• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.338-349
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• 2020

The effects of organic Zn-L-selenomethionine (Zn-L-SeMet) at 0.3 ppm on carcass composition, meat characteristics, fatty acid composition, glutathione peroxidase activity, and ribonucleotide content were compared against the commercial inorganic sodium selenite (Na-Se) and the combination of the two, in commercial broilers. A total of 540 one day-old chicks were assigned at random to 3 dietary treatments : i) commercial inorganic selenium as control or T1, ii) a 1:1 ratio of inorganic and organic selenium as T2, and iii) organic selenium as T3. Carcass composition, meat characteristics, cholesterol content, fatty acid composition, and ribonucleotide content were generally unaffected by treatments. However, discrepancy were significantly observed in glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px) and water holding capacity, with organic selenium showing higher glutathione peroxidase activity (p<0.01) and lower shrinkage loss (p<0.05), respectively. These findings could be explained by the contribution of organic selenium in bioavailability of GSH-Px. However, having conducted in a commercial close house system with sufficient amount of nutritional supplementation, the present study demonstrated little or no effects of organic Zn-L-SeMet on meat characteristics, fatty acid composition, and ribonucleotide content (flavor characteristic) in broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1645-1656
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of strain on broiler performance, and age at slaughter and postchilling (PC) aging time on meat quality traits. A total of 500 one-day-old chicks (250 Hubbard classic and 250 Lohman) were reared under commercial conditions. Half of the broiler birds from each strain were slaughtered at 32 days and the other half at 42 days old. At each processing day, 168 carcasses were randomly selected (84 Hubbard and 84 Lohman) and divided into groups of 28 carcasses within each strain, and aged for 0, 4 and 24 h after chilling. Average weekly body weight was comparable between strains. Feed conversion ratio was higher (p<0.05) for the Hubbard strain during the second and third week of age. Initial carcass pH was significantly (p<0.05) affected by age where younger birds (32-d-old) had lower pH values than older (41-d-old) birds. Breast temperature was higher (p<0.001) for Lohman than Hubbard at 0, 2 and 4 h of PC. Younger birds had a lower breast temperature (p<0.001) at all measured times of PC. Thaw loss, cook loss and water holding capacity were not significantly affected by strain, age or aging time. Lohman strain had more tender meat (p<0.05) than Hubbard strain, and tenderness was improved with the increase of broiler age and aging time. Meats from Hubbard were lighter and less red than those from Lohman strain where younger birds had darker color. In conclusion, strain, age at slaughter and PC aging duration are critical to breast meat quality characteristics, and 4 h of aging are required before deboning in order to obtain more tender fillets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1348-1353
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• 2010

A grower broiler experiment (from 14 to 35 days of age) was conducted to study the effect of using two commercial mixtures of organic acids (Galliacid$^{(R)}$ and Biacid$^{(R)}$) to substitute antibiotic growth promoter (Eneramycin$^{(R)}$) on performance, carcass characteristics and intestinal microflora. 400 (Ross 308) broiler chicks were used. A basal corn-soybean meal diet were formulated and served as a control treatment. The control diet was supplemented with either 0.06% Galliacid, 0.1% Biacid or 0.02% Eneramycin. Birds fed the Galliacid-supplemented diet had 16% (p<0.001) more gain than the control, while those fed the Biacid- or Enramycinsupplemented diets recorded 3 and 5.5% more gain, respectively. Organic acids mixtures and Enramycin supplementation significantly (p<0.001) improved feed conversion ratio. These results indicated that birds fed either organic acid mixtures or Enramycinsupplemented diets utilized feed more efficiently than those fed the control diet. Galliacid significantly (p<0.01) increased dressing percentage and bursa weight (% body weight). No significant differences were detected on liver, spleen and thymus (% body weight) among treatments. Galliacid or Biacid significantly (p<0.001) decreased intestinal Escherichia coli and Salmonella compared to the control and Enramycin-supplemented diets. Dietary Enramycin significantly (p<0.001) decreased Escherichia coli, but had no effect on Salmonella counts. In conclusion, organic acid mixtures are more efficient than antibiotic growth promoter (Enramycin) in improving broiler performance and decreasing intestinal Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., and could be successfully used to substitute antibiotic growth promoters in broiler diets. However, not all of the organic acid mixtures gave the same effect either on performance or intestinal bacterial counts.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.836-842
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• 2004

An experiment was conducted to study the performance of broilers chicks (2 to 42 d of age) fed diets containing pearl millet (PM, Pennisetum typhoides), foxtail millet (FOM, Setaria italica) or finger millet (FIM, Elusine coracana) totally replacing (w/w) yellow maize (YM) with and with out supplementing non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) hydrolysing enzymes at the rate of 0.5 g/kg diet. Enzyme preparation contained amylase 2,400 units, hemi-cellulase 5,400 units, cellulase 12,000 units, protease 2,400 units and beta-glucanase 106 units/g. Each diet was fed to eight replicates (five female Vencob broilers/replicate) housed in stainless steel battery brooders. The estimated metabolizable energy (ME) contents of YM, PM, FOM and FIM were FM (PM) were about 3,389, 2,736, 3,303 and 2,846 kcal/kg, respectively. Total replacement of YM with FOM did not influence the body weight gain, ready to cook yield, relative weights of giblet, liver, intestine, lymphoid organs (bursa and spleen) and length of intestine, antibody titers and livability at 42 d of age. But the food efficiency decreased significantly in FOM fed broilers compared those fed YM. Further, the fat content in thigh muscle reduced with FOM fed groups compared to those fed YM. The performance of broilers decreased significantly in PM and FIM fed broilers compared to those fed YM. The relative weights of giblet, gizzard and liver increased in FIM fed groups compared to those fed YM as the principal source of energy in broilers. Incorporation of NSP hydrolysing enzymes in commercial broiler diets improved the efficiency of feed utilization during starter phase but not at 42 d of age. The results thus indicate that yellow maize can be replaced in toto on weight basis in commercial broiler diets without affecting the performance. Supplementation of NSP hydrolysing enzymes was beneficial in enhancing feed utilization during the starter phase.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1028-1037
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• 2015

Unique organoleptic characteristics such as rich flavors and chewy texture contribute to the higher popularity of native chicken in many Asian areas, while the commercial broilers are well-accepted due to their fast-growing and higher yields of meat. Sensory attributes of foods are often used to evaluate food eating quality and serve as references during the selection of foods. In this study, a three-phase descriptive sensory study was conducted to evaluate the sensory attributes of commercial broiler (BR) and Taiwan native chicken (TNC) breast meat, and investigate correlations between these sensory attributes and instrumental measurements. The results showed that for the first bite (phase 1), TNC meat had significantly higher moisture release, hardness, springiness, and cohesiveness than BR meat. After chewing for 10 to 12 bites (phase 2), TNC meat presented significantly higher chewdown hardness and meat particle size, whereas BR meat had significantly higher cohesiveness of mass. After swallowing (phase 3), TNC meat had higher chewiness and oily mouthcoat and lower residual loose particles than BR meat. TNC meat also provided more intense chicken flavors. This study clearly demonstrates that descriptive sensory analysis provides more detailed and more objectively information about the sensory attributes of meats from various chicken breeds. Additionally, sensory textural attributes vary between BR and TNC meat, and are highly correlated to the shear force value and collagen content which influence meat eating qualities greatly. The poultry industry and scientists should be able to recognize the sensory characteristics of different chicken meats more clearly. Accordingly, based on the meat's unique sensory and physicochemical characteristics, future work might address how meat from various breeds could best satisfy consumer needs using various cooking methods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1509-1517
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• 2004

A study was conducted to determine the safety of feeding processed broiler litter (BL) to beef cattle. The litter was processed by deepstacking, ensiling and composting. The health issues addressed relevant to the safety of feeding litter included pathogenic bacteria, mycotoxins, heavy metals, medicinal drugs and pesticide residues. Exp. 1 evaluated the feed hygiene of processed rice hulls-bedded BL. The presence of pathogenic bacteria in BL was determined before and after deepstacking. A total of 21 BL samples were collected over a 3-year period of commercial and experimental production of BL for beef cattle. Exp. 2 evaluated the safety of meat of cattle fed deepstacked BL. In Exp. 1, there were no pathogenic bacteria, such as coliform, E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria and Proteus, in deepstacked BL. Levels of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) and toxic heavy metals (As, Pb, Cd and Hg) were lower than the commercial feed tolerances. Aflatoxin, medicinal drug and pesticide residues were detected at extremely low levels. In Exp. 2, the meat of the BL-fed animals exhibited few differences in all analyzed items from that of the control group, showing safety from pathogenic microorganisms and heavy metals. When BL was withdrawn for 14 days prior to slaughtering the BLfed cattle, no medicinal drug residues were detected in the meat. Pesticides in the tissues of either group of animals were much lower than the tolerances. In conclusion, processed rice hulls-bedded BL and the meat of cattle fed BL were safe from the potential hazards of pathogenic bacteria, heavy metals, aflatoxin, medicinal drugs and pesticide residues.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.759-770
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• 2018

Fowl adenovirus (FAdV) is distributed worldwide and causes economic losses in the poultry industry. The objectives of this study were to determine the hexon and fiber gene changes in an attenuated FAdV isolate from Malaysia in specific pathogen-free chicken embryonated eggs (SPF CEE) and its infectivity in commercial broiler chickens. SPF CEE were inoculated with 0.1 mL FAdV inoculum via the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) for 20 consecutive passages. The isolate at passage 20 (E20), with a virus titer of $10^{8.7}TCID_{50}/mL$ ($TCID_{50}$, 50% tissue culture infective dose), was inoculated (0.5 mL) into one-day-old commercial broiler chicks either via oral or intraperitoneal routes. The study demonstrated that 100% embryonic mortality was recorded from E2 to E20 with a delayed pattern at E17 onwards. The lesions were confined to the liver and CAM. Substitutions of amino acids in the L1 loop of hexon at positions 49 and 66, and in the knob of fiber at positions 318 and 322 were recorded in the E20 isolate. The isolate belongs to serotype 8b and is non-pathogenic to broiler chickens, but it is able to induce a FAdV antibody titer. It appears that molecular changes in the L1 loop of hexon and the knob of fiber are markers for FAdV infectivity.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.536-546
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• 2024

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare status at two commercial broiler welfare-certified farms. Methods: Production and welfare indicators were assessed at two farms (designated Farm A and B). Both farms had two windowless houses with forced tunnel-type ventilation and housed broilers at stocking densities of approximately 16.7 birds/m² (Farm A) and 16.8 birds/m² (Farm B). Each house was divided into two or three equal sections and was provided with or without pecking blocks. Grain-based pecking blocks, measuring 25 × 25 × 25 cm, were given to broilers in both farms at 1 block per 1,000 birds. Various parameters including productivity (body weight and flock uniformity), corticosterone levels (in fecal droppings and feathers), footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather dirtiness, gait score, litter quality, body surface temperature, and volatile fatty acids in fecal samples were assessed at 26 days of age, whereas litter quality was analyzed at 13 and 26 days of age. Results: There were no significant effects of providing pecking blocks on productivity (body weight and uniformity), fecal and feather corticosterone, welfare indicators (i.e., footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather cleanliness, and gait score), and litter quality (i.e., moisture, nitrogen, and pH). No differences in body surface temperature between the control and enrichment treatments were noted in Farm B, but body surface temperatures of the head (p = 0.029) and legs (p = 0.011) in the enrichment vs. control group were elevated in Farm A. Butyrate concentration in the enrichment vs control group was higher in Farm B (p = 0.023), but this effect was not detected in Farm A. Conclusion: It is concluded that grain-based pecking blocks did not affect performance and welfare indicators. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the potential impact of grain-based pecking blocks on gut health indicators.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2006

This study has been designed to evaluate the efficacy of MD in-ovo vaccination in broiler and to find the contamination level of MD virus in broiler farms. A nested PCR test was used to find the level of filed contamination of pathogenic MD virus in the commercial broiler farms. The positive rate of farms contaminated with pathogenic MD virus was 26.09%. And to evaluate the efficacy of MD vaccination, performance factors such as the mortality, feed conversion rate and body weight at market age has been recorded and compared among farms. There was no difference on these factors between vaccinated and non-vaccinated farms except performance. We need further investigation of the film with low performance index. The B/B ratio, which is common index for the evaluation of bursal changes, was calculated and compared between vaccinated and non-vaccinated group There were significant decreases of B/B ratio in the both group without any statistical difference between groups. The reason of decreased bursal size may be due to other infection such as IBD. From this study, we can know that the contamination rate of fm with pathogenic MD virus was very low and not different from previous study. However, the difference of the contamination rate in different locations recommends periodical monitoring on these areas.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2018

The present study investigated effect of supplementation of agricultural byproduct on growth performance and blood parameters of broiler chicken using meta-analysis. Total 11 studies (32 experiments) where broiler feeding trials with agricultural byproducts were included were employed in analysis. All studies were conducted at commercial farm placed in South Korea and under commercial feeding programs. Growth phases were divided into two groups based on slaughter day. For growth performance, body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion rate (feed/gain) were investigated. Carcass weight, dressing percentage, liver and spleen weight, blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride, HDL (High density lipoprotein) and LDL (Low density lipoprotein) cholesterol contents in blood were investigated. Body weight of broiler of treatment was significantly increased than the control (P<0.05), regardless of growth phase. However, body weight gain during late growth phase did not show significant difference between control and treatment. Effect evaluated by random effect model on feed intake was not significant. Effect on feed conversion rate during early growth phase was significantly negative (P<0.05). Effects on carcass weight, dressing percentage, liver and spleen weight were not significant in random effect model. Effect on abdominal fat was significantly negative (P<0.05). In blood parameters, significant effects were found at total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol (P<0.05). Effect on HDL cholesterol only was positive effect, and others were negative.