• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1738-1745
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• 2007

A growth trial and a digestibility trial were conducted to examine the effect of feed particle size on the performance, nutrient digestibility, gastric ulceration and intestinal morphology in pigs fed barley-based diets. Barley was processed through a hammer mill to achieve four diets varying in particle size (average particle $size{\pm}standard $deviation): coarse ($1,100{\pm}2.19\;{\mu}m$), medium ($785{\pm}2.23\;{\mu}m$), fine ($434{\pm}1.70\;{\mu}m$) and mixed (1/3 of coarse, medium and fine) ($789{\pm}2.45\;{\mu}m$). Sixty-four entire male pigs were used in the growth trial and the diets were fed ad libitum between 31 kg and 87 kg live weight. Following slaughter, stomach and ileal tissues were scored for integrity (ulceration or damage) and histological measurements taken. Twenty-four entire male pigs were used in the digestibility trial, which involved total faecal collection. Over the entire growth phase, there were no differences (p>0.05) in average daily gain and feed conversion ratio between pigs fed diets of different particle size. Pigs fed the coarse and medium diets had lower (p<0.05) stomach ulceration scores (0.20 and 0.25, respectively, on a scale from 0 to 3) than those fed the mixed (0.69) or the fine diets (1.87). The stomachs of all animals fed the fine diet had lesions and stomach ulcerations were present only in this group. Pigs fed the fine diet had thicker (p<0.001) ileal epithelial cell layer with no differences (p>0.05) being observed for villous height or crypt depth. Faecal digestibility coefficients of neutral and acid detergent fibre were the highest (p<0.05) for the mixed diet, intermediate for the fine and coarse diets and the lowest for the medium diet. A similar numerical trend (p = 0.103) was observed for the apparent faecal energy digestibility coefficient. It is concluded that, with barley based diets, a variation in average particle size between $400{\mu}m$ and $1,100{\mu}m$ had no effect on pig performance but the fine dietary particle size affected the integrity of the stomach, as well as the structure of the small intestine, thus compromising overall gut health. Our data also demonstrate that changes in particle size distribution during the digestion process, rather than average particle size or particle size variation, are related to apparent faecal digestibility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1721-1728
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• 2007

An in vitro and a feeding trial were conducted to investigate the effect of xylanase supplementation on the feeding value of growing pig diets containing high proportions of Chinese double-low rapeseed meals (DLRM). Seven diets were formulated to meet NRC (1998) nutrient requirements. Diet 1 based on corn-soybean meal was used as positive control 1, and diet 2, a practical diet which incorporated a conventional level of Chinese DLRM (60 g/kg diet), as positive control 2. Diet 3 contained a higher level of DLRM (100 g/kg diet) as the negative control. Diet 3 plus xylanase at 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.70 g/kg diet created diets 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively. The seven diets were incubated in triplicate with the in vitro two-stage enzyme incubation method to predict responses of diets to xylanase in terms of digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). In vitro, the negative control had the lowest CP and NDF digestibility. Both DM and CP digestibility were increased (p<0.05) owing to xylanase supplementation either at 0.50 or 0.70 g/kg diet, and NDF digestibility was improved following xylanase addition at all of the test levels. There was a high linear correlation ($r^2>90$, p<0.05) between the activity concentration of the enzyme when transformed into its logarithmic value and in vitro digestibility coefficients of DM, CP or NDF. In the feeding trial, 112 crossbred pigs were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments with 16 replicate pens of one pig each. An obvious dose effect on growth rate was observed ($r^2=0.79$, p<0.05) within the inclusion levels of xylanase. Compared with the negative control, xylanase addition at 0.70 g/kg diet resulted in significantly increased ADG (878 g/d vs. 828 g/d, p<0.05), and a tendency towards improved growth rate (868 g/d vs. 828 g/d, p = 0.10) was also observed following the inclusion of xylanase at 0.50 g/kg diet. It would appear that the nutrient utilization of corn and Chinese DLRM diets by pigs could be enhanced by an appropriate amount of xylanase addition. The in vitro and in vivo results suggested that the in vitro incubation method is feasible for predicting responses of pigs to exogenous enzymes and identifying those preparations that possess potential for improvement of the nutritive values of feedstuffs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to determine the ileal digestibility of the amino acids contained in linseed meal using the regression technique and then applying the values obtained, in a growth trial, using growing-finishing pigs. For the digestibility trial, four $20{\pm}0.5kg$ crossbred $(Yorkshire{\times}Landrace{\times}Beijing\;Black)$ barrows were fitted with simple T-cannula in the terminal ileum. After recovery, the barrows were fed one of four experimental diets according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square design. The pigs were fed corn-soybean meal based diets supplemented with 0, 25, 50 or 75% linseed meal. For the growth trial, 80 crossbred $(Yorkshire{\times}Landrace{\times}Beijing\;Black)$ growing pigs $(20.2{\pm}1.5kg)$ were fed corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with 0, 5, 10 or 15% linseed meal. Five pens (2 gilts and 2 castrates) were assigned to each treatment. With the exception of leucine, the digestibility coefficients for the indispensible amino acids declined as the level of linseed meal in the diet increased. There was a good agreement between the amino acid digestibilities for lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan determined using the regression technique and amino acid digestibilities previously published for linseed meal. During both the growing (20-49 kg) and finishing (49-95 kg) periods, the addition of linseed meal decreased average daily gain and feed conversion in a linear manner (p<0.05). Feed intake was not significantly different among treatments. The overall results suggest that linseed meal can be used at levels of between 5 and 10% in diets fed to growing-finishing pigs provided that the diet has been balanced for digestible amino acids.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.988-993
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• 2012

Four experimental diets were formulated to contain 700 g/kg cereal with decreasing levels of wheat:barley inclusion. Diet 1 contained 700 g/kg wheat, diet 2 contained 600 g/kg wheat and 100 g/kg barley, diet 3 contained 500 g/kg wheat and 200 g/kg barley and diet 4 contained 400 g/kg wheat and 300 g/kg barley. The diets were offered to pigs on three trials to investigate effects on the performance of individually (n = 72) and group housed (n = 480) pigs and on nutrient digestibility in pigs housed in metabolizm crates (n = 24). Performance was assessed from 10 wks of age until slaughter and carcass characteristics were measured. For the group performance study, one pig from each pen (in total 24) at 10, 15 wks and at finish were slaughtered to ascertain scores for stomach ulceration, stomach weights and intestinal length. Level of wheat inclusion did not significantly (p>0.05) affect liveweight gain (LWG) or feed conversion ratio (FCR). Feed intake was lowest (p<0.05) for individually housed pigs offered diets containing 700 g/kg wheat during the 10-15 wk period, which indicated that individually housed pigs attempted to eat to a constant energy intake. There was little evidence of stomach ulceration across treatments and increasing wheat inclusion had no detrimental effect. Higher levels of wheat inclusion tended to increase backfat depth at the $P_2$ position which could lead to increasing grading penalties in a commercial situation although more research is required in this area. Increasing level of wheat inclusion increased digestible energy (DE) content but the lack of effect on FCR and killing out percentage indicated that utilization of energy from barley and wheat was similar. Digestibility coefficients increased linearly with increasing wheat content, which can be attributed to the lower level of fibre and higher level of starch in wheat compared with barley.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.816-824
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• 2005

The effects of the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 and a mixture of fibrolytic enzymes on total tract digestion, in situ disappearance (ISD) and ruminal fermentation characteristics of orchardgrass hay and barley grain were investigated in a 4${\times}$4 Latin square experiment with 4 non-lactating Holstein cows and 4 diets in 4 periods. Cows were offered a total mixed ration of 50% rolled barley grain and 50% orchardgrass hay treated with either 1) water (control), 2) 0.2% (vol/wt) Tween 80, 3) 0.2% (vol/wt) hydrolytic enzyme, or 4) 0.2% hydrolytic enzyme plus 0.2% Tween 80. Total tract digestibility coefficients of DM, nitrogen, NDF and ADF were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary treatment. Compared to the control, the rate of ISD of DM from orchardgrass hay was faster (p<0.05) in cows receiving diets treated with the enzyme alone or with enzyme plus Tween 80 (0.06/h vs. 0.076 and 0.069/h). The rate of digestion was lower (p<0.05) as compared to control when barley grain was treated with these additives. Ruminal fluid pH and concentrations of total VFA, acetate, isobutyrate and butyrate were not affected (p>0.05) by treatments. Cows that consumed diets treated with enzyme plus Tween 80 had higher (p<0.05) ruminal concentrations of propionate and isovalerate, and lower (p<0.05) acetate:propionate ratios. Compared to the control, microbial protein synthesis tended (p = 0.13) to increase with the addition of enzyme to the diet while nonammonia nitrogen flow to the duodenum increased (p<0.05) with both enzyme and Tween 80 treatments. The study indicated that fibrolytic enzymes alone or in combination with Tween 80 could enhance ISD of orchardgrass hay and ruminal concentrations of propionate, valerate and iso-valerate, but do not affect total tract digestibility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.666-672
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• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to determine the ileal digestibility of the amino acids contained in sunflower meal using the regression technique and then applying the values obtained, in a growth trial, using growing-finishing pigs. For the digestibility trial, four 20 kg crossbred ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace{\times}Beijing$ Black) barrows were fitted with simple Tcannula in the terminal ileum. After recovery, the barrows were fed one of four experimental diets according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square design. The pigs were fed corn-soybean meal based diets supplemented with 0, 25, 50 or 75% sunflower meal. For the growth trial, 80 crossbred ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace{\times}Beijing$ Black) growing pigs (21.5 kg) were fed corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with 0, 5, 10 or 15% sunflower meal. Five pens (2 gilts and 2 castrates) were assigned to each treatment. With the exception of arginine and valine, the digestibility coefficients for the indispensible amino acids declined as the level of sunflower meal in the diet increased. During both the growing (21.5-49.1 kg) and finishing (49.1-90.3 kg) periods and over the entire experiment (21.5-90.3 kg), average daily gain declined in a linear manner (p<0.05) with increasing amounts of sunflower meal. Feed intake was not significantly altered while feed conversion declined in a linear manner (p<0.05) during the grower period only. When the entire experimental period was taken into account, there would appear to be little penalty in either growth or feed conversion for including sunflower meal at levels up to 10% of the diet. Therefore, the price relationship between sunflower meal and other high-protein feedstuffs may provide an excellant opportunity for pork producers to use sunflower meal in order to reduce feed costs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.369-375
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• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to determine the apparent ileal digestibility of the amino acids contained in peanut meal using the regression technique and then applying the values obtained, in a growth trial, using growing-finishing pigs. For the digestibility trial, four 20 kg crossbred (Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Beijing Black) barrows were fitted with simple T-cannula in the terminal ileum. After recovery, the barrows were fed one of four experimental diets according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square design. The pigs were fed corn-soybean meal based diets supplemented with 0, 25, 50 or 75% peanut meal. For the growth trial, 200 crossbred (Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Beijing Black) growing pigs (20.9 kg) were fed corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with 0, 5, 10, 15 or 20% peanut meal. Five pens (4 gilts and 4 castrates) were assigned to each treatment. With the exception of arginine, histidine and phenylalanine, the digestibility coefficients for the indispensible amino acids declined as the level of peanut meal in the diet increased. There was a good agreement between the amino acid digestibilities for lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan determined using the regression technique and amino acid digestibilities previously published for peanut meal. During both the growing (21-54 kg) and finishing (54-99 kg) periods, the addition of peanut meal decreased average daily gain (p=0.01) and feed conversion in a linear manner (p<0.05). Feed intake was not significantly different among treatments. The overall results suggest that peanut meal can be used at levels up to 15% in diets fed to growing-finishing pigs provided that the diet has been balanced for digestible amino acids.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.635-639
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• 1995

Digestibility trial was performed with carps weighing 200 g/fish. Fecal collection was made over 7 days using a settling column. The water temperature was in the range of 27 to $30{^{\circ}C}$ during whole experimental period. Fishes were fed 5 diets (Control, $F_{24}S_{13}$, $F_{16}S_{27}$, $F_8S_{40}$ and $F_0S_{56}$) containing both 32%, 24%, 16%, 8% and 0% of fish meal (F) and 0%, 13%, 27%, 40% and 56% of roasted full-fat soybean (S), respectively. Water volume in each recirculated rearing tank was maintained at 130 l with flow rate of 10-12 l/min. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, protein, lipid, total carbohydrates and energy in diets showed a reduction (p < 0.05) with the increase of dietary full-fat soybean level, although there was no difference in the ADCs between Control and $F_{24}S_{13}$ (p > 0.05). The ADCs of ash, Ca and P in diets significantly increased with the increase of dietary full-fat soybean level, suggesting the high availability of phosphorus in monocalcium phosphate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1367-1375
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of phytase in diets containing cottonseed and soybean meal (CS) on growth performance, feed utilization and digestibility of protein and phosphorus in juvenile olive flounder (initial body weight 2.5 g), Paralichthys olivaceus. Four experimental diets replacing 0%, 30%, 30% and 40% fish meal protein with CS in equal proportion were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric (designated as CS0, CS30, CS30+P, CS40+P, respectively). Phytase of 1,000 FTU/kg was supplemented in diets CS30+P and CS40+P. Three groups of fish (25 fish per group) were fed one of the experimental diets for 10 weeks. No significant differences were observed in growth performance of fish groups except for the CS40+P diet. Apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and phosphorus in fish fed phytase-containing diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the CS0 diet. Serum cholesterol was significantly reduced in fish fed the CS-containing diets. Antioxidant activities in the diets and liver of fish were significantly increased with the increment of dietary CS. Gossypol was only detected and found in liver of the fish fed the CS-containing diets. The findings suggest that supplementation of microbial phytase could improve the apparent digestibility of protein and phosphorus in juvenile olive flounder fed the CS-containing diets.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.319-324
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• 2014

An 8 weeks feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary microbial phytase (P) supplementation on nutrient digestibility, and body composition in juvenile olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus fed soybean meal-based diets. Seven experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to contain 50.0% crude protein (CP) and 16.7 kJ of available energy/g with or without dietary phytase supplementation. White fish meal (FM) provided 92.4% of the total protein in the basal diet ($S_0$), in the other 6 diets, 30% or 40% FM protein was replaced by soybean meal: 70% FM + 30% soybean meal ($S_{30}$); 70% FM + 30% SM + 1000 U phytase/kg diet ($S_{30}P_{1000}$); 70% FM + 30% SM + 2000 U phytase/kg diet ($S_{30}P_{2000}$); 60% FM + 40% SM ($S_{40}$); 60% FM + 40% SM + 1000 U phytase/kg diet ($S_{40}P_{1000}$); and 60% FM + 40% SM + 2000 U phytase/kg diet ($S_{40}P_{2000}$). After two weeks of the conditioning period, triplicate groups of 25 fish initially averaging $6.15{\pm}0.04g$ ($mean{\pm}S.D.$) were randomly distributed into the aquarium and were fed one of the experimental diets for 8 weeks. After feeding trial, supplementation of phytase significantly improved the apparent digestibility coefficients of phosphorus in flounder diets (P<0.05) containing 30% and 40% soybean meal regardless the levels. However, phytase had no significant influence on growth performance and whole body composition of fish. Based on the experimental results, we conclude that dietary supplementation of phytase could improve the apparent digestibility coefficient of phosphorus in olive flounder.