• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.361-365
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• 1993

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding fresh cassava roots on the performance and carcass quality of pigs raised from $15{\pm}1kg$ to 85 kg live weight. Fresh unpeeled cassava roots were chopped into chips and offered separately along with a protein concentrate made up of copra cake and meat and bone meal, and a local mineral-vitamin premix. Commercial pig grower and finisher diets served as control. A total of 24 pigs were used in an incomplete randomized split-plot design experiment. Pigs fed fresh cassava-based diet grew as fast, 0.78 vs 0.77 kg/day, and were as efficient, 3.74 vs 3.77 in converting feed into body weight gain as those fed the commercial control diet. Similarly, there were no differences in carcass quality measured in terms of dressing percentage, 77 vs 77; backfat thickness, 2.76 vs 2.78 cm; loin eye muscle area, 29.2 vs $29.1cm^2$ and in the relative proportions of the different carcass cuts between the two dietary treatments. The use of fresh cassava along with the protein and the local mineral-vitamin premix however, resulted in lowered total feed cost and cost per unit of live weight gain. It is concluded that fresh cassava roots can be fed along with copra cake, meat and bone meal protein concentrate and a local mineral-vitamin premix to fattening pigs with no adverse affects on performance and carcass quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 1995

Eighteen Holstein Friesian ${\times}$ Native heifers with an average live weight of $175.4{\pm}27.8kg$ were allotted to 3 dietary groups. All animals were kept individually in a stanchion barn with free access to water and urea-treated rice straw (UTS). The supplemented feeds were as follows: Group (Gr) 1 - concentrate mixture (15% CP) at 1% body weight (BW), Gr 2 - concentrate mixture at 0.7% BW + free licking of multinutrient block (MNB), Gr 3 - as Gr 2 + 0.3% BW ground com. Multinutrient block composed of 20% mineral mixture, 10% urea, 18% molasses, 20% soybean meal, 22% sesame meal, 10% cement, 0.15 million IU and 50 IU/kg MNB of vitamin A and E. The experimental period lasted 12 weeks. The result revealed that MNB enhanced intake of UTS and total dry matter intake. Animals in Gr 3 consumed a higher amount of feed than the other 2 groups, thus resulting in the highest live weight gain and tended to possess the best feed conversion ratio. Heifers in Gr 2 also performed better than Gr 1 although the difference was not significant. Average MNB intake found to be 0.65 kg/day. Feed cost per kg gain was not significantly different amon groups. However if the cost of MNB could be lower, it would benefit the production cost of animals. The advantage of MNB is the safety of using a high level of urea. Although it was supplemented to UTS which also contained non-protein nitrogen (NPN), no toxic sign was shown. The results indicated that MNB could be partially substituted to concentrate mixture and it was even better when used incombination with soluble carbohydrate feed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.474-478
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• 2001

Eighteen Murrah male buffalo calves were allotted into three groups of six each. The calves in group I (control) were fed with whole milk, skim milk, calf starter and green maize fodder. The calves in group II (high butyric acid) and group III (low butyric acid) were fed with the same diet as control along with 24 ml and 12 ml of butyric acid/calf/day for 120 days, respectively for 120 days. Dry matter intake was higher in group II and III as compared with group I. Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, cellulose and hemicellulose was the highest in group II followed by group III and the control group. Body weight gain and conversion efficiency of dry matter, digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrients were better in group II. Cost of feed for per unit of live weight gain was the lowest in group II. It was concluded that dietary addition of butyric acid (24 ml/day) was economical and had positive effect on the performance of Murrah buffalo calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.678-683
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• 2004

An experiment was carried out to study the effects of exogenous enzymes (cellulases and proteases), yeast culture and effective micro-organism (EM) culture on feed digestibility and the performance of rabbits fed rice bran rich diets over a period of ten weeks. Twenty four, 8 to 9 weeks old male and female New Zealand White rabbits were allotted to 4 dietary treatments; a basal (control) feed containing 43% rice bran, basal feed supplemented with either enzymes, yeast culture or EM. Individual feed intake, body weight gain, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and feed cost were studied. Sex of the rabbits had no significant (p<0.05) influence on the parameters studied. The control group showed the lowest daily feed intake (104.8 g), body weight gain (12.8 g) and the highest feed/gain ratio (8.20 g/g). The highest daily feed intake (114.3 g), body weight gain (20.42 g) and the lowest feed/gain ratio (5.60) were observed with enzymes. Compared to the control, yeast significantly (p<0.05) improved the feed intake, body weight gain and feed/gain ratio by 4.9, 34.4 and 22.0%, respectively, while EM improved (p<0.05) them by 4.0, 32.6 and 21.6%, respectively. All the additives improved (p<0.05) the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and energy by 4.9-8.7, 3.6-10.7, 5.9-8.3 and 4.3-6.4%, respectively. Higher weights of pancreas (by 38.5-56.4%) and caecum (by 13.1-26.8%, compared to the control) were recorded with all additives but liver weight was increased only by yeast (24.5%) and enzymes (26.7%). Significantly (p<0.05) higher carcass recovery percentages were observed with enzymes (60.55), yeast (60.47) and EM (56.60) as compared to the control (48.52). Enzymes, yeast and EM reduced (p<0.05) the feed cost per kg live weight by 23.8, 15.9 and 15.5%, respectively. Results revealed that enzymes, yeast culture and EM can be used to improve the feeding value of agro-industrial by-products for rabbits in Sri Lanka and thereby to reduce the feed cost. Under the present feeding system, enzyme supplement was the best.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1078-1084
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• 2001

Twelve growing male lambs ($10.05{\pm}0.41kg$, 5 months age) were assigned to three equal groups in a completely randomized design and fed respectively wheat straw (WS), ammoniated wheat straw (AWS) or urea supplemented wheat straw (USWS) along with concentrate mixtures of varying protein and energy contents to meet their requirements as per NRC (1985). Despite comparable nutrient intake and digestibility, the lambs fed A WS based diet digested lower (p<0.05) crude protein. The digestibility of NDF and hemicellulose were lower while the digestibility of cellulose was higher in lambs on AWS as compared to lambs on USWS based diet. The lambs of all the three groups were in positive and comparable N, Ca and P balance except higher Ca balance in lambs fed WS based diet. The body weight change, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were similar among the dietary groups. All the parameters of rumen fermentation pattern were comparable between lambs of AWS and USWS based diets except ammonia-N concentration that was higher in the latter however it was lower in WS fed group. Though, the feeding cost per unit gain was comparable in lambs fed all the three diets, the cost incurred towards roughage during 120 days of experimental feeding was significantly less in lambs fed AWS than UTWS. Thus, feeding of USWS can be practiced to minimize labour cost and environmental pollution involved in the process of urea treatment without affecting the performance of growing lambs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1469-1474
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• 2003

Twenty four weaner lambs, eight each of Marwari, Patanwadi and Merino${\times}$Patanwadi breeds (9.9 to 10.8 kg) were randomly divided into two dietary treatments on body weight basis Viz. $T_1$-conventional (Maize-38%, GN Cake-25%, Rice Polish-24%, Jaggery solution-10%, Mineral mixture-3%) and $T_2$-supplemented non conventional group (GN Cake-25%, Rice Polish-14%, Mango seed kernel-25%, Babul Pods chuni-23%, Jaggery solution-10%, Mineral mixture-3%). The Jaggery solution was prepared by mixing 6.5 kg Jaggery and 3.5 kg water. The average final body weight at the end of the experiment was recorded to be $19.33{\pm}0.76$ and $19.72{\pm}0.8kg$ in conventional and non-conventional groups, respectively. The total dry matter intake (DMI) during the entire experiment period was recorded to be $89.56{\pm}5.19$ and $95.08{\pm}1.06$ (kg/head) and $532.83{\pm}9.94$ and $566.75{\pm}10.49g/d$ in conventional and nonconventional groups, respectively. The body weight gain and body measurements did not influenced by diet. The ration effect was found to be significant when the DMI was expressed in terms of g/d. The crude protein (CP) and digestible crude protein (DCP) intake/head and per kg gain observed during experiment under conventional and non-conventional treatment group did not differ from each other. However, the total digestible nutrients (TDN) intake per kg gain was significantly (p<0.05) higher in supplemented non-conventional group. The intake values of DCP and TDN were more or less in agreement with Indian Council Agricultural Research (1985) recommendations. The estimated total feed cost (Rs./animal) for experimental lambs was $274.16{\pm}8.57$ and $242.67{\pm}5.10$ in conventional and non- group, respectively. The non-conventional group had significantly (p<0.05) lower feed cost (11.6%). The return as percent of feed cost and feed cost/kg dressed weight were $92.89{\pm}5.58$ (%) and Rs. $35.40{\pm}1.11$ and $122.61{\pm}5.06$ (%) and Rs.$30.47{\pm}1.71$ in conventional and non-conventional group (p<0.05), respectively which is the reflection of significantly lower total feed cost incurred during feeding in non-conventional group. Lambs fed non-conventional based diet had similar live weights as those fed conventional diets but costed less money to achieve those weights.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2001

The effect of the fermented food wastes (FFW) on growth performance and feeding efficiency war investigated in growing-finishing pigs. Four treatments with different mixing rates [0% FFW (100% commercial diet: control) ; 25% FFW ; 50% FFW ; and 100% FFW] were tried. Twenty heads of cross-bred barrows ($Duroc\;{\times}\;Landrace$, average live weight : 28.5 kg) were divided into 4 treatments with 5 replicates. During entire feeding trial (10 to 27 week), average daily gain increased by 29.4% and 13.9% in 25% FFW and 50% FFW, but decreased by 38.2% in 100% FFW compared to control. Daily feed intake was the highest in 25% FFW and it greatly decreased in 50% and 100% FFW feeding. The amount of feeds required for weight gain was similar with control in 25% FFW or significantly decreased in 50% FFW, while greatly increased in 100% FFW feeding. Cost of feeds per kg weight gain was decreased by 28.6%, 49.4% and 32.6% in 25%, 50% and 100% FFW, respectively. The results showed that replacement up to 50% with fermented food wastes was advantageous with respect to feed efficiency and feed cost, but 100% FFW feeding was disadvantageous because of a very low feed efficiency.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.252-256
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• 2007

This study was carried out to determine the effect of vitamin E and vitamin C on the performance of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reared under heat stress during the growth and egg production period. A total of 810 seven-day-old Japanese quails were used in the trial. The birds received a diet with either three levels of vitamin E (DL-${\alpha}$Tocopheryl acetate) (60, 120 and 240 mg/kg of diet) and vitamin C (ROVIMIX STAY-C 35) (60, 120 and 240 mg/kg of diet). Live weight on day 35 and weight gain were the lowest in the group of chicks on a combination of 60 mg of vitamin E and 60 mg of vitamin C, whereas the highest live weight was demonstrated in chicks on a combination of 240 mg of vitamin E and 240 mg of vitamin C (p<0.01). The effects of treatments on cumulative feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, age at 5% lay, sexual maturity weight, rate of lay and mean egg weight values were found to be significant (p<0.01). The highest feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, age at 5% lay, sexual maturity weight, rate of lay and mean egg weight values were found in the group on a combination of 240 mg of vitamin E and 240 mg of vitamin C. The effect of treatments on the mortality ratio was found to be insignificant (p>0.01). The cost of supplementing diets with vitamin E and vitamin C is very low. Therefore such a combination of supplement can offer a potential protective management practice in preventing heat stress related losses in performance of Japanese quails.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.86-90
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• 2006

This study was carried out to determine the effects of free choice feeding of starter feed and whole cereals on the growth of turkey poults. Two hundred-seventy poults (7-d old) were divided into 3 treatment groups each with 3 replications containing 15 males and 15 females. Control poults (C) were fed only on starter feed (280 g CP and 11.7 MJ ME/kg). Treatments for choice-fed turkey poults were offered a choice of a starter feed and wheat (120 g CP and 12.3 MJ ME/kg) for wheat selecting (WS) or maize (83 g CP and 13.9 MJ ME/kg) for maize selecting (MS) group in separate feeders. Final live weight (2,280.7 g for the C vs. 2,374.3 and 2,324.6 g for the WS and MS), daily gain (39.21 g vs. 40.87 and 39.99 g) and total feed intake (95.2 g vs. 103.2 and 97.9 g) in the WS poults were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of the C group, but feed conversion ratio was not significantly different between the treatments. The proportional intakes of cereals vs. total feed intake were 11% in both the WS and MS group. The amount of protein intake in the C group (280 g CP/kg diet) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in WS and MS groups (263 and 259 g CP/kg diet, respectively) whilst the ME intake in the C group (11.7 MJ/kg diet) was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that in MS group (11.9 MJ/kg diet). Our results showed that turkey poults fed starter feed and whole wheat in a free choice feeding system have a higher efficiency in terms of daily gain, final live weight, and an economic advantage may be obtained from free choice feeding due to a reduced protein intake and feed cost.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.497-505
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• 2000

Thirty piglets weaned at 24.5 d of age ($6.9{\pm}0.5kg$) randomly alloted to 3 treatments were used to investigate the effect of dietary tallow on average performance, digestibility of nutrients, metabolic utilization of energy and body composition at 25 kg. Weaned piglets respond to increasing levels of dietary tallow from 0 to 4% and 8% by digestive and metabolic adaptation. Apparent fecal digestibility of fat (AFDf) was highly correlated with the level of dietary tallow (X as % of fat extracted after HCl hydrolysis) by the following curvilinear equation of regression: $AFDf=33.8+6.9X-0.3X^2$. Feed intake expressed as DE was only significantly increased at the higher inclusion level of tallow. But neither average daily gain, nor feed conversion was affected by the addition of fat. On the other hand, body composition at 25 kg was equally affected, by both levels of supplementary fat; dry matter and energy content in the body were significantly higher (p<0.01) in piglets receiving tallow. As a consequence, the energy cost of the live weight gain was also increased from 23 to 24.7 MJ DE/kg (p<0.02) and the efficiency of energy deposition was decreased from 3.2 to 2.8 MJ DE/MJ deposited energy (p<0.01) in the presence of dietary tallow. An increase in the level of fat stimulated the activity of pancreatic lipase up to a constant value of $22{\pm}1.4IU/mg$ protein but conversely depressed the activity of amylase from 300 to 100 IU/mg of protein. The activity of liver acetyl CoA carboxylase and malic enzyme in the perirenal fat were low lind not affected by dietary fat; the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was high. Opposite to that, the activity of acetyl CoA carboxylase and malic enzyme in the perirenal and backfat were higher than in the liver and both were significantly reduced by the inclusion of fat in the diet. A direct deposition of dietary fat has been demonstrated by increasing the energy and lipid content of the empty body weight gain between 7 and 25 kg of live weight, and decreasing the efficiency of digestible energy utilization.