• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2005

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of level and feeding period of dietary Monascus culture on the performance and cholesterol content of serum and meat in broilers and growing ducks.0.0(C), 0.5(T1), 1.0(T2) and $1.5\%(T3)$ of iwonascus culture which contained 0.5% monacolin-k was added to commercial broiler diets, respectively, and ffd during 2~6 weeks of age in Experiment 1. In Experilnent 2, commercial broiler diet added $1.0\%$ of Monascus culture was fed during $6\~6(C),\;4\~6(T1),\;2\~6(T2)\;and\;0\~6(T3)$ weeks of age, respectively. Three replicates of 16 day-old broilers and 10 day-old growing ducks each were randomly assigned to floor pen, respectively. In Experiment 1, as the level of dietary Monascus culture increased, body weight and feed intake of broilers significantly decreased (P<0.05), whereas those of growing ducks tended to increase without significant differences among treatments. Feed/gain ratio both in broilers and growing ducks showed a trend to increase. Cholesterol contents of serum both in broilers and growing ducks significantly decreased(P<0.05), and those of breast and thigh meat tended to decrease as the level of dietary Monascus culture increased. In Experiment 2, as the feeding period of dietary Monascus culture increased, body weight gain(P<0.05) and feed intake of broilers tended to decrease whereas those of growing ducks increased without significant differences anions treatments. Feed/gain ratio also increased without significant differences. Cholesterol contents of serum both in broilers and growing ducks significantly decreased(P<0.05), and those of breast and thigh meat tended to decrease as the feeding period of dietary Monascus culture increased without significant differences.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2007

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary botanicals (herbs and plant extracts) on the performance, nutrient metabolizability, small intestinal microflora, IgG level and blood parameters in broiler chickens. In Exp. 1, 1,000 (500 each sex) broiler chicks($Ross^{(R)}$) were divided into 20 groups of 50 chickens each(25 birds each sex). Four groups were assigned to each of five dietary treatments:control and diets containing antibiotics($Avillamix^{(R)}$, avillamycin-premix), Herb M(Herb $mix^{(R)}$), Plant extract B(BIOSTRONG $510^{(R)}$) and Plant extract A($APEX^{(R)}$). In Exp. 2, 240(120 each sex) broiler chicks($Ross^{(R)}$) were devided into six treatment groups:control and diets containing antibiotics($Avillamix^{(R)}$, avillamycin-premix), Plant extract D($Digestarom^{(R)}$), Plant extract P($Phellozyme^{(R)}$), Plant extract G($Galicin^{(R)}$) and Plant extract C(CRINA $POULTRY^{(R)}$). Each treatment consisted of four replicates of 10 birds each. In both experiments, birds had free access to diets and water for 5 wk on floor pens(Exp. 1) and cages(Exp. 2). In Exp.1, production index of groups fed diets supplemented with herbs and plant extracts was slightly higher than the control and those fed Herb M was highest. In Exp. 2, groups fed diets supplemented with herbs and plant extracts consumed more feed than the control during the period between 4 and 5 wk(P<0.05). Feed conversion(feed/gain) was lower in antibiotics group than other groups. The values of RBC, Hb and HCT were higher(P<0.05) in chicken fed diets supplemented with the additives than in the control in Exp. 1. BA value was lower(P<0.05) in groups fed diets supplemented with the additives than in the control in Exp. 2. Serum IgG were higher(P<0.05) in groups fed diets supplemented with the additives than in the control in both experiments. The cfu of intestinal microflora and metabolizability of nutrients were not significantly different among treatments in both experiments. It was concluded that the botanical supplements can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in broiler diets.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1547-1552
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• 2009

This study was carried out to evaluate the supplementation effect of dietary natural plant extracts (NP: $Coxynil^{(R)}$, $Growell^{(R)}$ and $Respowell^{(R)}$) on broiler chickens. Forty thousand male broilers with 7 days adaptation after hatching were fed experiment diets for 34 days. The supplementation effects of NP on growth performance, blood parameters and biopsy were examined with twenty thousand broilers as the treatment group. Twenty thousand broilers for the control group (CON) were fed the diet with salinomycin-6, clopidol-25, enramycin-1, and BMD-2.5. In the diet of the treatment group, the antibiotics were replaced with 0.03%, 0.035% and 0.03% of $Coxynil^{(R)}$, $Growell^{(R)}$ and $Respowell^{(R)}$, respectively. The weight gain of the treatment group was increased but the feed intake was decreased, indicating that feed efficiency was increased compared to the CON. The mortality of the NP group was also lower compared to the CON group (1,008 birds to 1,693 birds), showing positive dietary effects from natural plant extracts. In the activity of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and new cattle disease virus (NDV) antibodies, the NP showed lower antibody titer levels for both of IBDV and NDV compared to the CON. The levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, globulin, and IgG in blood did not show significant differences between the groups. In the microscopic tissue analysis, no significant differences were detected. These results may suggest that a complex of three natural plant extracts can be used as alternative antibiotics in broilers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.199-210
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the type and number of enrichments on growth performance, blood characteristics, footpad dermatitis (FPD) incidence, and litter moisture in broilers. A total of 1,140 1-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were assigned to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement based on the type of enrichment (cabbage, alfalfa block, and angle sawdust) and the number of enrichments (one or two per 38 broilers). The growth performance, blood characteristics, FPD incidence, and litter moisture of the broilers were evaluated. Body weight and feed conversion rate were significantly improved (P<0.05) in the alfalfa block and sawdust group compared to the cabbage group, but there was no interaction effect between the type and number of enrichments. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, a stress index, was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the alfalfa block and sawdust groups compared with the cabbage group. The incidence of FPD was significantly decreased in the order of cabbage (3.78), alfalfa block (3.06), and sawdust (1.43) groups at 5 weeks of age. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the incidence of FPD (P<0.05) in the one-enrichment group compared with the two-enrichment group. Litter moisture at 5 weeks of age was significantly reduced in the sawdust group compared to the cabbage and alfalfa groups, but there was no significant difference in the interaction between the type and number of enrichments. It was concluded that sawdust enrichment positively influenced both growth performance and the animal welfare of broilers. In addition, it is expected that sawdust can be used to regulate litter moisture.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2013

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of bacteriophage SE supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, visceral organ weight, meat quality and excreta microflora in broilers. A total of 340 1-d-old ROSS 308 broilers (mixed gender) with an initial average body weight (BW) of $41.71{\pm}0.16$ g were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 5 replicate pens per treatment and 17 broilers per pen for 31 days. Dietary treatments were: 1) CON, control diet, 2) SE05, CON+0.05% bacteriophage, SE 3) SE10, CON+0.10% bacteriophage SE, and 4) SE15, CON+0.15% bacteriophage SE. During d 15 to 31, broilers fed SE15 diet had a higher (P<0.05) body weight gain than broilers fed CON diet. Overall, body weight gain in SE10 and SE15 was greater (P<0.05) than that in CON. Apparent total tract nutrient digestibility and blood characteristics did not differ (P>0.05) among treatments. The water holding capacity was increased (P<0.05) in SE15 compared with CON. Other meat quality in terms of pH value, breast muscle color ($L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$) and drip loss were unaffected by dietary supplementation with bacteriophage SE. The visceral weight of bursa of Fabricius was increased (P<0.05) in broilers fed the bacteriophage SE incorporated diets compared with those fed the CON diet. No difference (P>0.05) was observed in visceral weight of liver, spleen, breast muscle, abdominal fat, gizzard and excreta concentrations of Lactobacillus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 0.10 and 0.15% bacteriophage SE could improve the growth performance, breast muscle water holding capacity and bursa of Fabricius visceral weight in broilers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding herb extract (HE) on productivity, intestinal microflora and blood component profile in broiler chickens. A total of three hundred twenty, 1-d-old male chicks (Ross) were divided into 4 treatments with 5 replicates, 16 birds per replicate. Dietary treatments consisted of four diets; the corn-soybean based control diet, the diet containing HE 0.1%, the diet containing HE 0.2%, and the diet containing HE 0.4%. The Control diet contained 3,100, 3,100, 3,200 kcal/kg ME and 22%, 20%, 18% CP for starter ($0{\sim}2 wk$), grower ($3{\sim}5 wk$), and finisher ($6{\sim}7 wk$) periods, respectively. There were no significant differences in feed intake and BW gain among treatments in starter period. In grower period, the BW gain of HE 0.2%, and HE 0.4% were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to Control. The 7-wk BW gain of HE 0.2% was significantly higher than Control (p<0.05). The feed intake tended to increase in HE 0.1%, but no difference was detected in feed conversion ratio among treatments. No significant differences were found in blood total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, glucose, total protein, and albumin among treatments, but total cholesterol in HE 0.4% decreased significantly as compared with Control. The cfu of Lactobacillus spp., yeast, and E. coli in the guts of chickens fed HE were not different form each other, but tended to increase as compared with Control.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.257-265
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• 2015

Heat conditioning at an early age has been known to help chickens cope with heat stress later in life. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of heat conditioning at 5 days of age in broilers repeatedly exposed to high ambient temperature later in life. A total of 256 day-old Arbor Acre boiler chicks were housed in two identical rooms with a 23-h light/1-h dark cycle and provided with feed and water ad libitum. At 5 days of age, the birds in one room were exposed to $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours, while those in the other room served as controls. On day 21, half of the birds in each room were moved into the other room so that each room contained both control and heat-conditioned birds. After a 7-day adaptation period, the birds in one room were exposed to high ambient temperature ($21^{\circ}C{\rightarrow}31^{\circ}C$) for 3 days, whereas those in the other room were kept at normal temperature. The same 3-day exposure to high ambient temperature was repeated two weeks later. Hence, there were four treatment groups (CON+CON: control+control; CON+HS: control+high ambient temperature; HC+CON: heat conditioning+control; and HC+HS: heat conditioning+high ambient temperature). Repeated heat stress resulted in decreased feed intake, water intake, body weight gain, and spleen weight (p<0.05) and increased rectal temperature (p<0.05), mortality, and plasma corticosterone concentrations. The relative weight of the spleen was increased in the heat-conditioned group (p<0.05). Plasma biochemicals were also influenced by high temperature. Thus, no beneficial effects of heat conditioning at an early age were detected in broilers repeatedly exposed to high ambient temperature later in life.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2014

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

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.607-616
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• 2003

This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding a total mixed ration(TMR) of broiler litter(BL) and bakery by-product(BB) with additional BL or rice straw incorporated at 10% of dietary DM as a roughage source on behavior pattern, nutrient intake, digestibility, digestible nutrient intake, ruminal and blood parameters, and N balance of sheep. All the treatment diets were formulated to be isoenergetic[total digestible nutrients(TDN) 66.9%]. Compared with the conventional formulated feed - rice straw feeding system(control), feeding TMR with BL(T1) or rice straw(T2) at 10% of dietary DM resulted in reduced eating, ruminating and total chewing time(P<0.05), similar DM intake, low(P<0.05) digestible DM, OM, fiber and total nutrients intake, low(P<0.05) nutrients digestibilities except EE, similar ruminal characteristics(pH, VFA concentrations and ratios, efficiency of carbohydrate fermentation, NH3-N), and favorable N digestion and retention. There were no differences in the above parameters between T1 and T2 with the exception of increased(P<0.05) eating, ruminating and total chewing time for T2. These results suggested that a TMR of BL and BB with or without rice straw may replace the conventional formulated feed and rice straw in ruminant diets successfully and furthermore feeding the TMR with rice straw made sheep behavior pattern more favorable.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.706-711
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• 2022

Broiler chickens are exposed to various stresses throughout their lives, and those stresses affect their well-being and meat quality. Therefore, the farm breeding system is critical for reducing stress in broilers and improving animal welfare. This study was conducted to evaluate the difference between general farms and animal welfare farms and to evaluate feather corticosterone as an index for measuring stress. Samples of 28-day-old broilers (blood, feathers, and muscle) were collected from slaughter-houses, and corticosterone, along with HSP70, glycogen, and L-lactate, were extracted from feathers and serum as indicators of broiler stress levels and energy metabolism. The analysis results confirmed a significantly (p<0.01) higher feather cortisone level in the general farm group than in the welfare farm group, but no significance was detected for serum corticosterone. HSP70 levels did not differ in muscles and feathers. Glycogen levels were significantly higher in the general farm group than in the welfare farm group (p<0.01), but L-lactate levels showed no difference. Our results suggest that feather corticosterone can be used as an indicator to evaluate stress differences between general farms and animal welfare farms and that long-term stress can be assessed.