, which improved with all of the supplementation groups (P<0.05). The population of Lactobacillus spp. in gizzard was significantly higher in the K treatment compared with CON, B, G and GB. In conclusion, supplementation with kefir and ${\beta}-glucans$ improved growth performance.