• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1440-1444
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• 2005

To determine the effects of short-term dietary supplementation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) during nursing (from 3 to 28 days of age) on plasma BCAA levels and subsequent growths in cattle, 12 nursing male Holstein calves, randomly assigned to control and treatment groups (n = 6 in each group), orally received a daily supplement of essential BCAAs (2 g/kg body weight/day; 1:1:1 of valine, leucine and isoleucine) or not. The plasma BCAA levels increased linearly after the administration. During the treatment period, average daily gain (ADG) was lower in the treatment group (0.43${\pm}$0.07 kg/day) than the controls (0.71${\pm}$0.07 kg/day, p<0.05). However, at 2 months of age, ADG was significantly higher in the BCAA-treated group (1.16${\pm}$0.26 kg/day vs. 0.51${\pm}$0.06 kg/day, p<0.05). Furthermore, at age 8, 9 and 10 month, ADG in the treated group (1.35${\pm}$0.23, 1.46${\pm}$0.07 and 1.60${\pm}$0.16 kg/day, respectively) showed a linear increase and was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.88${\pm}$0.14, 0.70${\pm}$0.21 and 1.11${\pm}$0.11 kg/kg, respectively, p<0.05). Overall, ADG was 15.6% higher in the treatment group (1.26${\pm}$0.05 kg vs. 1.09${\pm}$0.04 kg; p<0.05). The final body weight at slaughter was 14.8% higher in the treatment group (759.5${\pm}$17.7 kg vs. 661.7${\pm}$21.2 kg, p<0.01). Thus, the supplementation of BCAAs during nursing improves ADG and carcass weight in cattle and is a useful husbandry technique for beef cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.182-187
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• 2010

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the levels of hormones (progesterone, IGF-I and IGFBP-3) in blood plasma, growth, carcass traits and their interactions of sexually immature (n = 18) and sexually mature (n = 17) gilts. To calculate average daily weight gain (ADG), gilts were individually weighed at the beginning of the trial and at slaughter (110${\pm}$10 days old). Blood concentrations of progesterone, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were determined by RIA. The right hot carcass sides were dissected and the individual basic parts from carcasses were weighed to record the carcass traits. IGFBP-3, ADG and carcass traits were not affected by pubertal maturation. Compared to sexually immature gilts, mature gilts had higher blood concentrations of progesterone and IGF-I. High correlations were noted between levels of some hormonal substances, productive performance and carcass traits of sexually immature and mature gilts.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 1992

Fourteen Sahiwal ${\times}$ Friesian crossbred heifers were used in a 10-wk feeding trial to determine maintenance energy requirements and efficiency of gain. The heifers were individually fed with a diet consisting of 30% dry grass and 70% concentrates at either 110, 140 or 180% of the anticipated maintenance requirement ($494kJ\;ME/kg^{0.75}/day$). Liveweight of individual heifers was measured weekly to calculate diet requirements and average daily gain (ADG). Diet digestibility was determined for all heifers to determine ME intake. Retained energy (RE) of individual heifers was determined from changes in total body fat and protein using a TOH isotope dilution procedure and, assuming calorific values of 39.3 and 23.6 kJ/g for fat and protein respectively. The estimated ME for maintenance was 433 and $470kJ/kg^{0.75}/day$ by liveweight (ADG) equilibrium and energy (RE) equilibrium analysis respectively. ME requirement for one g of liveight gain was 28 kJ.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.974-980
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• 2014

In semi-arid areas of Southern Africa, dehydration can compromise the performance and welfare of local chickens, particularly during the growing period when confinement is curtailed and birds are left to scavenge for feed and water. The effect of water restriction on the growth performance was compared in Naked Neck (NNK) and Ovambo (OVB) chickens that are predominant in Southern Africa. A total of 54 eight-wk-old pullets each of NNK and OVB chickens with an initial average weight of $641{\pm}10g/bird$ were randomly assigned to three water intake treatments, each having six birds for 8 wk. The water restriction treatments were ad libitum, 70% of ad libitum and 40% of ad libitum intake. Nine experimental pens with a floor space of $3.3m^2$ per strain were used. The pens were housed in an open-sided house with cement floor deep littered with a 20 cm layer of untreated wood shavings. Feed was provided ad libitum. Average daily water intake (ADWI), BW at 16 weeks of age (FBW), ADG, ADFI, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and water to feed ratios (WFR) were determined. Ovambo chickens had superior (p<0.05) FBW, ADG and ADWI than NNK chickens. Body weight of birds at 16 weeks of age, ADG, ADFI, ADWI, and WFR declined progressively (p<0.05) with increasing severity of water restriction while FCR values increased (p<0.05) as the severity of water restriction increased. Naked Neck chickens had better FCR at the 40% of ad libitum water intake level than Ovambo chickens. The dressing percentage per bird was higher in water restricted birds than those on ad libitum water consumption, irrespective of strain. Heart weight was significantly lower in birds on 40% of ad libitum water intake than those on ad libitum and 70% of ad libitum water intake, respectively. In conclusion, NNK chickens performed better than OVB chickens under conditions of water restriction and would be ideal to raise for meat and egg production in locations where water shortages are a major challenge.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 1998

A total of 240 weaned pigs (BW 5.4 kg) were allotted in a completely randomized block design to find out the optimum lactose : sucrose ratio for the weaned pigs. Treatments were 100:0 (A), 75:25 (B), 50:50 (C), 25:75 (D) and 0:100 (E) in lactose : sucrose ratio. For the first week after weaning, average daily gain (ADG) and feed/gain (F/G) were improved (p < 0.05) for pigs fed A, B and C diets compared to pigs fed diets D and E, but the average daily feed intakes (ADFI) of the pigs were not different. From d 7 to 14, no significant differences was found in ADG and ADFI among the treatments, but pigs fed the diets A, B and C had improved F/G compared with the pigs fed diets D and E (p < 0.05). From d 15 to 21, no significant differences were found in ADG, ADFI and F/G among the treatments. The digestibility of nutrients was not influenced by the lactose : sucrose ratio except nitrogen. Nitrogen digestibility of A diet was significantly higher than D and E diets (p < 0.05) but no significant differences were found among diets A, B and C. Dry matter and phosphorus excretions were not influenced by the treatments. The pigs fed diets A, B and C excreted significantly less nitrogen than the pigs fed diets D and E. In conclusion, the results suggest that sucrose can effectively replace up to 50% lactose in starter diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.859-863
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• 2018

Objective: Since very little information exists about the topic; in this experiment we compare, in a long-term finishing program, the growth-performance responses and carcass characteristics of Holstein steers where non-structural carbohydrate concentration of the diet is reduced from 64% to 51% (dry matter basis). Methods: Sixty Holstein steer calves ($129{\pm}2.2kg$) were blocked by initial weight into five groups and randomly assigned within weight groupings to 10 pens. Calves were fed with a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets containing 51% higher fiber (HF) or 64% lower fiber (LF) nonstructural carbohydrates. Non-structural carbohydrates concentrations were manipulated substituting dried distiller grain with solubles and alfalfa hay for flaked corn. Cattle were weighed every 112 days and at the end of the experiment (day 308) when the cattle were harvested and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Results: Steers fed the HF diet showed improvement (8.8%) in average daily gain (ADG) during the initial 112-d period. This effect was followed by a numerical trend for greater ADG throughout the remainder of the study so that overall ADG tended to be greater (4.9%, p = 0.06) for the HF than for LF. There were no treatment effects on dry matter intake. Gain efficiency and estimated dietary net energy (NE) were greater 8.3% and 5.2%, respectively for HF during the initial 112-d period. Overall (308-d) gain efficiency and estimated dietary NE were similar for both dietary treatments. However, due to differences in tabular dietary NE, the ratio of observed:expected dietary NE tended to be greater (4.1%, p = 0.06) for the HF vs LF diet. There were no treatment effects on carcass characteristics except for a tendency toward a slightly greater (0.5%, p = 0.09) estimated carcass yield. Conclusion: Reducing the non-structural carbohydrate concentration of a conventional steam-flaked corn-based growing finishing diet for Holstein steers can effectively enhance growth performance, particularly during the early growing and late finishing phases.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1311-1319
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• 2009

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of soybean oil supplementation replacing tallow in pig diets at different stages of growth. One hundred and twenty crossbred (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Duroc) pigs weighing 18 kg on average were selected. Pigs were randomly allotted to 12 pens of 10 pigs (5 pigs of each sex) each. Three pens were assigned to each of the four treatments: TA; tallow diet, TA-SO-80; switched from tallow to soybean oil diet at 80 kg average body weight, TA-SO-45; switched from tallow to soybean oil diet at 45 kg average body weight, and SO; soybean oil diet. Treatment SO was significantly lower in ADG than tallow diets (TA, TA-SO-80 and TA-SO-45) during the grower period (18 to 45 kg). However, treatment SO showed greatest compensation in ADFI and ADG during the finisher-2 period (after 80 kg body weight). ADFI and ADG and Gain/Feed for the total period were not significantly different among treatments. Loin area, back fat thickness, firmness and melting point of back fat were not significantly different. The levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein+very low density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in treatment SO than in treatments TA-SO-45, TA-SO-80 and TA. The level of serum triglyceride linearly increased as the length of the tallow feeding period increased. Serum immunoglobulin-G (IgG) level was significantly higher in the soybean oiltreatment than in other treatments. Major fatty acid composition of short rib muscle and back fat were significantly influenced by treatments. Contents of ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (C18:3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6) linearly increased as the soybean oil feeding period increased. In conclusion, soybean oil can be supplemented to the diet of pigs without significant effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics. The level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially $\omega-3$ fatty acids in the carcass was increased by soybean oil supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2011

A feeding trial was conducted to study the replacement value of concentrates with Barhar (Artocarpus lakocha) leaves on growth performance of kids fed a mixed jungle grass-based diet. Fifteen Sikkim local kids, about 4 months of age and body weight ranging from 5.8 to 9.2 kg, were randomly distributed into three groups of five. Kids were stall fed ad lib with mixed jungle grass collected from the nearby forest and native scrubland. The kids in group I received supplementary concentrate (Maize 35%, mustard cake 32%, rice bran 30%, mineral mixture 2% and common salt 1%) at approximately 2% of BW. For groups II and III, 25 and 50% of the concentrate was replaced with Barhar (Artocarpus lakocha) leaves, respectively. Total dry matter intake (DMI) was not significantly different among groups. Digestibility of CP decreased (p<0.05) and that of NDF increased (p<0.01) with increasing level of Barhar leaves in the diet. Digestibility of ADF (p<0.01), hemi cellulose (p<0.05) and cellulose (p<0.01) was higher in groups II and III than in group I. Ruminal pH and TVFA concentration were not significantly different among groups. Rumen ammonia-N concentration decreased (p<0.01) with increased level of Barhar leaves in the diet. Similarly, plasma urea nitrogen and blood glucose levels were reduced (p<0.05) with increasing level of Barhar leaves in the diet. Replacement of concentrate with Barhar resulted in reduced Hb and lower serum iron concentration. Levels of other serum metabolites including minerals were not altered by the replacement. Average daily gain (ADG) was 53.3, 54.4 and 41.8 g/d in groups I, II and III, respectively. ADG was not adversely affected when the level of replacement was restricted to 25%. However, at 50% of replacement ADG was significantly lower than the control (p<0.05). Thus, it was concluded that Barhar leaves might replace 25% of the supplemental concentrate for growing Sikkim local kids fed on a mixed jungle grass-based diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.563-567
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• 2006

Two experiments were conducted to compare the effect of various vitamins on performance and digestibility in growing pigs. In experiment 1, a total of 54 pigs ($L{\times}Y{\times}D$, $42.73{\pm}2.40kg$) were assigned to three treatments in a randomized complete block design with three replicates (6 pigs/pen) for 40 days. The three dietary treatments were: 100% fat-soluble vitamins (FSV) and water-soluble vitamins (WSV); 150% FSV and 100% WSV of NRC (1998); and 100% FSV and 150% WSV of NRC (1998). In experiment 2, a total of 180 pigs ($L{\times}Y{\times}D$, $28.20{\pm}3.05 kg$) were assigned to four treatments in a completely randomized design with three replicates for four weeks (15 pigs/pen). The four dietary treatments were, 150% vitamin A and 100% other vitamins, 150% vitamin D and 100% other vitamins, 150% vitamin E and 100% other vitamins, and 150% vitamin K and 100% other vitamins. In experiment 1, there were significant differences in growth performance and digestibility of nutrients among the treatments. The ADG, ADFI and FCR of pigs fed 150% FSV diet were better (p<0.05) than those fed the control diet. However, there were no differences (p>0.05) in ADG, ADFI and FCR between pigs fed the control and 150% WSV diets. Digestibilities of dry matter, gross energy and calcium were improved in 150% FSV treatment group compared with control (p<0.05). However, the improvement was similar when compared with 150% WSV except for Ca. In experiment 2, there were no differences (p>0.05) in ADG, ADFI and FCR and nutrient digestibility between the fat-soluble vitamin treatments when fed at the 150% level. In conclusion, growing pigs were more responsive to additional fat-soluble vitamin supplements over the requirements suggested by NRC (1998) than to water-soluble vitamin supplements as measured by growth performance and digestibility of nutrients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.167-170
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• 2017

Objective: The feed intake (FI) and feed efficiency are economically important traits in ducks. To obtain insight into this economically important trait, we designed an experiment based on the residual feed intake (RFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of a random population Pekin duck. Methods: Two thousand and twenty pedigreed random population Pekin ducks were established from 90 males mated to 450 females in two hatches. Traits analyzed in the study were body weight at the 42th day (BW42), 15 to 42 days average daily gain (ADG), 15 to 42 days FI, 15 to 42 days FCR, and 15 to 42 days RFI to assess their genetic interrelationships. The genetic parameters for feed efficiency traits were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) methodology applied to a sire-dam model for all traits using the ASREML software. Results: Estimates heritability of BW42, ADG, FI, FCR, and RFI were 0.39, 0.38, 0.33, 0.38, and 0.41, respectively. The genetic correlation was high between RFI and FI (0.77) and moderate between RFI and FCR (0.54). The genetic correlation was high and moderate between FCR and ADG (-0.80), and between FCR and BW42 (-0.64), and between FCR and FI (0.49), respectively. Conclusion: Thus, selection on RFI was expected to improve feed efficiency, and reduce FI. Selection on RFI thus improves the feed efficiency of animals without impairing their FI and increase growth rate.