• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1585-1591
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• 2001

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of early feed restriction on growth, fat accumulation and meat composition in unsexed broiler chickens. Five hundred 7-day old unsexed broiler chickens were distributed into ten treatment groups with 5 pens of 10 broilers each group. One group was fed ad libitum as the control group and other nine groups were fed 25% ad libitum for 3, 6 or 9 days, 50% ad libitum for 3, 6 or 9 days, and 75% ad libitum for 3, 6 or 9 days, respectively. Thereafter, they were fed ad libitum to 56 days of age. The present results showed that broilers showed compensatory growth when they were restrict-refed. Feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in broilers fed 25% ad libitum for 9 days (p<0.05). Triglyceride concentration of serum was significantly lower in restricted unsexed broilers (p <0.01), whereas cholesterol concentration was not significantly different. Abdominal fat was significantly lower in broilers fed 25% ad libitum for 9 days, 50% ad libitum for 3 days and 75% ad libitum for 6 or 9 days (p<0.05). Moisture and protein contents of meats were not significantly affected. Ash content of meat was significantly higher in restricted broilers. Fat content of meat was lower in broilers fed 25% ad libitum for 9 days, 75% ad libitum for 3 to 9 days. In conclusion, broilers showed compensatory growth when they were restrict-refed at an early age. In order to achieve the success of early feed restriction (namely reduce fat accumulation and improve feed conversion ratio with comparable body weight at market age), unsexed broilers should be fed at level of 25 ad libi=tum for 9 days starting at 7 days of age.

• 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.6 no.3
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• pp.401-410
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• 1993

Day-old male and female broilers obtained from commercial strain (Hubbard) were used in this study. At 7 days of age, all chicks were weighed individually (female 0.11 kg and male 0.12 kg in average) and divided into 5 group of 45 birds each group with no replicate in each treatment group as follows: 1. fed ad libitum; 2. fed 75% ad libitum; 3. fed 65% ad libitum; 4. fed 55% ad libitum; 5. fed 45% ad libitum. Chicks were restricted for 10 days (d 7 through 17) of a 56-day trial. Chicks were fed a commercial starter diet (crude protein (CP) 23.8% and metabolizable energy (ME) 3,070 kcal/kg) for 21 days, and commercial finisher diet (CP 20% and ME 3,160 kcal/kg) from 22 to 56 days of age. When chicks were feed-restricted at an early age, compensatory growth did not immediately occur following refeeding. Body weights of restricted chicks were not equal to the ad libitum chicks before 49 days of age. At 56 dyas of age, body weights of restricted chicks were heavier (p<0.01). Abdominal fat values of female chicks fed ad libitum was not significantly different from those fed 45% to 75% ad libitum. Carcass fat values of restricted female chicks were lower than those of control chicks when female chicks were fed either 55% or 45% ad libitum. Furthermore, feed efficiencies of restricted chicks were better. The response of chicks to early feed restriction might depend on the degree of feed restriction, and sex. Factors contributing carcass fat included energy loss, fat protein ratio of carcass, fatty acid synthesis in the liver and triglyceride content of the liver. The heavier body weights in the restricted chicks might be correlated with the lower growth rate during period of feed restriction.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1475-1481
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• 2002

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of early feed restriction on growth, fat accumulation and meat composition in unsexed broiler chickens. In experiment 1, three hundred and fifty one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into 7 groups. Each treatment group was represented by five replicates of ten broilers each. One group was fed ad libitum as the control group and the other six groups were fed 25% ad libitum (25% multiplied by amount of feed intake of ad libitum chicks at the previous day) for 4 or 6 days, 50% ad libitum for 4 or 6 days, and 75% ad libitum for 4 or 6 days. In experiment 2, five hundred broiler chicks were divided into 10 groups. Each treatment group was represented by five replicates of ten broilers each. One group was fed ad libitum as the control group. Three initial age at which broilers were restricted (2, 4 or 6 days of age) and three type of feed restriction (physical restriction, meal feeding and diet dilution) ($3{\times}3$) were examined. They were restricted feeding for 6 days. Experimental results showed that broilers fed 25% ad libitum for 4-6 days tended to reduce leg meat fat with lower abdominal fat (p<0.05) (experiment 1). Breast meat fat was significantly higher in restricted broilers (p<0.01). Plasma triglyceride was higher in broilers fed 75% ad libitum for 4-6 days. In experiment 2, abdominal fat was lower in restricted broilers (p<0.05). Breast meat fat was significantly higher (p<0.01), whereas leg meat fat was significantly lower (p<0.05) in restricted broilers. Plasma triglyceride was significantly higher in physical feed restriction for 4 days, meal feeding for 4 days and diet dilution for 6 days (p<0.05). In conclusion, to reduce fat accumulation in abdomen and leg meat, broilers should be fed 25% ad libitum for 6 days started at 4 days, or subjected to meal feeding (6 hours per day for 6 days) started at 6 days.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1267-1272
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• 2002

The present research was undertaken to monitor the effects of restricted and ad. libitum feeding during last trimester of pregnancy on the performance of crossbred dairy cows and their calves. For this purpose two groups of crossbred cows having eight animals in each group were put into two plane of nutrition during their last three months of pregnancy. Dietary energy level in one group was calculated as per Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (MAFF, UK) and the cows on other group received ad. libitum feeding (concentrate level similar to MAFF, recommendation+ad. libitum roughage). After calving, the cows of both groups were given same diet (ad. libitum) to study the effect of feeding during pregnancy on subsequent lactation performance of the cows. It was observed that during pre-calving period cows on ad. libitum feeding gained significantly (p<0.05) more body weight than that of cows on restricted feeding ($38.50{\pm}6.04$ vs $21.37{\pm}8.04kg/cow$). There was no significant differences between the birth weight of calves of restricted ($21.31{\pm}2.18kg$) and ad. libitum ($20.31{\pm}3.27kg$) groups. Dietary energy intake of ad. libitum group ($50.22{\pm}4.24$ MJ ME/d/cow) was significantly higher (p<0.01) than that of restricted group ($39.76{\pm}1.03$ MJ ME/d/cow). During lactation period cows that were on restricted feeding produced little more milk (3.06 lit/cow/day), than that of the cows on ad. libitum feeding (2.84 lit/cow/day). Although growth rate of the calves of restricted group upto one month ($0.23{\pm}0.09kg/calf/d$) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that of ad. libitum group ($0.17{\pm}0.08kg/calf/d$) but after four months the growth rate of the calves of two groups become nearly similar ($0.35{\pm}0.02$ vs $0.37{\pm}0.03kg/calf/d$) and difference between them was non-significant. During lactation period cows of restricted group gained little weight but cows of ad. libitum group lost significantly (p<0.05) more weight. Per day metabolizable energy intake in both group during lactation period was nearly similar (67.54 vs 69.58 MJ ME). It is concluded that ad. libitum feeding during last trimester of pregnancy is neither economic for getting maximum milk yield nor for calf growth rate and MAFF, recommended level of dietary energy during that period could be applied on our pregnant crossbred dairy cows.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.301-312
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• 1982

A series of growing and digestion trials was conducted using Sprague- Dawley weanling male rats in order to determine the effects of two protein sources (casein and ISP (isolated soyprotein) ), three protein levels (10, 20 and 30%), and two feeding patterns (ad libitum and meal feeding) on the growth, protein and energy metabolism, and body composition of rats. The total energy level of experimental diets was kept constant in 3,600 kcal ME /kg diet. The results were as follows : 1) The amount of food intake and the weight gain of meal-fed group were lower than those of ad libitum group. Though the intake of meal-fed group on 20 and 30% casein diet was only 85% of ad libitum group, it was able to gain as much as ad libitum group. 2) There were no significant differences in the food efficiency ratio (FER) and the energy efficiency (weight gain per 100 kcal GE intake) between ad libitum and meal feeding group. The FER and the energy efficiency of 20 and 30% casein diets of meal-fed group were greater than those of ad libitum group. 3) Though the gross energy intake (GE ), the digestible energy (DE) and the metabolizable energy (ME) tended to be lower at meal-fed group, the DE/GE and the ME/GE ratios for meal-fed group were the same as those for ad libitum. 4) Though meal- fed group fed less amount of nitrogen than ad libitum group, there were no differences in nitrogen balance and the retention of rats among the treatments. Actually meal-fed group retained more nitrogen than ad libitum group at the levels of 20 and 30% dietary protein. 5) After growing and digestion trials, the body composition of rats was constant among all treatments. Significantly high negative correlation coefficient (r = -0.77) was found between the body fat content and the body moisture content. Consequently, this study suggests that meal- fed group on 20 and 30% casein diets has shown more effective utilization of the ingested food and energy than ad libitum group, and increasing tendency of weight gain and the body fat deposition. Those influences of meal feeding pattern in rats were more effective on the casein diet than on the ISP diet.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 2004

1bis study investigated the antioxidative effect in kidney of senescence-accelerated prone SAMP8 mice with calorie restriction. 4-weeks-old SAMP8 female mice were divided into 4 groups according to the experimental feeding period: for 4, 8, 12 month, and at natural death. Each group was subdivided into 2 groups, with thirteen mice each one, as ad libitum group and as dietary restriction group (60% of ad libitum feeding amount). After feeding for a given period, the mice were sacrificed to get the following results: among the experimental groups, there wereno significant differences in xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity in their kidney tissues. The contents of cytochrome $P_{450}$ decreased in ad libitum group and dietary restriction group by age. The activity of NADPH-cytochrome $P_{450}$ reductase showed a trend similar to cytochrome $P_{450}$. Superoxide radical content increased with age. At the 4th, 8th and 12 months of the experimental period, the activity in the dietary restriction group was less than that of ad libitum group by as much as 17% 14% and 14% respectively. For hydrogen peroxide, the contents were increased in the ad libitum group with age, while no correlation between content and age was observed in the dietary restriction group. In the 8th and 12th months of the experimental period, the were in the dietary restriction group less than that of ad libitum group counterpart as much as 17% and 20o/c, respectively. For the cellular membrane stability of the kidney, no significant correlation with age was observed in either the dietary restriction group or the ad libitum group. However at the 12th month of the experiment, however, the stability in the dietary restriction group was 11 % higher than that in the ad libitum group. In conclusion, with these results obtained from the SAMP8 mouse model, we demonstrate that dietary restriction has the effects of anti-oxidation and anti-senescence in the kidney.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1319-1325
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of early feed restriction on growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality in unsexed broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, 350 one-day-old broiler chickens were divided into 7 groups. Each treatment group was represented by five replicates of ten broilers each. One group was fed ad libitum as the control group and the other six groups were fed 25% ad libitum (25% multiplied by amount of feed intake of ad libitum chickens at the previous day) for 4 or 6 days, 50% ad libitum for 4 or 6 days, and 75% ad libitum for 4 or 6 days. In experiment 2, 500 broiler chickens were divided into 10 groups. Each treatment group was represented by five replicates of ten broilers each. One group was fed ad libitum as the control group. Three ages of feed restriction initial timing (2, 4 or 6 days of age) and three types of feed restriction (physical restriction, meal feeding and diet dilution) were used ($3{\times}3$) in both experiments. They were feed-restricted for 6 days. Results showed that restricted broilers exhibited compensatory growth in both experiments except for diet dilution groups. In both experiments, FCR of restricted broilers was higher, whereas feed intake of them was lower during restriction period. FCR of restricted broilers was lower upon refeeding. Mortality was inconsistently affected by early feed restriction. Leg abnormality was lower in restricted broilers in both experiments. Level of feed restriction significantly influenced body weight, FCR and feed intake of restricted broilers (p<0.05), but duration of feed restriction had no effect. Type of restriction significantly affected body weight, feed intake and FCR (p<0.05). It appeared that to achieve the best result (complete compensatory growth and better FCR), broilers should be restricted at 25% ad libitum for 6 days (Experiment 1). Meal feeding started at 2 days of age would show the best performance (Experiment 2).

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.871-880
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• 2006

This study was conducted to estimate the maximum amount and time of milk consumption by Holstein calves during two months of pre- weaning period and to compare ad libitum milk feeding with conventional system for their effects on dry feed consumption, nutrient intake, growth performance and occurrence of diarrhea during the pre-weaning phase. Holstein calves (n=20) were alternatively fed colostrum at 10% of their body weight or ad libitum for the first three days (d) and then assigned either to conventional (n=10; calves were fed milk at 10% of their body weight from birth to weaning at d 60 of their age) or ad libitum milk feeding (n=10; calves were fed ad libitum milk from birth to weaning at d 60 of their age). Milk intake as a percent of body weight was increased in ad libitum fed calves from 13.59% at d 1 to 23.50% at d 30 of their age, thereafter it was gradually reduced. Ad libitum fed calves consumed daily 9.8kg milk compared with 4.3kg milk in restricted fed calves(p<0.05). Daily starter and mixed grass hay intake was gradually increased in both groups with the age however; the group differences were noted non-significant up to 40 d of age. Overall from birth to weaning conventionally fed calves ate 18.4, 20 and 18.9% more dry matter, crude protein and total digestible nutrients, respectively than ad libitum milk fed calves (p<0.05). Weight gain was 49, 18.4 and 26% higher in ad libitum milk fed calves than conventionally fed calves during the first month, the second month and from birth to weaning, respectively(p<0.05). Body weight was not significantly different between groups for the first 20 d of age. However, it was significantly higher for ad libitum milk fed calves at d 30, 40, 50, 60 (weaning) and 90 (post weaning) of their age(p<0.05). Similar body weights for both conventionally and ad libitum milk fed calves were observed for the post weaning period at 120, 150 and 180 d of age. Feed efficiency was significantly higher for conventionally fed calves than ad libitum milk fed calves(p<0.05). No sign of diarrhea, fever or cough was observed in calves fed either conventionally or ad libitum milk during the experimental period. In conclusion, calves fed more milk remained healthy and gained higher weight before weaning and maintained this advantage at least up to 90 d of their age.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary lipid sources and meal frequency on growing performance and lipid metabolism in Sprague-Dawley strain male rats. The experiment was conducted in 4$\times$2 factorial arrangement with 4 sources of dietary lipid(palm oil, beef tallow, soybean oil and hydrogenated soyben oil) and 2 meal frequencies(ad-libitum or meal feeding). During the 4-week feeding period the rats were fed either ad-libitum (AL) or a single daily 3-hour meal (09 : 02-12 : 00) during the dark period. In vitro cultures were carried out to study the cholesterol synthetic activity in hte liver prepared from rats used in feeding trials. And in vitro cultures were also carried out to study the lipogenic and lipolytic activity in the liver and adipose tissues prepared from rats used in feeding trials. Present data indicated that body weight gain, feed intake and FER of AS(ad-libitum+soybean oil)and AHS(ad-libitum+hydrogenated soybean oil) group were significantly(p<0.05) higher than those of the other groups. It was found that the feed intake of MF group was much less than that of AL group. Total body weight gained by MF group was only 60% of AL group. Growing performance was not affected by dietary lipid sources. The cholesterol synthetic activity in liver tissues culture was markedly(p<0.05) increased in MF diets, especially in soybean oil group. The lipogenic activity in liver tissues culture of MP(meal feeding+palm oil) and MHS(meal feeding+hydrogenated soybean oil)group was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of AP(ad-libitum+palm oil) group and AHS(ad-libitum+hydrogenated soybean oil) group(p<0.05). Rats fed ad-libitum+beef tallow and fed meal feeding+beef tallow showed significantly(p<0.05) higher lipogenesis than the other groups. It was apparent that the lipogenic activity in liver tissues culture was not affected by dietary lipid sources and meal frequency. Lipolytic activity in liver tissue culture was significantly(p<0.001)different with meal frequency; MF group was higher than AL group, but was not greatly affected by dietary lipid sources. In the in vitro studies with adipose tissue, MF diets increased the lipogenic activity and inhibited the lipolytic activity in adipocytes. The lipogenic activity in adipocytes was significantly (p<0.001) different with dietary lipid sources and found to be beef tallow group was the higherst, but the sources of lipid in the diet did not exert any effect on the lipolytic acitivity.