• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1449-1457
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• 2018

Objective: The objective was to evaluate feed intake, digestibility, body weight change and carcass characteristics of sheep fed a basal diet of hay supplemented with banana leaves and silver leaf desmodium. Methods: Thirty yearling lambs with an average initial body weight of $15.85{\pm}1.6kg$ were grouped into six blocks of five rams in each block. The treatments were: hay alone (T1), hay+100% banana leaf (T2), hay+67% banana leaf+33% desmodium leaf (T3), hay+33% banana leaf+67% desmodium leaf (T4), andhay+100% desmodium leaf (T5). Three hundred grams of treatment diets were offered daily on as fed basis. The feeding and digestibility trials lasted for 84 and 7 days, respectively, followed by carcass evaluation. Results: The total dry matter (DM) intake for T3, T4, and T5 were greater (p<0.05) than those fed T1 and T2 diets. The lowest (p<0.05) organic matter (OM) intake was recorded in rams reared on T1 diet. The total crude protein (CP) intake was in the following order: T5>T4>T3>T2>T1. Ram lambs receiving supplementary diets had higher (p<0.05) DM, OM, CP, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber digestibility compared with the control diet. The empty body weight and slaughter weight was highest (p<0.05) in rams receiving T3, T4, and T5 diets. The average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency was highest (p<0.05) in rams receiving the supplementary diets. The dressing percentage on the basis of hot carcass weight linearly increased with increasing levels of desmodium. Rams reared on supplementary diet had higher (p<0.05) rib eye area compared with the control diet. Conclusion: In conclusion, when banana leaf is used as a supplement to poor quality grass, better body weight gain was obtained when fed in combination with desmodium.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.671-674
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• 2002

This study investigated the use of multinutrient blocks (MNB) composed of 35% date syrup, 35% date syrup byproducts, 10% date fronds, 7% urea, 7% cement and 6% common salt for growing small ruminants, as partial substitute for the roughage component of the diet (Rhodes grass hay) and its effect on feedlot performance and economics of feeding. Eight growing local Omani goats and 8 sheep (each about one year old) were used in this study. Mean body weights for goats and sheep (kg), respectively were $21.1{\pm}4.5$ and $25.5{\pm}4.1$. The goats and sheep were subdivided into two sub-groups of more or less equal body weights for each species. Each sub-group in both species was either fed on 0.5 kg concentrate+ad libitum Rhodes grass hay or the same diet+restricted hay (about 0.2 kg/head/day) and ad libitum amount of MNB. Sheep significantly (p<0.05) consumed greater amounts of MNB ($36{\pm}17$g/head/day) than goats ($6{\pm}2.5$ g/head/day). Feeding of the MNB was effective in sparing about 40% of the roughage Rhodes grass hay for goats (from 240 to 140 g) and about 42% for sheep (from 252 to 146 g) or approximately 100 g/head/day for both goats and sheep. This reduction (or sparing) in the consumption of Rhodes grass hay was coupled by an improvement in daily liveweight gain (g/head/day) in both goats (from 29 to 46 by 58.6%) and sheep (from 26 to 39 by 50%) and also by an improvement in the feed conversion efficiency (g feed/g gain) of both goats (from 25 to 13.8 by 45%) and sheep (from 28.7 to 17.2 by 40%). Cost of daily consumed feeds as well as cost/kg gain (or cost of meat) were both reduced due to feeding of MNB. They were both respectively reduced by 7.5% (from 53 Baisa/day to 49) and 38% (from 1,828 Baisa/kg to 1,140). It was economically viable to feed MNBs containing date by-products and urea to small ruminants in the Sultanate of Oman.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 1997

Forty-five holstein calves (average liveweight 150kg) were used to investigate the effect of combination of tall fescue and white clover cultivars on liveweight gain and feed efficiency into animal product in pastures. Daily gains per head for 3 years in T1, T2 and T3 (TI : Fawn, tall fescue + Regal, white clover + orchardgrass + perennial ryegrass, T2 : Roa, tall fescue + Regal, white clover + orchardgrass + perennial ryegrass, T3 : Roa, tall fescue + Tahora, white clover + orchardgrass + perennial ryegrass) were 0.27, 0.37 and 0.35kg, respectively, while average daily weight gains per ha were 3.54, 4.47 and 4.43kg, respectively. Animals grazing on mixed pasture with Roa tall fescue and Regal or Tahora white clover were showed a higher liveweight gain than those grazed on pastures with Fawn tall fescue and Regal h i t e clover. There was no significant difference among treatments (TI = 5.0kg T2 = 4.8kg T3 = 4.9kg) in herbage intake but feed efficiency into animal product was showed higher in T2 and T3 in comparison with T1(7.9% in T2 and 8.0% in T3 vs 5.97% in TI). In conclusion, association with Roa tall fescue and Regal white clover in mixed pasture can obtain higher animal product under continuous grazing system than that with Fawn tall fescue and Regal white clover.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.387-396
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• 2021

This study was conducted to provide basic data for efficient Hanwoo beef production by conducting a comparison of growth performance, blood metabolites, testosterone, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo according to complete and hemi-castration. Twelve Hanwoo calves were allotted to two treatment groups as follows: CC = complete-castration and HC = hemi-castration method of removing only one testicle. At the end of the test, the body weight was 66 kg higher in HC than in CC, and the average daily gain increased by 12.6% (p < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio was significantly improved in HC compared to CC (p < 0.05). Serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in CC than HC in both the growing and fattening periods (p < 0.05), and serum testosterone concentrations before castration were similar between HC and CC, but steadily increasing in HC after castration. Back fat thickness and marbling score were significantly higher in CC than HC in the entire period (p < 0.01). In the results of this study, hemi-castration can improve body weight gain and feed conversion ratio due to the influence of male hormones compared to complete castration, but it is considered that there will be difficulties in producing high-quality meat with a high marbling score.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.762-769
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of stocking density on the growth of the mandarin fish Siniperca scherzeri, in small (1-year old, 50.2 g/fish) and large (2-years old, 173.1 g/fish) size (age) groups. Small and large fish groups were fed pelleted diets twice daily for 10 and 15 weeks, respectively. In the small group, at the end of the feeding, the weight gain of fish at a density of $4kg/m^3$ was lower than that of fish at densities of 3, 2 and $1kg/m^3$. However, fish stocking density did not affect feed efficiency. The daily feed intake of fish at a density of $4kg/m^3$ was lower than that fish at densities of 3, 2 and $1kg/m^3$. In the large fish group, the weight gain of fish at a density of $4.5kg/m^3$ was higher than that of fish at densities of 6, 3 and $1.5kg/m^3$. Again, fish stocking density did not affect feed efficiency. The daily feed intake of fish at a density of $4.5kg/m^3$ was higher than that of fish at densities of 6, 3 and $1.5kg/m^3$. Based on these results, the optimum stocking density for small (50.2 g/fish) and large (173.1 g/fish) mandarin fish is 3 and $4.5kg/m^3$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2021

This study was conducted on sows to evaluate the effect of flaxseed oil on the sows and their offspring's performance. Forty-eight (48) sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their offspring were assigned randomly to each treatment (Control and Control + flaxseed oil 0.5% [FX]). Body weight (BW), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and nutrient digestibility of the sows were estimated. Sow backfat thickness, days-to-estrus, and chest circumference were measured by different methods. In piglets, survival rate, the initial weight, weaning weight, and average daily gain (ADG) were calculated. Fecal scores of both the sows and piglets were recorded. Inclusion of FX did not influence (p > 0.05) the litter size, days-to-estrus, sow BW, ADFI and digestibility of nutrient throughout the experiment. Reduction in (p < 0.05) BW loss was observed with the FX supplementation in sows. Only the backfat thickness during the weaning period showed an increase (p < 0.05) by FX supplementation. Chest circumference was decreased (p < 0.05) in the FX group compared to the control. Sows fed the FX diet had a reduced (p < 0.05) fecal score only at weaning. Piglets' fecal score showed no significant differences for FX supplementation. However, the inclusion of FX brought about a higher (p < 0.05) birth weight, weaning weight, and average daily gain (ADG). In conclusion, our study suggests that FX has positive supplementary effects on a sow's body condition and its offspring's performance as a source of n-3 fatty acid.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.1344-1354
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• 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of brown rice (Japonica) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood parameters of weanling pigs. A total of 60 weanling pigs (28-day-old, 30 barrows and 30 gilts, 6.73 ± 0.77 kg body weight [BW]) were randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments (6 pigs per pen; 5 replicates per treatment) in a randomized complete block design with the initial BW and sex as blocks. The dietary treatments were a typical nursery diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and the CON replaced 50% of corn with brown rice (BR). Pigs were fed respective dietary treatments for 5 weeks. For the last week of experiment period, pigs were fed respective dietary treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide as an indigestible marker. Fecal samples were collected from randomly selected 1 pig in each pen daily for the last 3 d after the 4-d adjustment period. Blood was collected from randomly selected 1 pig in each pen on d 0, 3, 7, and 14 after weaning. Compared with pig fed CON diet, pigs fed the BR diet were found to have higher (p < 0.05) final BW, overall average daily gain, and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter and energy. However, there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to average daily feed intake, gain to feed ratio, frequency of diarrhea, and the AID and ATTD of crude protein during overall experimental period. Similarly, there were no significant differences on blood parameters between the groups. Thus, the findings of this study indicate that brown rice (Japonica) can be used to replace 50% of corn in the diet of pigs during the nursery period without negatively affecting growth performance, nutrient digestibility, or blood parameters.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2022

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of supplementation of low-energy diets with PROSOL^® (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate) as an emulsifier on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. A total of 120 crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) growing pigs with an average initial body weight of 23.80 ± 4.87 kg were used in a 56-day feeding trial and were sorted into three dietary treatments. Each treatment utilized eight replications with five pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were as follows: PC (high, net energy diet [NE] = 2,488 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 1 to 4] and NE = 2,477 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 5 to 8]); NC (low, NE = 2,472 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 1 to 4] and NE = 2,468 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 5 to 8]); NC1 (NC + 0.05% PROSOL^® emulsifier). Growth performance outcomes were measured at the initial point and at weeks 4 and 8 while nutrient digestibility parameters were measured at weeks 4 and 8. From weeks 1 - 8, body weight and the average daily gain of the NC1 group pigs showed significant increases (p < 0.05) compared to those of the PC and NC treatment groups. At the end of the trail, pigs fed a diet containing low net energy with 0.05% of the emulsifier showed reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR) levels. However, the average daily feed intake and nutrient digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen remained unaffected throughout the experiment. In summary, the addition of a low-net-energy diet with 0.05% sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate as an emulsifier enhanced the body weight and daily gain with no adverse effects on nutrient digestibility in growing pigs.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1065-1076
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary mulberry leaves on the growth, production performance, gut microbiota, and immunological parameters of poultry and livestock. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were systematically analyzed to identify pertinent studies up to December 2022. The effects of mulberry leaf diet was assessed using the weighted mean difference, and the 95% confidence interval was calculated using a random-effects model. Results: In total, 18 studies that sampled 2,335 poultry and livestock were selected for analysis. Mulberry leaves improved the average daily gain and reduced the feed/meat ratio in finishing pigs, and the average daily gain and average daily feed intake in chicken. In production performance, mulberry leaves lowered the half carcass weight, slaughter rate, and loin eye area in pigs, and the slaughter rate in chickens. Regarding meat quality in pigs, mulberry leaves reduced the cooked meat percentage, shear force, crude protein, and crude ash, and increased the 24 h pH and water content. In chickens, it increased the drip loss, shear force, 45 min and 24 h pH, crude protein, and crude ash. Mulberry leaves also affect the abundances of gut microbiota, including Bacteroides, Prevotella, Megamonas, Escherichia-Shigella, Butyricicoccus, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Escherichia coli in poultry and livestock. Mulberry leaves at different doses were associated with changes in antioxidant capacity in chickens, and immune organ indexes in pigs. With respect to egg quality, mulberry leaves at different doses improved the shell strength, yolk color, eggshell thickness, and eggshell weight. However, moderate doses diminished the egg yolk ratio and the egg yolk moisture content. Conclusion: In general, dietary mulberry leaves improved the growth, production performance, and immunological parameters in poultry and livestock, although the effects varied at different doses.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.125-134
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• 2024

In this research, the growth efficiency, nutritional utilization, fecal microbial levels, and fecal score of weaned pigs were evaluated using therapeutic zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc aspartic acid chelate (Zn-Asp). In a 42-day feeding trial, 60 weaned pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) were arbitrarily allotted (age: 21 days; 7.01 ± 0.65 kg preliminary body weight) to 3 different treatment groups with 5 repetitions (2 male and 2 female piglets) in each pen. The trial had 2 different phases, including 1-21 days as phase 1, and 22-42 days as phase 2. The nutritional treatments were: basal diet as control (CON), basal diet incorporated with 3,000 ppm ZnO as TRT1, and basal diet incorporated with 750 ppm Zn-Asp as TRT2. In comparison to the CON group, the pigs in the TRT1 and TRT2 groups had greater (p < 0.05) body weight on day 42; an average daily gain, and an average daily feed intake on days 22-42. Furthermore, during days 1-42, the average daily gain in the treatment groups trended higher (p < 0.05) than in the CON group. Additionally, the fecal score decreased (p < 0.05) at week 6, the lactic acid bacteria count tended to increase (p < 0.05), and coliform bacteria presented a trend in reduction (p < 0.05) in the TRT1 and TRT2 groups compared to the CON group. However, there was no difference in nutrient utilization (p > 0.05) among the dietary treatments. Briefly, the therapeutic ZnO and Zn-Asp nutritional approaches could decrease fecal score and coliform bacteria, increase lactic acid bacteria, and improve growth efficiency; moreover, Zn-Asp (750 ppm) can perform a comparable role to therapeutic ZnO (3,000 ppm). So we can use Zn-Asp (750 ppm) instead of therapeutic ZnO (3,000 ppm) for the better performance of weaning pigs and the reduction of environmental pollution, as therapeutic ZnO is responsible for environmental pollution.