• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 1997

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of a low-protein diet supplemented with DL-methionine plus L-cystine (Met + Cys) on the growth performance and fat accumulation of female broiler chicks during the growing period (3-6 wks old). A low-protein diet (17% CP; 3,200 ME kcal/kg) was supplemented with Met + Cys (1.1 : 1.0) at levels 0.75, 0.94, 1.25, 1.31 or 1.50% of diet, respectively. Another diet with 21% CP and 3,200 ME kcal/kg served as the control group. All essential amino acids were adjusted to meet the National Research Council (1984) requirement for chicks. Feed and water were given ad libitum. Body weight of the chicks fed the low-CP diets supplemented with Met + Cys were heavier than those of the control birds. Feed conversion ratio and feed intakes were not significantly different between and among the treatment groups. Similary, abdominal fat content was not significantly different among the various treatments except that of the chicks fed the low CP diet with 1.25% Met + Cys which was higher than that of the control group. Fatty acid synthetase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) activities and carcass protein content were not influenced by dietary treatments. Carcass fat content was lowest in chicks fed low CP diet with 0.75% Met + Cys and highest in the group that received 1.50% Met + Cys supplementation. Liver triglyceride increased as Met + Cys supplementation level increased. Various lipid fraction concentrations (cholesterol ester, free cholesterol, and phospholipid) in the serum went up as Met + Cys increased up to 1.25% after which it levelled off. Results of this experiment suggest that it is possible to reduce dietary protein level from 21% to 17% for growing broiler chicks by the supplementation of Met + Cys when other EAA were sufficient.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.778-787
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of normal and heat stress environments on growth performance and, selected physiological and immunological parameters, caecal microflora and meat quality in Cobb 500 and Ross 308 broilers. Methods: One-hundred-and-twenty male broiler chicks from each strain (one-day-old) were randomly assigned in groups of 10 to 24 battery cages. Ambient temperature on day (d) 1 was set at 32℃ and gradually reduced to 23℃ on d 21. From d 22 to 35, equal numbers of birds from each strain were exposed to a temperature of either 23℃ throughout (normal) or 34℃ for 6 h (heat stress). Results: From d 1 to 21, strain had no effect (p>0.05) on feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), or the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Except for creatine kinase, no strain×temperature interactions were observed for all the parameters measured. Regardless of strain, heat exposure significantly (p<0.05) reduced FI and BWG (d 22 to 35 and 1 to 35), immunoglobulin Y (IgY) and IgM, while increased FCR (d 22 to 35 and 1 to 35) and serum levels of glucose and acute phase proteins (APPs). Regardless of temperature, the Ross 308 birds had significantly (p<0.05) lower IgA and higher finisher and overall BWG compared to Cobb 500. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the detrimental effects of heat stress are consistent across commercial broiler strains because there were no significant strain×temperature interactions for growth performance, serum APPs and immunoglobulin responses, meat quality, and ceacal microflora population.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1760-1765
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• 2008

A total of 60 one-day-old Yellow-feather broiler chickens were allotted into treatment and control groups. The treatment group was fed with the diet supplemented with 3% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for 48 d, while control group was fed with the diet supplemented with 3% rapeseed oil. Chickens were slaughtered in each group at the age of 49 d, and the blood and the abdominal adipose tissue were sampled. Serum cLeptin and serum cAdiponectin were measured by ELISA. The total RNA was extracted from adipose tissue to measure the abundance of the chicken growth hormone receptor (cGHR), insulin-like growth factor 1 (cIGF-1), insulin-like growth factor I receptor (cIGF-IR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($cPPAR{\gamma}$), cAdiponectin and cAdipoIR mRNA by RT-PCR using ${\beta}$-actin as an internal standard. Results showed that the CLA decreased the abdominal fat index by 20.93% (p<0.05). The level of serum cLeptin but not serum cAdiponectin was significantly increased by CLA treatment (p<0.05). CLA down-regulated the relative abundance of cGH-R mRNA and $cPPAR{\gamma}$ mRNA in abdominal adipose tissue by 24.74% (p<0.05) and 66.52% (p<0.01) respectively. However, no differences were found between CLA treatment group and control group (p>0.05) in the relative abundance of cIGF-1, cIGF-IR, cAdiponectin, and cAdipoIR mRNA in abdominal adipose tissue. The data suggested that CLA inhibited abdominal fat deposition in broiler chicken may be determined by decreasing the GHR available for GH, and by inhibiting the differentiation of preadipocytes via down-regulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$, but independent of IGF and (or) GH-IGF pathway or adiponectin action.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2003

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of natural and synthetic commercial pigments on the growth performances, skin pigmentation and color difference of broiler chicks. Experimental diet was formulated to have isocalories and isonitrogen for experimental period, and xanthophyll concentration in the diet was 8.45g/1on. The experiment was conducted for six weeks with 450 broiler chicks. The birds were assigned to 10 treatment groups and each group had 15 chicks with three replications. Results showed that the types of pigments did not have any effect on body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency. The mortality was lower with higher pigment supplementation and greater in the natural pigment groups than in the synthetic ones. Dressed carcass, abdominal fat pad and gizzard weight were not significantly different among treatments. The pigmentation of shank skin was increased with high pigment supplementations, and the pigmentation effect was greater with synthetic pigments than in natural pigments. In the shank meat or skin, the color difference(L*, a*, b*, c* and h*) was not consistently related to pigmentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.1170-1177
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• 2002

An experiment was conducted to assess the interaction between genotypes and dietary lysine content in commercial broiler chicks by measuring growth, and response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and Escherichia coli (E.coli) inoculation. Female chicks from four genotypes (A=Anak 2000; B=Hubbard; C=Cobb and D=Synthetic broiler) were fed four levels of lysine in diet from d old till the end of experiment. The lysine content of the diet was 9.61, 10.51, 11.41 and 12.31 g/kg. Body weights at 0, 14, 28 and 42 d of age and pen-wise feed intake till 14, 28 and 42 d of age were recorded. Production of antibody against SRBC and resistance to E.coli were measured at 5 d of post inoculation (PI) at 43 d of age. Also, response to phytohemaglutinin-P (PHA-P) was measured at 12 and 24 h of PI at 48 d of age. Genotype by dietary lysine interaction was significant for body weights at 14 and 28 d of age, but not at 42 d of age. Genotype by dietary lysine interaction was not significant for feed efficiency, for antibody titers against SRBC, and for air sac lesion score, relative bodyweight change, and relative weights of bursa and spleen in response to E.coli inoculation. However, a significant interaction was observed between the levels of lysine and dosage of SRBC for antibody titers. There was significant genotype by dietary lysine interaction for cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity (CBH) response to PHA-P at 12 and 24 h of PI. It may be concluded that to obtain optimum body weight and immunity in commercial broilers the dietary lysine requirement may be recommended specific to the genotype.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1629-1634
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• 2008

A trial was conducted to determine the effect of low crude protein (CP) diets with constant metabolizable energy to crude protein (ME:CP) ratio on growth, body composition and nutrient utilization of broiler chicks from 1 to 26 days of age. Four dietary treatments having four levels of CP and ME as 23, 22, 21 and 20% and 3,036, 2,904, 2,772 and 2,640 kcal/kg, respectively, were formulated and a ME:CP ratio of 132 was maintained in all the diets. Digestible lysine was maintained at 1.10 of the diet. A total of 1,760 day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were randomly divided into 16 experimental units and each diet was offered to four experimental units at random. Feed intake was increased (p<0.05) while weight gain and feed conversion ratio were adversely affected (p<0.05) when the diets with low CP and ME were fed to broilers. Total protein intake and total ME intake were linearly decreased (p<0.05) and protein efficiency ratio and energy efficiency ratio were lower (p<0.05) than in the chicks fed dietary regimen with 22% CP and 2,904 kcal/kg ME. The whole body analysis of the birds revealed that chicks fed the lowest dietary regimens retained less (p<0.05) nitrogen and more ether extract than chicks fed the control diet, however, body dry matter, total body ash and fat free body protein were not affected. Similarly, protein and energy utilization were also unaffected by the dietary treatments. In summary, chicks fed low CP diets with constant ME:CP ratio grew slower, used feed less efficiently and retained less protein and more body fat than chicks fed the control diet.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2004

An experiment was conducted to investigate whether Saccharomyces cerevisiae(S. cerevisiae) could improve the growth performance and meat quality of broiler chicks. Day old 160 male broiler chicks were fed one of the two experimental diets without (0.0 %) or with S. cerevisiae (3.0 %) for five wks. Each treatment consisted of eight cages with 10 chicks per cage. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Although not significant, BW gains of S. cerevisiae fed chicks tended to increase during 4∼5 wk of age. The addition of S. cerevisiae into the control diet significantly lowered the shear force in raw drumstick meat (P＜0.05). After 10 d of incubation, significantly lower levels of oxidation products were found (P＜0.05) in drumstick meats and skin samples from broiler chicks fed diets enriched with S. cerevisiae compared to those of the control group, while in breast meats the significant difference was monitored after 6 d of incubation. It is concluded that dietary S. cerevisiae could improve the tenderness and oxidative stability of broiler meats.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.295-304
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• 2021

This study was aimed to investigate the Cu bioavailability, growth response, digestibility of nutrients, and blood metabolites of broiler chicks fed CuSO4 in nano or common forms. A total of 720 broiler chickens were distributed between eight treatments according to a completely randomized design. There were 8 treatments and 6 replicates in each treatment with 15 birds/replicate. The treatments were divided into common copper sulfate at the doses of 16 ppm, 40 ppm, 80 ppm, and 120 ppm (INO) and hot-melt extruded copper sulfate at the doses of 16 ppm, 40 ppm, 80 ppm, and 120 ppm (HME-Cu). The experiment was operated for 35 days in 2 phases (phase 1, d 0 to 14; and phase 2, d 15 to 35). No significant differences were shown in growth performance, feed intake, FCR, and nutrient digestibility among the treatments. The concentration of Cu in the serum was increased in the HME-Cu broilers compared with the INO broilers at phase 2. A linear increase was observed in the concentration of Cu in the liver in broilers fed INO diets, however, no significant differences were observed by the supplementation of HME-Cu levels. The linear increase was detected in the content of Cu in excreta in the INO and HME-Cu treatments by increasing the dietary Cu content. The HME-Cu treatments showed a lower Cu concentration in the excreta compared with the INO treatments. The higher bioavailability of Cu in HME form can decrease the recommended dose of Cu in broiler diets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.471-483
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of dietary digestible tryptophan (dTry) and soy oligosaccharides (SO) on growth performance, caecal skatole level, and microflora of broiler chickens aged from 14 to 42 days. Methods: Three hundred and sixty broiler chicks were allocated equally to 36 cages at 14-day-of-age according to body weight and gender. Using a 3×2 factorial arrangement, 3 dietary dTry levels (0.18%, 0.23%, and 0.28%) supplemented with 0 or 3.5 g/kg of SO were used to create 6 diets (treatments). Each diet was fed to six replicates of 10 birds (60 birds/treatment), growth performance was measured. Caecal content samples were collected at 42 days of age. Results: Results showed that significantly different dTry level×SO interactions were found for average daily gain (ADG), caecal levels of indole, propionic acid, and butyric acid, and microbial Shannon index (p<0.05). Birds fed diet containing 0.23% dTry level with SO supplementation had higher ADG and lower feed/gain ratio than those fed the other diets (p<0.05). Broilers fed diets containing 0.28% dTry increased their caecal levels of indole and skatole compared with those containing 0.18% or 0.23% dTry (p<0.01), regardless of SO addition. SO supplementation to diets decreased the caecal skatole level by 16.17% (p<0.05), and increased the relative frequency of Clostridium IV (p<0.05), regardless of dietary dTry level. Conclusion: These results indicated that diets containing 0.23% dTry with SO supplementation positively promoted ADG, and decreased caecal skatole levels of broiler chickens. The dietary dTry level, SO affected the caecal skatole level, however, there was no interaction between them.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.824-829
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• 2000

A five wk feeding experiment was conducted with day-old one thousand broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) to determine the effects of microbial phytase (Natuphos$^{(R)}$) supplemented to low nonphytate P (NPP) corn-soy diets. Five pens of 50 mixed sex birds each were randomly assigned to each of the four dietary treatments: T1, control diet containing normal NPP level; T2, T1-0.1% NPP+600 U of phytase/kg diet; T3, T1 - 0.2% NPP+600 U of phytase/kg diet; and T4, T1 - 0.3% NPP+600 U of phytase/kg diet. T1, T2, and T3 showed similar growth rate, feed intake, and feed efficiency, indicating that NPP level in broiler diets could be reduced by approximately 0.2% by the microbial phytase supplementation. But T4 showed significantly (p<0.05) lower weight gain than others. The phytase supplementation improved P availability resulting in low P excretion. Weight and girth of metatarsal bone were increased by phytase supplementation at low NPP diet treatments but ash contents were not significantly different. It can be concluded that NPP level of corn-soy broiler diets can be safely lowered by approximately 0.2 % by supplementing 600 U of microbial phytase/kg diet. With the adjusted level of NPP and phytase supplementation, P excretion could be reduced by 50%.