• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1341-1347
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• 2002

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of oral administration of $Diakur^{TM}$ (an additive of glucose and electrolytes for young calves) on growth performance and some physiological responses in male broilers reared in a high temperature. A 2 by 3 factorial arrangement test of 2 temperatures (24 and $36^{\circ}C$) and 3 levels of oral administration of the glucose and electrolytes additive, $Diakur^{TM}$, (0, 150 and 300 mg/day/100 gBW) were applied in the experiment. Male broiler chicks (2 weeks of age) were assigned to six groups and received dietary and temperature treatments for 7 days. The additive of glucose and electrolytes was suspended with water and intubated into crop twice a day (08:00 and 17:00). Oral administration of the additive prevented decreases in food intake and growth rates in broilers due to exposure of the hot environment. Oral administration of the additive also improved a lowered electrolyte ($Na^+$ + $K^+$ - $Cl^-$) balance in plasma, low mitogenic response of blood mononuclear cell and an increase in glucose concentration due to exposure to the high environmental temperature. Oral administration of the additive increased rectal temperature regardless of environmental temperatures. On the other hand, blood pH, $pCO_2$ and $HCO_3$ - concentration, and plasma creatine kinase activity were not affected by the oral administration. The results suggested that oral administration of the glucose and electrolytes additive, $Diakur^{TM}$ during heat stress did not only prevent decrease in growth performance, but also normalized some physiological and immunological responses in male broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1228-1232
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• 2001

Forty five Soviet Chinchilla rabbits weaned at 35 d of age were fed 5 experimental diets prepared by using oat plant meal ($T_2,\;T_4$) and tall fescue hay ($T_3,\;T_5$) at 25% and 50% level along with control ($T_1$). The gain in body weight at 84 d of age decreased with test material substitution, however, the differences were non significant when compared with oat plant meal and were significant (p<0.05) with tall fescue hay at both the levels. Feed conversion ratio also deteriorated with test material and its increasing proportion and the differences were significant (p<0.05). The performance-index calculated were 42.1, 36.7, 29.4, 33.3 and 18.8 in $T_1,\;T_2,\;T_3,\;T_4$ and $T_5$, respectively. Digestibility of all the organic nutrients decreased significantly (p<0.05) with test material incorporation, as a result nutritive value of the test diets decreased linearly. Nitrogen balance as per cent of intake was higher in oat plant meal substituted diet compared to tall fescue substituted diet. Cost per kg live weight gain was lowest with 50% oat plant meal followed by 25% oat plant meal incorporation. It was highest with tall fescue hay substitution. Nutritive value of oat plant meal as calculated was DCP 5.1%, TDN 35.8% and that of tall fescue hay was DCP 6.5%, TDN 30.8%. Thus, oat plant meal can be substituted safely up to 25% in the feeding regime of weaner rabbits whereas, for tall fescue hay the safe limit is below 25% level and needs to be ascertained.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.516-523
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• 2005

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary combinations of vitamin A (VA), vitamin E (VE) and methionine (Met) on growth performance, meat quality and immunity in commercial broilers. Ross chicks (n=3,630) were allocated to five experimental treatments with three replicates per diet. The dietary treatments were: VA 8,000 IU, VE 10 IU (diet 1); VA 12,000 IU, VE 10 IU (diet 2); VA 8,000 IU, VE 100 IU (diet 3); VA 12,000 IU, VE 100 IU (diet 4) and; VA 12,000 IU, VE 100 IU/kg diet and 20% Met higher than other groups (diet 5). The Met content in diet 1 to diet 4 were as per the requirement suggested by NRC. Separate vitamin premixes were prepared for each treatment diet as per the requirement of study. The 35 d study revealed significantly (p<0.0001) higher weight gains in broilers fed diet 3 and diet 5, than in the rest of the groups during starter phase (0-3 weeks) only. The feed intake did not vary significantly at all phases of study, but feed efficiency was significantly (p<0.05) lower in diet 1 during starter and overall phase (4-5 weeks). The bone strength and bone composition, except bone calcium, remained unaffected due to experimental diets studied after 35 d of experimental feeding. The thio-barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly (p=0.0013) lower in the breast meat in group 5, followed by group 3, than in the rest of the groups. The immune studies conducted, antibody titers to sheep red blood cells, thickness index to phytohaemagglutinin-P, and heterophil: lymphocyte ratio, did not show any significant difference among treatments. It could be concluded that supplementation of VA, VE and Met at higher levels could be beneficial to broilers only during the starter phase.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.8.1-8.9
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• 2018

Background: Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry farming has caused emergence of new pathogenic strains. The situation has warrented the development of safe and alternative growth promoters and immunity enhancers in livestock. Herbal additives in animal and bird feed is a centuries-old practice. Thus, the present study investigated the efficacy of a standardized formulation of lipophilic turmeric extract containing curcumin and turmerones, (TF-36), as a natural growth promoter poultry feed additive. Methods: The study was designed on 180 one-day old chicks, assigned into three groups. Control group ($T_0$) kept on basal diet and supplemented groups $T_{0.5}$ and $T_1$ fed with 0.5% and 1% TF-36 fortified basal diet for 42 days. Each dietary group consisted of six replicates of ten birds. Body weight, food intake, food conversion ratio, skin colour, blood biochemical analysis and antioxidant status of serum were investigated. Results: Body weight improved significantly in $T_1$ with a 10% decrease in FCR as compared to the control. TF-36 supplementation in $T_1$ enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity significantly (p < 0.05) with a decrease (p < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation. It also caused a slight yellow skin pigmentation without any change in meat color, indicating the bioavailability of curcumin from TF-36. However, no significant change in the concentration of serum creatinine, total protein and liver enzyme activities were observed, indicating the safety. Conclusion: In summary, we concluded that TF-36 can be a natural feed additive to improve growth performance in poultry, probably due to the better antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects contributed by the better bioavailability of curcuminoids and turmerones. Besides, curcuminoids and turmerones were also known to be gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.161-172
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• 2017

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) as a dietary probiotic and evaluated the most suitable feeding interval for this probiotic on growth performance, carcass yield, and meat quality parameters in broiler chickens. In total, 1,050 one-day-old Cobb 500 chicks were randomly assigned to one of seven dietary treatment groups, in a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement with 3 SC dosages (0.6%, 1%, and 1.4%) and two feeding intervals [long term (LT) for 35 days and short term (ST) for 28 days after hatching], with a negative control diet (NC; 0% SC). Triplicate experiments were performed with 50 birds per cage. Broilers fed a diet including SC showed increased (p<0.01) daily gain and feed efficiency compared to the control. Further, broilers fed the 1.4% SC supplemented diet showed a significantly increased (p<0.01) average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to broilers fed the 0.6% and 1% SC incorporated diets. Similarly, broilers fed an LT SC diet showed a greater (p<0.01) increase in ADG and FCR compared to broilers fed an ST SC diet. Moreover, broilers fed an LT SC diet displayed a reduced (p<0.05) meat pH, gizzard weight, and increased (p<0.05) meat water-holding capacity compared to broilers fed an ST SC diet. Broilers fed the 1.4% SC supplemented diet showed increased (p<0.05) thigh muscle weight compared to broilers fed the 0.6% and 1% SC supplemented diets. In conclusion, broilers fed LT SC diets showed improved growth performance and carcass quality parameters compared to broilers fed ST SC diets, and the NC diet, from hatching to day 35.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.47-60
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• 2002

'Probiotics' as a live microbial feed supplementation which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its microbial balance and it is known to as a substitue for antibiotics in livestock feed industry. Lactic acid bacteria as a Lactobacillus sp. is formed acid and decrease pH in gastro-intestine that is result in suppress harmful microorganism. Lactobacillus sp. also produces vitamin and a variety amino acids. Yeast as a saccharomyces sp. secretes digestive enzymes, decreases ammonia emission and increases feed palatability by alcohol and glutamic acid. The effects of dietary probiotics in monogastric animals that improve weight gain and feed efficiency ratio and decrease diarrhea accurence frequency in pigs. Also, probiotics increase egg production ratio and beneficial microorganisms in laying hens. In broiler, they have more gain weight and lower blood cholesterol concentrations by probiotics. However, the other study reported probiotics supplementation in animal diets has no effect on ADG, G/F or performance. Thus, future study in these area will allow for more efficient use of the probiotics, selection of more superior microorganism and development of more efficient environment-friendly probiotics like a photosynthetic bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.559-567
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• 2019

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of pig skin collagen supplementation on growth performance, organ weight, blood characteristics, and intestinal microbiota in broilers. A total of 50 Ross 308 broilers were used for 2 weeks. The five dietary treatments were as follows: NC) basal diet, PC) NC + fish collagen powder 0.1%, T1) NC + pig skin collagen 0.1%, T2) NC + pig skin collagen 0.5%, and T3) NC + pig skin collagen 1.0%. The body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected (p > 0.05) by the dietary treatments in this experiment. Additionally, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the organ weights among the treatments. Broilers fed T1, T2 and T3 diets had higher (p < 0.05) white blood cell (WBC) counts than the broilers fed the NC and PC diets. The Lactobacillus counts in the excreta were improved (p < 0.05) in the broilers fed the T1 and T2 diets. Moreover, the Salmonella counts in the excreta were decreased (p < 0.05) in the broilers fed the PC and T1 diets. In conclusion, supplementation of pig skin collagen in diets improved the white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood and Lactobacillus counts in the excreta, and reduced the Salmonella counts in the excreta. However, when pig skin collagen was increased in the diets, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05). Therefore, the addition of 0.1% pig skin collagen in the feed provided beneficial effects on the blood characteristics and the intestinal microbiota environment.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.1059-1066
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• 2023

Objective: Present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Acacia nilotica bark extract as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broilers. Methods: Six hundred, day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into six groups (NC, without any supplementation; AB, NC+Zinc Bacitracin; PB, NC+Safmannan; ANBE1, NC+A. nilotica bark extract 0.1%; ANBE3, NC+A. nilotica bark extract 0.3%; ANBE5, NC+A. nilotica bark extract 0.5%), with ten replicates per group (10 chicks/replicate) and feeding trial was lasted for 35 days. Results: Results showed that weight gain (1,296.63 g) and feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.59) of AB was better than NC, during the finisher phase. Overall FCR of AB (1.53), PB (1.54), and ANBE5 (1.54) was significantly (p<0.05) better than NC. From carcass parameters relative weight of wing and heart were highest in ANBE3 (2.5% and 1.51%, respectively). Significantly (p<0.05) highest blood glucose level was observed in NC (264.5 mg/dL) and highest albumin concentration was found in AB (1.46 mg/dL). In addition, antibody titer levels against ND and IBD were higher in ANBE5 than NC, while higher relative weight of bursa was observed in ANBE3 than NC. The villus height to crypt depth ratio in all experimental groups was better than NC. Conclusion: Acacia nilotica bark extract could be a suitable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters to support the growth in broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1197-1205
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to compare the effects of feeding DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (HMTBA) and DL-methionine (DLM) supplemented corn-soybean-cottonseed meal diets on growth performance, carcass composition, and muscle color of broilers. The trial was designed as a $2{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial experiment, including two methionine (Met) sources (HMTBA and DLM), three equimolar graded levels of Met supplementation (i.e., 0.08, 0.16, and 0.24% in the starter diet and 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21% in the grower and finisher diets, respectively), and two sexes (male and female). Additionally, one basal diet for each sex was formulated to be limiting in Met to test the dosage response of increasing supplemental Met levels. Four hundred and twenty 10-d-old broilers were randomly allotted to 14 treatments (seven each for males and females), with five replicate pens per treatment and six chicks per pen. There was no difference (p>0.05) between the two Met sources in growth performance and muscle deposition of broilers throughout the whole experimental period (d 10 to 49). With the increasing Met supplementation levels, average daily gain was increased (quadratic; p<0.01) during the starter, grower, and overall phases, average daily feed intake was increased (quadratic; p<0.01) during the starter phase, and feed:gain ratio was decreased (quadratic; p<0.05) during the grower and overall phases. At the end of finisher phase, Met supplementation increased breast muscle content (quadratic; p<0.01) and thigh muscle content (linear; p<0.05), and decreased abdominal fat content (quadratic; p<0.02). Compared to the broiler fed DLM, broilers fed HMTBA had superior breast and thigh muscle coloration (p<0.01). Male broilers had higher weight gain and feed intake and better feed conversion than female broilers (p<0.01). The fat content of thigh muscle in female broilers was higher than that of male broilers (p<0.03). The best fit comparison of HMTBA vs. DLM was determined by Schwarz Bayesian Criteria index, which indicated that the average relative bioefficacy of HMTBA vs. DLM was 120% with 95% confidence limit 67 to 172%. These results indicated that Met supplementation improved growth performance and carcass quality of broilers fed corn-soybean-cottonseed meal diets irrespective of Met sources. Compared to DLM, HMTBA has the same molar bioefficacy on improving the growth performance and carcass quality of broilers; however, HMTBA fed birds had superior meat color to DLM fed birds.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2009

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of cerium (Ce), a rare earth, individually and in combination with lanthanium (La), a rare earth, in the basal diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, bone composition, breast meat composition, carcass characteristics and meat color in broiler chicks. A total of 1,600 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with four replicates in a completely randomized block design. Treatments were T1) CON (control diet), T2) 100 ppm Ce, T3) 100 ppm La, T4) 100 ppm Ce+100 ppm La. There were no significant differences in feed intake among dietary treatments during the whole experimental period (0 to 5 weeks). Body weight gain for the first three weeks was greater in birds T4 than birds fed T3 diet. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better in birds fed T4 diet (p<0.05) than birds fed T3 diet during 0~3 weeks, and better FCR for 0~5 weeks was noticed in birds fed T4 diet than birds fed T1 diet. Nutrient digestibility was greatest in birds fed T3 diet (p<0.05) compared with other treatments. Bone composition, carcass characteristics and meat color were no statistically different among the treatments. These results suggest that Ce supplementation, alone and combination with La could improve performance of broilers.