• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary yeast culture containing rPST on growth performances and the characteristics of body compositions in broiler chickens. A total of 460 Ross male broiler chicks aged 2-day-old were fed one of five experimental diets; Control(devoid of all), TI (with $0.1\%$ antibiotics; chlorotetracycline), T2 (with $0.1\%$ rPST-yeast culture), T3 (with $0.2\%$ rPST-yeast culture) or T4 (with $0.2\%$ SC yeast culture) for 6 weeks. Feed consumption and body weights were measured weekly. At week 5 of the experiment, 10 chicks were randomly selected and sacrificed. The relative weights of each organ and the chemical composition of edible meat were measured. The enzyme activity, total cholesterol, Ca and P were also determined. Tibial weight, bone strength and chemical composition were investigated. There were no significant differences in feed intake and feed conversion ratios among the treatments throughout the experimental period. Body weight gains tended to be increased by feeding of diets containing rPST-yeast culture. The relative weight of breast muscle in T3 group was significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.05). The moisture contents of breast meat in groups fed diets containing rPST-yeast culture or SC yeast culture were significantly increased as compared with those of the control and n. However, the contents of crude protein and ether extract were not affected by feeding of rPST-yeast culture. There were no significant differences in GOT, total cholesterol, Ca and P. The relative weight and strength and proximal composition of the tibia were also not affected by dietary treatments. These results indicated that dietary rPST-yeast culture may be a valuable alternative for optimizing growth performances, particularly for improving the yield of breast muscle.