• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1796-1805
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• 2023

Objective: This study aims to identify heat shock protein70-2 (HSP70-2) and protamine-1 (PRM1) mRNA and protein in Madura bull sperm and demonstrate their relation as bull fertility biomarkers. Methods: The Madura bull fertility rates were grouped based on the percentage of first service conception rate (%FSCR) as high fertility (HF) (79.04%; n = 4), and low fertility (LF) (65.84%; n = 4). mRNA of HSP70-2 and PRM1 with peptidylprolyl isomerase A (PPIA) as a housekeeping gene were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to measure protein abundance. In the post-thawed semen samples, sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity, and sperm DNA fragmentation index were analyzed. Data analysis was performed on the measured parameters of semen quality, relative mRNA expression, and protein abundance of HSP70-2 and PRM1, among the bulls with various fertility levels (HF and LF) in a one-way analysis of variance analysis. The Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between semen quality, mRNA, proteins, and fertility rate. Results: Relative mRNA expression and protein abundance of HSP70-2 and PRM1 were detected and were found to be highly expressed in bulls with HF (p<0.05) and were associated with several parameters of semen quality. Conclusion: HSP70-2 and PRM1 mRNA and protein molecules have great potential to serve as molecular markers for determining bull fertility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2013

The aim of the present study was to determine the evidence of post-parturient disorders and backfat loss during lactation in sows raised in tropical areas in relation to their backfat thickness before farrowing and postpartum intravenous supportive treatment. Backfat thickness was measured using A-mode ultrasonography at farrowing and weaning ($25.5{\pm}1.4$ d) in 70 sows. The sows were divided into three groups according to backfat thickness before farrowing, i.e., 15.0 to 20.0 mm (n = 21), 20.5 to 25.0 mm (n = 35), >25.0 mm (n = 14) and were categorized into two groups according to the postpartum supportive treatment, i.e., control (n = 31) and treatment (n = 39). After farrowing, the sows in treatment group received the same medications as in control sows. Furthermore an intravenous supportive treatment with amino acids and vitamins was administered in treatment groups. Rectal temperature and clinical signs of the sows including vaginal discharge, udder problems and appetite were determined at d 0, 1, 2 and 3 of parturition. It was found that, on average, the backfat thickness was $22.4{\pm}3.9$ mm at farrowing and $19.9{\pm}2.9$ mm at weaning. The backfat loss and the relative backfat loss during the lactation period were 2.6 mm and 10.6%, respectively. The sows with a backfat of 15.0 to 20.0 mm before farrowing lost less backfat than those with a backfat of 20.5 to 25.0 mm and >25.0 mm (p<0.05). Sows with a backfat of 15.0 to 20.0 mm had a better appetite on d 1 postpartum than sows with a backfat of 20.5 to 25.0 mm (p = 0.020). The percentage of sows losing backfat >10% during lactation were higher in sows with a backfat of >25.0 mm before farrowing (85.7%) than sows with a backfat of 15.0 to 20.0 mm before farrowing (35.0%) (p = 0.008). The percentage of sows with a reduced appetite on d 1 (90.3% vs 71.8%, p = 0.018) and d 2 (61.3% versus 33.3%, p = 0.005) postpartum in the treatment group was lower than the control group. In conclusion, the backfat thickness of sows at farrowing influenced backfat loss during lactation under hot and humid climates. The intravenous supportive treatment of sows with amino acid and vitamins significantly improved the appetite of postpartum sows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1518-1523
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• 2003

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of various feeding regimens on growth performance, nutrient digestibilities, nitrogen retention, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration and feed cost in young pigs weaned at 21 days of age. One hundred twenty crossbred pigs (Landrace${\times}$Large White${\times}$Duroc, average 6.8 kg BW), weaned at 21 days of age, were allotted to 5 treatments in a 5 replicates by a randomized completely block (RCB) design. Treatments were as follow: 1) 1P (1-4 weeks: CP 23% and lysine 1.60%), 2) 2P-I (1 week: CP 23% and lysine 1.60%, 2-4 weeks: CP 21% and lysine 1.45%), 3) 2P-II (1-2 weeks: CP 23% and lysine 1.60%, 3-4 weeks: CP 21% and lysine 1.45%), 4) 2P-III (1-3 weeks: CP 23% and lysine 1.60%, 4 week: CP 21% and lysine 1.45%), 5) 3P (1 week: CP 23% and lysine 1.60%, 2-3 weeks: CP 21% and lysine 1.45%, 4 week: CP 19% and lysine 1.30%). Three different diets were formulated and supplied according to phase feeding programs. Diet 1 contains 23% crude protein and 1.60% lysine, diet 2 contains 21% crude protein and 1.45% lysine and diet 3 contains 19% crude protein and 1.30 lysine, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in growth performances, there was a beneficial effect of 3 phase feeding. The ADG was higher in 3P treatment than other treatments and it was observed clearly in late period (3-4 weeks) than in early period. Also, with increase in age, growth rate of pigs in 3P treatment was higher than that in 1P treatment approximately 37% (p=0.1379). There were no significant differences among all treatments in nutrient digestibility. The concentration of BUN was higher in pigs were fed diet containing 21% crude protein and 1.45% lysine (eg, 2P-1 and 3P) than those supplied diet containing high nutrient value at 2 week. The lowest feed cost/kg weight gain of pigs showed in 3P among treatments (p<0.05) whereas, high feed cost/kg weight gain of pigs was calculated in 1P and 2P-II treatments compared with 2P-I and 2 P-II (p<0.05), because of high milk products were used in those diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.629-632
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• 1999

Constructed wetlands are being used for the removal of nutrients from livestock wastewater. However, natural vegetation typically used in constructed wetlands does not have marketable value. As an alternative, agronomic plants grown under flooded or saturated soil conditions that promote denitrification can be used. Studies on constructed wetlands for swine wastewater were conducted in wetland cells that contained either natural wetland plants or a combination of soybeans and rice for two years with the objective of maximum nitrogen reduction to minimize the amount of land required for terminal treatment. Three systems, of two 3.6 by 33.5 m wetland cells connected in series were used; two systems each contained a different combination of emergent wetland vegetation: rush/bulrush (system 1) and bur-reed/cattail (system 2). The third system contained soybean (Glycine max) in saturated-soil-culture (SSC) in the first cell, and flooded rice (Oryza sativa) in the second cell. Nitrogen (N) loading rates of 3 and $10kg\;ha^{-1}\;day^{-1}$ were used in the first and second years, respectively. These loading rates were obtained by mixing swine lagoon liquid with fresh water before it was applied to the wetland. The nutrient removal efficiency was similar in the rush/bulrush, bur-reed/cattails and agronomic plant systems. Mean mass removal of N was 94 % at the loading rate of $3kg\;N\;ha^{-1}\;day^{-1}$ and decreased to 71% at the higher rate of $10kg\;N\;ha^{-1}\;day^{-1}$. The two years means for above-ground dry matter production for rush/bulrushes and bur-reed/cattails was l2 and $33Mg\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. Flooded rice yield was $4.5Mg\;ha^{-1}$ and soybean grown in saturation culture yielded $2.8Mg\;ha^{-1}$. Additionally, the performance of seven soybean cultivars using SSC in constructed wetlands with swine wastewater as the water source was evaluated for two years, The cultivar Young had the highest yield with 4.0 and $2.8Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in each year, This indicated that production of acceptable soybean yields in constructed wetlands seems feasible with SSC using swine lagoon liquid. Two microcosms studies were established to further investigate the management of constructed wetlands. In the first microcosm experiment, the effects of swine lagoon liquid on the growth of wetland plants at half (about 175 mg/l ammonia) and full strength (about 350 mg/l ammonia) was investigated. It was concluded that wetland plants can grow well in at least half strength lagoon liquid. In the second microcosm experiment, sequencing nitrification-wetland treatments was studied. When nitrified lagoon liquid was added in batch applications ($48kg\;N\;ha^{-1}\;day^{-1}$) to wetland microcosms the nitrogen removal rate was four to five times higher than when non-nitrified lagoon liquid was added. Wetland microcosms with plants were more effective than those with bare soil. These results suggest that vegetated wetlands with nitrification pretreatment are viable treatment systems for removal of large quantities of nitrogen from swine lagoon liquid.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1705-1712
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• 2007

The effect of different tropical feed sources on rumen ecology, cellulolytic bacteria, feed intake and digestibility of beef cattle was investigated. Four fistulated, castrated male crossbred cattle were randomly allocated to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The treatments were: T1) urea-treated (5%) rice straw (UTS); T2) cassava hay (CH); T3) fresh cassava foliage (FCF); T4) UTS:FCF (1:1 dry matter basis). Animals were fed concentrates at 0.3% of body weight on a DM basis and their respective diets on an ad libitum basis. The experimental period was 21 days. The results revealed that the use of UTS, CH, FCF and UTS:FCF as roughage sources could provide effective fiber and maintain an optimal range of ruminal pH and $NH_3-N$. Total viable and cellulolytic bacterial populations were enhanced (p<0.05) with UTS as the roughage source. Animals fed FCF had a higher rumen propionate production (p<0.05) with a lower cellulolytic bacteria count. Moreover, three predominant cellulolytic bacteria species, namely Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens, were found in all treatment groups. Roughage intake and total DM intake were highest with UTS (2.2 and 2.5% BW, respectively) as the roughage source (p<0.05). Nutrient intake in terms of organic matter intake (OMI) was similar in UTS, CH and UTS:FCF treatments (8.0, 6.8 and 8.7 kg/d, respectively), while crude protein intake (CPI) was enhanced in CH, FCF and UTS:FCF as compared to the UTS treatment (p<0.05). Digestion coefficients of DM and organic matter (OM) were similar among treatments, while the CP digestion coefficients were similar in CH, FCF and UTS:FCF treatments, but were higher (p<0.05) in CH than in UTS. CP and ADF digestible intakes (kg/d) were highest (p<0.05) on the CH and UTS treatments, respectively. It was also observed that feeding FCF as a full-feed resulted in ataxia as well as frequent urination; therefore, FCF should only be fed fresh as part of the feed or be fed wilted. Hence, combined use of FCF and UTS as well as CH and FCF were recommended.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2013

The hypochlorite ion ($OCl^-$) is a widely used disinfecting agent in pig rearing in Korea, but its residual effect on $CH_4$ production from pig slurry is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibition effects of residual $OCl^-$ on $CH_4$ production during the initial anaerobic digestion stage of pig slurry. Three organic concentrations (9.9, 26.2 and 43.7 g/L) of volatile solids (VS) were tested with the addition of 52.3 mg/L $OCl^-$, ten times of the typical concentration used in Korea, or without $OCl^-$ (Control) in anaerobic batch culture. The culture was run under mesophilic ($38^{\circ}C$) conditions for 20 d. At the lowest organic concentration with $OCl^-$, the VS degradation was 10.3% lower (p<0.05) than Control, while at the higher organic concentration with $OCl^-$, it did not differ from Control. $CH_4$ yields were higher in the control treatments than their $OCl^-$ counterpart cultures, and $CH_4$ yields of Control and $OCl^-$ treatments at the organic concentrations of 9.9, 26.2 and 43.7 g/L differed in the probability level (p) of 0.31, 0.04, and 0.06, respectively. Additionally, $CH_4$ concentration increased steeply and reached 70.0% within 4 d in the absence $OCl^-$, but a gradual increase up to 60.0% was observed in 6 d in the $OCl^-$ treated cultures. The $R_m$ (the maximum specific $CH_4$ production rate) and ${\lambda}$ (lag phase time) of 9.9 g/L with $OCl^-$ were 8.1 ml/d and 25.6 d, while the $R_m$ was increased to 15.1 ml/d, and ${\lambda}$ was reduced to 11.4 d in PS-III (higher organic concentration) with $OCl^-$. The results suggest that a prolonged fermentation time was necessary for the methanogens to overcome the initial $OCl^-$ inhibitory effect, and an anaerobic reactor operated with high organic loadings was more advantageous to mitigate the inhibitory effect of residual hypochlorite ion.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1180-1190
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• 2020

Objective: To develop healthier comminuted meat products to meet consumer demand, the gel properties, rheological properties, microstructure and water distribution of pork meat batters formulated with various amounts of bamboo shoot dietary fiber (BSDF) were investigated. Methods: Different levels of BSDF (0% to 4%) were added to pork batters, and the pH, color, water-holding capacity, texture and rheological properties of pork batters were determined. Then, pork batters were analyzed for their microstructure and water distribution using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). Results: Compared with the control, BSDF addition into meat batters showed a significant reduction in L^*-value and a significant increase in b^*-value (p<0.05). BSDF addition of up to 4% reduced the pH value of pork batters by approximately 0.15 units; however, the cooking loss and expressible water loss decreased significantly (p<0.05) with the increased addition of BSDF. The hardness and gel strength were noticeably enhanced (p<0.05) as the content of BSDF increased. The rheological results showed that BSDF added into pork batters produced higher storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G") values. The SEM images suggested that the addition of BSDF could promote pork batters to form a more uniform and compact microstructure. The proportion of immobilized water increased significantly (p<0.05), while the population of free water was decreased (p<0.05), indicating that BSDF improved the water-holding capability of pork batters by decreasing the fraction of free water. Conclusion: BSDF could improve the gel properties, rheological properties and water distribution of pork meat batters and decrease the proportion of free water, suggesting that BSDF has great potential as an effective binder in comminuted meat products.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1299-1304
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted to study the production performance of broiler breeder females (25 to 40 weeks of age) fed either reference diet or low non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) diet with or without microbial phytase (500 FYT/kg) supplementation. A weighed (160 g/b/d) quantity of feed from each diet was offered daily to 40 replicates of one bird each housed in California type cage having individual feeders. Each cage was considered as a replicate. A continuous 16-h light per day was provided using incandescent bulbs. Body weight, egg production, egg weight, feed per egg mass, egg specific gravity, egg breaking strength, shell thickness, tibia ash and serum Ca and protein concentrations were not affected by reducing the NPP level from 0.30 to 0.18% in the broiler breeder diet. Supplementation of phytase (500 FYT/kg) enzyme to the diet containing 0.18% NPP had no added advantage on any of the above production parameters. The serum inorganic P was increased significantly (p<0.05) by either enhancing the NPP content from 0.18 to 0.30% or supplementing phytase @500 FYT/kg to the diet containing low P which were found comparable. Retention of Ca and P was positive on all the diets. P retention decreased significantly (p<0.05) with either increase in NPP content or phytase supplementation in the diet. Neither NPP nor phytase supplementation influenced bone mineralization in terms of tibia ash and strength. The hatchability was not influenced by either increasing the NPP content or supplementing the enzyme phytase. Similarly, the P concentration in the egg yolk and day old chick, day old and 14th day body weight and leg score was not altered by increasing the level of NPP or supplementing phytase enzyme. The mortality was within the normal limits in all the three dietary groups. Thus, it can be concluded that 0.18% NPP (288 mg NPP intake/b/d) in the broiler breeder' diet is adequate in sustaining the optimum performance from 25 to 40 wks of age. Enhancing the NPP content or supplementation of phytase (500 FYT/kg diet) to diet containing 0.18% NPP had no added advantage on performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.682-692
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• 2007

This study presents an automatic system to predict parturition time in the crated sows. The system relies on ultrasonic transducers mounted from above along the length of the crate. Using a 40 kHz time of flight (TOF) single envelope wave, the momentary distances between the sensors are measured. Therefore, the local momentary height of the sow and the momentary posture, i.e. standing posture (SDP), kneeling posture (KP), sitting posture (STP) and lateral lying posture (LLP) are determined. Crated sows change their postures from standing to lying and vice versa which follows a characteristic pattern. As parturition approaches, sows exhibit uneasiness, restlessness and the stand up sequence (SUS, the posture transition from LLP to SDP) rate increases because of labor pains. In time series, the SUS rate demonstrates a peak and it happens approximately 0-12 h before parturition. In this paper, the basic parturition threshold value method (BPTVM) and the same hour method (SHM) are proposed for predicting parturition, both of which are based on the SUS rate. The BPTVM mainly detects the peak of the SUS rate. As the SUS rate exceeds the threshold value, the parturition becomes predictable. Moreover, the SHM calculates the difference in the SUS rates between a particular time of day and the corresponding time of the preceding day. Compared to the BPTVM, the SHM can eliminate the circadian rhythm of the SUS rate influenced by feeding behavior. Using the SHM the parturition can be approximately predicted within hours. In an attempt to define the threshold parameters of predicting parturition, a data set with 32 sows of the SUS rate are used to estimate assumable predicting probability. The results show the assumable probability of the parturition prediction within 9 h is 96.9% for the SHM and 84.4% for the BPTVM. Moreover, the SHM can even reach a 75% probability of prediction within three hours of parturition. We conclude that the SHM is more accurate and is more useful for parturition time prediction. When parturition is detected, the proposed algorithm generates a warning signal which can inform human personnel to protect the mother and newborn piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.933-938
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• 2007

An experiment was conducted to study the laying performance, shell quality, bone mineralization, hatchability of eggs and performance of progeny (weight at day one and 14 d of age, P content in day old chick, leg score and survivability of chicks) of synthetic broiler breeders fed different levels of non-phytate phosphorus (NPP). Six levels of NPP (1.2, 1.8, 2.4, 3.0, 3.6 and 4.2 g/kg diet) at a constant calcium (Ca) level (30 g/kg) in a maize-soya-deoiled rice bran based diet were tested. Levels of dicalcium phosphate, shell grit and deoiled rice bran were adjusted to achieve the desired levels of NPP and Ca. Each level of NPP was fed with a weighed quantity of feed (160 g/b/d) to 40 female broiler breeders from 25 to 40 weeks of age housed in individual cages. Each bird was considered as a replicate. Egg production, feed/egg mass, body weight, egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness, egg specific gravity, serum Ca content and tibia breaking strength were not influenced (p>0.05) by the variation in dietary NPP levels tested. Increasing the dietary levels of NPP did not influence the hatchability of eggs, phosphorus (P) contents both in egg yolk and day old chick, chick body weight at day one and 14 d of age, leg score and survivability of chicks up to 14 d of age. Maximum response ($p{\leq}0.01$) in shell breaking strength, tibia ash and serum inorganic P contents were observed at NPP levels of 2.09, 2.25 and 3.50 g per kg diet, respectively. The retention of Ca increased, while the P retention decreased ($p{\leq}0.01$) with increasing dietary levels of NPP. Though maximum responses in shell breaking strength, bone ash and serum inorganic P were observed at NPP higher than 1.2 g/kg diet, the broiler breeder performance in terms of egg production, shell quality, hatchability of eggs and progeny performance and their survivability was not influenced by dietary NPP concentrations. It is concluded that synthetic broiler breeders maintained in cages do not require more than 1.2 g NPP/kg diet with a daily intake of 192 mg NPP/b/d during 24 to 40 weeks of age.