• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1690-1695
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• 2001

Wheat straw was treated on laboratory scale with 4% urea at a moisture level of 50% along with different amounts of acetic acid (AA) to fix various levels of ammonia nitrogen (15, 30, 45 and 60%) evolved from urea and stored for 4 weeks. Chemical composition of the treated samples revealed a significant (p<0.01) increase in N content of the samples where AA was added. The N content of the ammoniated straw was only 1.21% which increased to 2.58 with the addition of AA to trap 30% $NH_3-N$. The concentration of free $NH_3-N$ in the straw was significantly (p<0.01) less when more than 15% $NH_3-N$ was trapped with AA. There was significant increase (p<0.01) in N disappearance and depression in NDF and hemicellulose disappearance, when AA was used to trap 30% $NH_3-N$. Large scale treatment of wheat straw with 4% urea at a moisture level of 50% along with AA (to trap 30% $NH_3-N$) increased the N content, but not as much as in laboratory scale treatment. In vivo experiment conducted on nine adult male buffaloes divided into three groups revealed no difference in the intake of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose among group I (ammoniated straw), group II (AA treated ammoniated straw) and group III (AA treated ammoniated straw +1 kg barley grain), but the intake was significantly (p<0.05) more in groups where AA treated straw was fed as compared to only ammoniated straw fed group. However EE digestibility was depressed in group II. The digestibility of cellulose and hemicellulose both depressed significantly (p<0.05) in group II and III as compared to group I. Animals in all the 3 groups showed positive nitrogen balance and it was significantly more in group II and III as compared to group I. DCP intake was significantly (p<0.05) more in group II and III as compared to group I, but there was no significant difference among the three groups in TDN intake. It can be concluded that AA (to trap 30% $NH_3-N$) is effective in capturing the excess ammonia released during urea ammoniation of straw and improving its nutritive value, as well as animal performance.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.61-72
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of herbal medicine and other associated factors for abnormal liver function tests(especially total bilirubin, AST, ALT, and ${\gamma}$GT) levels in outpatients at an oriental medical clinic. Methods : A cross-sectional study based on clinical records was conducted on 504 patients at one Oriental medical clinic in Seoul, Korea. They were tested a liver function tests for screening and 497 patients ranging from the age of 4 to 74 were chosen for the study. Patients with basal liver disease or DM were excluded during the screening process. Patients were classified into case(abnormal) and control(normal) groups by normal liver function test references. Results and Conclusions : In this study, Significant correlations for abnormal total bilirubin levels was age, for abnormal AST was gender, for abnormal ALT were gender, smoking, marriage status, and job, for abnormal ${\gamma}$GT were age, gender, obesity, alcohol, smoking, marriage status, and job using the Chi-square test(p<0.05). There was no significant correlations for abnormal LFTs by using herbal medication history, and intake duration. After controlling other covariates, logistic regression analysis showed that the significant associated factors for abnormal total bilirubin levels were age(odds ratio[OR]=0.87, 95% confidence intervals [CI]=0.87-0.99). For abnormal AST levels was obesity(OR=2.45, CI=1.2-4.9), for abnormal ALT levels were age(OR=1.01, CI=0.99-1.03), male gender(OR=3.31, CI=1.62-6.76), and obesity(OR=3.71 CI=2.28-6.08). For abnormal ${\gamma}$GT levels were male gender(OR=4.83 CI=1.34-17.43), obesity(OR=3.29, CI=1.74-6.22), alcohol (OR=2.51, CI=1.19-5.28), and smoking(OR=2.29, CI=1.16-4.50). Herbal medication history was not as a risk factor for all abnormal liver function tests. Therefore, people who are male, obese, alcohol drinker and smoker will have higher liver function test levels. But intake of herbal medication or the duration of intake may not be the risk factor for abnormal liver function test results.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.337-343
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• 1998

In a feeding trial, Jamunapari male kids (18) of about 4 months age were equally divided into two groups of nine animals each. Goats in the experimental group were fed sun-dried pelleted Leucaena leucocephala leaves and those in the control group were offered a conventional diet without Leucaena leaves as per Kearl (1982) recommendations for a period of 6 months. Daily dry matter intake DMI/100 kg BW was $3.13{\pm}0.04kg$ in the Leucaena group and $3.30{\pm}0.05kg$ in the control. There were significant (p < 0.01) differences in the apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF and NFE being lower in the Leucaena group. Contents of digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were 11.40 and 52.20%, respectively, in the Leucaena group and 14.04 and 66.10%, respectively in the control. The nitrogen in the Leucaena group was not well utilized as compared to the control, though kids were in positive nitrogen balance in both the groups. The average daily weight gain of kids on pelleted Leucaena was $29.95{\pm}2.60g$ as against $42.09{\pm}3.24g$ observed in the control. The mean DMI/kg LW gain was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the Leucaena group ($14.70{\pm}0.78kg$) as compared to the control ($11.55{\pm}0.46kg$). The Hb, BUN, SGOT and SGPT concentrations were statistically similar in both the groups. Histopathological examination of thyroid gland of goats sacrificed at the end of experiment did not reveal any signs of colloidal goitre associated with mimosine toxicity. No significant pathological alterations were observed in vital organs irrespective of dietary treatment. Sundried, pelleted Leucaena foliage appears to be a promising potential feed for growing goats without any significant deleterious effect.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.215-222
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• 1997

Ten rice varieties were planted at two locations (lowland and highland), during the wet and dry seasons of different years. In vivo digestibility and voluntary intake of the straw, were determined in groups of fat-tail sheep, supplemented with $18g{\cdot}kg^{-0.75}$ concentrate DM, containing ~20% crude protein. Voluntary intake of digestible straw organic matter (DOMI) consistently varied from 15.2 to $20.9g{\cdot}kg^{-0.75}$ between straw varieties, averaged over locations, years and seasons, despite considerable variation between individual batches. This variation in the nutritive value of the straw was independent of straw and grain yield, so it would seem that there is scope for selection of rice varieties with straw of higher nutritive value. The variation in DOMI of straw among location of growth, year and season, was of a magnitude similar to the improvement brought about by urea-ammoniation. The in sacco degradation characteristics and digestibility of rice straw residues were superior to those of the offered straw. This can be attributed to a preference for rice straw leaves relative to stems. Averaged over location of growth, year and season, characteristics of in sacco degradation, i.e. the rate of fermentative degradation and the truly undegradable fraction, emerged as accurate predictors of the nutritive value of rice straw.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.810-817
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• 2011

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of tannin rich Pakar (Ficus infectoria) leaves on microbial profile, rumen fermentation and nutrient utilization in goats. Eight goats divided in two groups were fed pakar leaves (experimental group) and green oats (control group) as sole roughage source along with a fixed quantity of concentrate mixture for a period of 3 months. Two metabolic trials of six days duration were conducted after 30 and 90 days of experimental feeding. The dry matter intake was significantly higher (p<0.05) and digestibility's of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF and ADF were reduced in experimental as compared with the control group. The TDN intake was similar (236.52 vs. 240.39 g/d) in both the groups. All the animals were in positive nitrogen balance. The concentration of ammonia nitrogen, TVFA, lactic acid and activities of xylanase and protease were reduced in pakar leaves fed goats. The rumen microbial profile as obtained by MPN technique showed no change in total bacterial population but total fungi and cellulolytic bacteria were reduced (p<0.05), whereas, tannin degrading/tolerant bacteria increased with the feeding of pakar leaves. Real time PCR data revealed a decrease in Ruminococcus flavefaciens, an increase in methanogens and no change in the Fibrobacter succinogenes population by feeding of pakar leaves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.945-951
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• 2013

In vitro studies were undertaken to develop an appropriate fibrolytic enzymes cocktail comprising of cellulase, xylanase and ${\beta}$-D-glucanase for maize stover with an aim to increase its nutrient utilization in sheep. Cellulase and xylanase added individually to ground maize stover at an increasing dose rates (0, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600, 3,200, 6,400, 12,800, 25,600, 32,000, 38,400, and 44,800 IU/g DM), increased (p<0.01) the in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro sugar release. The doses selected for studying the combination effect of enzymes were 6,400 to 32,000 IU/g of cellulase and 12,800 to 44,800 IU/g of xylanase. At cellulase concentration of 6,400 IU/g, IVDMD % was higher (p<0.01) at higher xylanase doses (25,600 to 44,800 IU/g). While at cellulase doses (12,800 to 32,000 IU/g), IVDMD % was higher at lower xylanase doses (12,800 and 25,600 IU/g) compared to higher xylanase doses (32,000 to 44,800 IU/g). At cellulase concentration of the 6,400 to 32,000 IU/g, the amount of sugar released increased (p<0.01) with increasing levels of xylanase concentrations except for the concentration of 44,800 IU/g. No effect of ${\beta}$-D-glucanase (100 to 300 IU/g) was observed at lower cellulase-xylanase dose (cellulase-xylanase 12,800 to 12,800 IU/g). Based on the IVDMD, the enzyme combination cellulase-xylanase 12,800 to 12,800 IU/g was selected to study its effect on feed intake and rumen fermentation pattern, conducted on 12 rams (6 to 8 months; $20.34{\pm}2.369$ kg body weight) fed 50% maize stover based TMR. The total volatile fatty acids (p<0.01) and ammonia-N concentration was higher in enzyme supplemented group, while no effect was observed on dry matter intake, ruminal pH and total nitrogen concentration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1246-1250
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• 1999

Rabbits (48) of Soviet chinchilla (24) and White giant (24) were fed from 6 weeks to 12 weeks of age intensively on either of four isonitrogenous - isocaloric diets containing 0 ($D_1$), 5($D_2$), 10($D_3$) and 20($D_4$) percent raw neem seed kernel cake (NSKC), respectively as per NRC (1977) requirements in a Randomized block design and slaughtered at the end to find out differences in their carcass traits due to NSKC feeding. Dietary treatment had no significant effect on weight of edibles and inedibles and their percentages and dressing percentage in terms of carcass, carcass with pluck and carcass with pluck and head. Similarly, the meat-bone ratio of various primal cuts and overall carcass, yield of edibles per unit of inedibles and eye muscle area were not influenced due to the dietary variations. Chemical composition of fresh meat, and organoleptic evaluation of cooked meat with and without salt did not vary significantly due to incorporation of NSKC in the diets. The rabbits fed 20% NSKC ($D_4$) though consumed more (p<0.05) DM and DE per kg meat production, the intake of crude protein and total digestible nutrients was similar with other dietary treatments. Feed cost per unit meat production was, however, lower on 5 and 10% NSKC containing diets by 7.75 and 12.56%, respectively, as compared to deoiled ground nut cake containing control diet. It appears that NSKC could be used as a wholesome vegetable protein supplement upto 10% in diet of rabbits without any adverse effect on commercial carcass traits.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2015

Four ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (BW $401.0{\pm}2.22kg$) fed TMR containing low protein (CP 9.63 %) as a basal diet were used to investigate the effects of cornell net carbohydrates and protein system (CNCPS) fraction enriched protein feeds on rumen fermentation and blood metabolites. The steers used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design consumed TMR only (control), TMR with rapeseed meal (AB1), TMR with soybean meal (B2) and TMR with perilla meal (B3C), respectively. The protein feeds were substituted for 30 % crude protein of TMR intake. For measuring ruminal pH, ammonia-N and volatile fatty acids (VFA), ruminal digesta was sampled through ruminal cannula at 1 h-interval after the afternoon feeding. Blood was sampled via the jugular vein after the ruminal digesta sampling. Different CNCPS fraction-enriched proteins did not affect (p>0.05) ruminal pH except B3C being numerically low compared with the other groups. Ammonia-N and VFA were not significantly different among the experimental groups. Numerically low ammonia-N appeared in the steers fed rapeseed meal even though it contained high soluble N composition (A and B1 fractions). The discrepancy is unclear; however this may be related to low protein level in the diet and/or low DM intake. Blood metabolites were not significantly affected by the protein substitution except for blood urea nitrogen that was significantly (p<0.05) increased.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.673-680
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• 2000

An experiment was conducted with day-old 300 commercial male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres$^{(R)}$) to evaluate the efficacy of crude phytase preparerations produced from a culture of Aspergillus ficcum. The experiment consisted of five dietary treatments; T1, com-soy control diet with 0.45% non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) for starter period and 0.35% NPP for grower period; T2, control - 0.1% NPP; T3, control 0.2% NPP; T4, T3+600 U of crude phytase (broth+cell); and T5, T3+600 U of crude phytase (broth). The body weight gain, feed intake, and feed/gain of chickens fed T1 diet was highest (p<0.01) among treatments. BW gain and feed intake of T4 and T5 were greater than those of T3 but were less than those of T1 and T2. T3 was highest in mortality among treatments. Decreasing the NPP level lowered availability of DM, crude ash, ether extract, crude fiber, Zn, and Fe but supplementation of crude phytase preparations improved the availability of these nutrients as well as those of Ca, P and Cu. Excretion of P and Cu significantly decreased as the NPP level in the diet decreased. Further reduction of P and Cu excretion and reduction of Ca, Mg and Fe excretion were achieved by supplementation of crude phytase preparations. The serum concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Cu were significantly increased by crude phytase supplementation. The weight and length of tibia, and contents of crude ash, Ca, P, Mg, and Zn were adversely affected by lowering NPP level but partially recovered by supplementation of crude phytase preparations. In conclusion, lowering NPP level in the broiler diet significantly depressed the performance. Supplementation of crude phytase preparations produced from Aspergillus ficuum could partially recover the depression.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.452-461
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• 2012

Four, ruminally fistulated crossbred (Brahman${\times}$native) beef cattle with initial body weight of $420{\pm}15kg$ were randomly assigned according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The dietary treatments were mulberry leaf pellet (MUP) supplementation at 0, 200, 400 and 600 g/hd/d with rice straw fed to allow ad libitum intake. All steers were kept in individual pens and supplemented with concentrate at 5 g/kg of body weight daily. The experiment was 4 periods, and each lasted 21 d. During the first 14 d, all steers were fed their respective diets ad libitum and during the last 7 d, they were moved to metabolism crates for total urine and fecal collection. It was found that increasing MUP levels resulted in linearly increasing rice straw and total intakes (p<0.05). Ruminal temperature and pH were not significantly affected by MUP supplementation while $NH_3$-N concentration was increased (p<0.05) and maintained at a high level (18.5 mg/dl) with supplementation of MUP at 600 g/hd/d. Similarly, viable total bacteria in the rumen and cellulolytic bacteria were enriched by MUP supplementation at 600 g/hd/d. However, the rumen microbial diversity determined with a PCR-DGGE technique showed similar methanogenic diversity between treatments and sampling times and were similar at a 69% genetic relationship as determined by a UPGMA method. Based on this study, it could be concluded that supplementation of MUP at 600 g/hd/d improved DM intake, ruminal $NH_3$-N, and cellulolytic bacteria thus iimproving rumen ecology in beef cattle fed with rice straw.