• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.661-666
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• 2005

The effects of pre-partum feeding management in terms of birth weight, growth, metabolic profile and immunity of calves were studied using 24 crossbred (Bos taurus${\times}$Bos indicus) cows, divided into three equal groups. The dietary treatments included feeding of either 3.0 kg concentrate/head/d throughout the 60 d pre-partum (T$_1$), or 3.0 kg concentrate during 60-22 d pre-partum and thereafter at an increased allowance at 0.25 kg/d during the next 21 d till it reached 1% of live weight (T$_2$). The third group of cows was fed similar to T$_2$, except that the concentrate feeding during 60-22 d pre-partum was reduced to 2.0 kg (T$_3$). All the groups had access to ad libitum green fodder throughout. The results revealed that the mean daily dry matter (DM) intake by the cows was similar (p>0.05) among the three groups during the 60 days of the pre-partum but T2 animals tended to gain more live weight (41.25 kg) than T$_1$ (38.12 kg) and T$_3$ (36.25 kg). The body condition score of the cows did not change appreciably over the experimental period. The mean birth weight of the calves was 24.00${\pm}$1.10, 24.63${\pm}$1.17 and 23.25${\pm}$1.19 kg for the three groups, respectively, with the corresponding average daily gain of 154.2, 155.0 and 169.7 g during the subsequent 60 days; both these parameters did not vary significantly ascribable to prepartum feeding regimens of their dams. The total immunoglobulin (Ig) concentration in the colostrum was 6.31${\pm}$0.34, 5.80${\pm}$0.21 and 6.13${\pm}$0.30 g/dl for the three groups, respectively, showing no influence of dietary treatments. The mean serum Ig levels (T$_1$ 2.10${\pm}$0.09, T$_2$ 2.05${\pm}$0.09 and T$_3$ 2.10${\pm}$0.12 g/dl) of calves at 5 d of age were similar among the dietary groups as was the case with various serum biochemical constituents. It is concluded that the variations in pre-partum dietary management elicited no significant influence on the calf performance including the immune status.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.540-547
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• 2001

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of environmentally friendly agents (yucca extract, mineral feed additive, acidifier, nonspecific immunostimulating anionic alkali solution) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nutrient excretion and carcass characteristics in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 125 pigs were allotted into 5 treatments with 5 replications, 5 pigs per pen in a completely randomized block design. Dietary treatments consisted of 1) control: basal diet, 2) YE: basal diet+120 mg/kg of yucca extract, 3) MFA: basal diet+50 mg/kg of mineral feed additive, 4) NIS: basal diet+3% of NIS (nonspecific immunostimulating anionic alkali solution), and 5) Acidifier: basal diet+0.5% of acidifier (organic acid complex). During the growing phase of the feeding trial, There were no significant differences in average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (F/G) among treatments, but the Acidifier group showed higher average daily gain (ADG) than the MFA group (p<0.05). During the finishing phase, there were no significant differences in growth performance among treatments, however YE supplementation increased ADG and F/G by 3.1 and 6.15%, respectively, when compared to control group. Proximate nutrients (dry matter, DM; crude protein, CP; crude ash, CA; crude fat, CF; gross energy, GE; calcium, Ca and phosphorus, P) digestibility did not show any significant differences among the treatments. And there were no significant differences in DM, N and P excretion as well. The supplementation of environmentally friendly agents tended to increase carcass weight compared to control group. Pigs fed MFA showed significantly heavier (p<0.05) carcass weight than those fed control or Acidifier diets. Addition of these agents except for NIS to diet for growing-finishing pigs caused a similar feed cost/kg weight gain than control group. Therefore, present study suggested that the optimum environmentally friendly agent would be yucca extracts, considering the effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nutrient excretion, carcass characteristics and feed cost in growing-finishing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제19권7호
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• pp.984-991
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• 2006

Effects of spent composts of selenium-enriched mushroom (Se-SMC) on plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and selenium (Se) deposition in finishing Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) steers were investigated. Twenty-five Hanwoo steers (average body weight = 613 kg, average age = 22 months) were allotted to treatments in five groups of five steers per pen for 12 weeks preceding slaughter. Treatments were SMC alone (CON; 0.1 ppm Se), 0.3 ppm (0.3 Se-SMC), 0.6 ppm (0.6 Se-SMC), 0.9 ppm (0.9 Se-SMC), and 0.9 ppm (sodium selenite; SENI) Se. During the experimental period, blood samples were taken to analyze Se concentrations and GSH-Px activities. Muscle and liver samples were collected for analyses of Se contents after slaughter. Dry matter intake and body weight gain were not affected by Se-SMC or sodium selenite supplementation. Selenium concentration in the whole blood and GSH-Px activity in plasma were linearly increased (p<0.01) with increasing levels of Se-SMC. The whole blood Se concentration of SENI treatment was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of CON treatment from 4 weeks, whereas there was no significant difference in GSH-Px activities between both treatments at 8 and 12 weeks. Selenium content in the hind leg and liver increased linearly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of Se-SMC, but those of SENI treatments were not significantly different from CON treatments. These results suggested that Se in the Se-SMC was highly bioavailable to blood and tissues of ruminants, especially compared with Se in the sodium selenite. Therefore, Se-SMC might be used not only as an inexpensive way of providing Se for ruminants but also as another way of producing Se-fortified beef.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권12호
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• pp.1874-1879
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• 2007

A total of one hundred and forty four weaned pigs with an average BW of $8.09{\pm}0.05$ kg were used in a 28 day study to investigate the effects of fermented soy protein on growth performance, blood urea nitrogen and total protein concentrations in serum and nutrient digestibility in weaner pigs. Pigs were blocked by initial body weight and randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. There were six replications per treatment. Dietary treatments included: SBM (corn-soybean meal basal diet), F 5, 10 and 15 (fermented soy product was used at 5, 10 and 15% to replace soybean meal in basal diet, respectively). ADG (average daily gain) and ADFI (average daily feed intake) were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary treatments during the entire 4-wk study period. There were linear increments in feed efficiency (p<0.01) as the dietary FSP level increased during the entire feeding period. No significant differences were observed for dry matter and nitrogen digestibility during the experimental period (p>0.05). Digestibilities of histidine, lysine and methionine were increased as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p<0.05, p<0.01). Among non-essential amino acids, alanine, glutamic acid, serine, tyrosine and total non essential amino acid digestibilities were increased linearly (p<0.05, p<0.01). There were quadratic effects in protein digestibility (p<0.05). Total amino acid digestibility of the F15 diet was improved compared with the F5 diet (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in fecal consistency score among the treatments (p>0.05). At the end of experiment, BUN (blood urea nitrogen) concentration was increased as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p<0.01) and total protein concentration was lowest (p<0.05) for pigs fed the SBM diet among treatments. In conclusion, the feeding of 10 or 15% FSP to nursery pigs improved feed efficiency, amino acid digestibility and blood urea nitrogen and total protein concentrations in blood.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.37-49
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• 2015

During pregnancy, the maternal body undergoes significant physiological changes. The present study assessed the changes on calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) metabolism in singleton and twin-pregnant dairy goats. The 42 goats used ($49.5kg{\pm}7.6$ body weight [BW]) were assigned at random to treatments that were factorially arranged to account for 2 breeds (Oberhasli and Saanen), 2 pregnancy types (singleton and twin) and 3 gestation periods (80, 110, and 140 days). Digestibility trials were performed at 80, 110, and 140 days of gestation. Mineral retention during pregnancy was determined in the maternal body, femur, uterus, mammary gland, fetus and fetal fluid. Blood samples were taken during pregnancy before and after a meal, and Ca, P, Mg, Na, K ions and alkaline phosphatase activity determined in serum. Bone mineral density was determined in the right femur. Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS MIXED procedure. Dry matter intake decreased linearly up to 140 days of gestation. Maternal BW gain, and Ca, P, and Mg retention (g/kg) decreased linearly with the advance of gestation days. Macromineral retention in maternal body (g/kg) was greater in Oberhasli than Saanen goats, and their fetuses had higher Ca, P, and Mg deposition (mg/g). Mineral retention (mg/g) increased in fetuses according to pregnancy development, with no differences between singleton and twin pregnancy. In the mammary gland, the retention of all minerals (g) increased with the days of pregnancy. In conclusion, related to Ca, P, and Mg metabolism can be divided into two stages. Up to 80 days of gestation, was characterized by the preparation of the maternal body reserves for future mineral demands. From 80 days of gestation onward, was characterized by the transfer of maternal body reserves for fetal development and colostrum production. Na and K supply was provided by adjustments in endogenous excretion and an increase in intestinal absorption. Finally, mineral metabolism was specific to each genotype and, except for Na, was not affected by the number of fetuses.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.69-78
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• 2015

A non-traditional forage-based protocol was employed to evaluate replacement heifer growth, fertility, and economics between small frame (SF, 3.50; n = 50) and large frame (LF, 5.56; n = 50) heifers using three increasing gain growth phases. Preceding an 85 d growing-breeding period (Phase 3; P3) the heifers were managed as a common group for Phases 1 and 2 (P1 and P2). During P1, heifers grazed common fields of unharvested corn and corn residue (total digestible nutrients [TDN] 56%) with supplemental hay. For P2, heifers grazed early spring crested wheatgrass pasture (CWG; TDN 62%) that was followed by the final P3 drylot growing and breeding period (TDN 68%). Small frame heifers were lighter at the end of P1 in May and at the start of P3 breeding in August (p = 0.0002). Percent of mature body weight (BW) at the end of P1 (209 d) was 48.7% and 46.8%, respectively, for the SF and LF heifers and the percent pubertal was lower for SF than for LF heifers (18.0% vs 40.0%; p = 0.02). At breeding initiation (P3), the percentage of mature BW was 57.8 and 57.2 and the percentage pubertal was 90.0 and 96.0 (p = 0.07) for the SF and LF heifers, respectively; a 5-fold increase for SF heifers. Breeding cycle pregnancy on days 21, 42, and 63, and total percent pregnant did not differ (p>0.10). In drylot, SF heifer dry matter intake (DMI) was 20.1% less (p = 0.001) and feed cost/d was 20.3% lower (p = 0.001), but feed cost/kg of gain did not differ between SF and LF heifers (p = 0.41). Economically important live animal measurements for muscling were measured in May and at the end of the study in October. SF heifers had greater L. dorsi muscle area per unit of BW than LF heifers (p = 0.03). Small frame heifer value was lower at weaning (p = 0.005) and the non-pregnant ending heifer value was lower for SF heifers than for the LF heifers (p = 0.005). However, the total development cost was lower for SF heifers (p = 0.001) and the net cost per pregnant heifer, after accounting for the sale of non-pregnant heifers, was lower for SF heifers (p = 0.004). These data suggest that high breeding efficiency can be attained among March-April born SF and LF virgin heifers when transitioned to a more favorable May-June calving period through the strategic use of grazed and harvested forages resulting in a lower net cost per pregnant SF heifer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.1657-1667
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• 2010

Direct-fed microbials (DFM) are dietary supplements that inhibit gastrointestinal infection and provide optimally regulated microbial environments in the digestive tract. As the use of antibiotics in ruminant feeds has been banned, DFM have been emphasized as antimicrobial replacements. Microorganisms that are used in DFM for ruminants may be classified as lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB), lactic acid utilizing bacteria (LUB), or other microorganisms including species of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus and Propionibacterium, strains of Megasphaera elsdenii and Prevotella bryantii and yeast products containing Saccharomyces and Aspergillus. LAB may have beneficial effects in the intestinal tract and rumen. Both LAB and LUB potentially moderate rumen conditions and improve feed efficiency. Yeast DFM may reduce harmful oxygen, prevent excess lactate production, increase feed digestibility, and improve fermentation in the rumen. DFM may also compete with and inhibit the growth of pathogens, stimulate immune function, and modulate microbial balance in the gastrointestinal tract. LAB may regulate the incidence of diarrhea, and improve weight gain and feed efficiency. LUB improved weight gain in calves. DFM has been reported to improve dry matter intake, milk yield, fat corrected milk yield and milk fat content in mature animals. However, contradictory reports about the effects of DFM, dosages, feeding times and frequencies, strains of DFM, and effects on different animal conditions are available. Cultivation and preparation of ready-to-use strict anaerobes as DFM may be cost-prohibitive, and dosing methods, such as drenching, that are required for anaerobic DFM are unlikely to be acceptable as general on-farm practice. Aero-tolerant rumen microorganisms are limited to only few species, although the potential isolation and utilization of aero-tolerant ruminal strains as DFM has been reported. Spore forming bacteria are characterized by convenience of preparation and effectiveness of DFM delivery to target organs and therefore have been proposed as DFM strains. Recent studies have supported the positive effects of DFM on ruminant performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.311-319
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• 2012

This study examined the effects of supplementation of fish oil and canola oil in the diet on milk yield, milk components and fatty acid composition of Holstein dairy cows in early lactation. Eight multiparous early lactation Holstein cows ($42{\pm}12$ DIM, $40{\pm}6kg$ daily milk yield) were fed a total mixed ration supplemented with either 0% oil (Control), 2% fish oil (FO), 1% canola oil +1% fish oil (FOCO), or 2% canola oil (CO) according to a double $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Each period lasted 3 wk; experimental analyses were restricted to the last week of each period. Supplemental oils were added to a basal diet which was formulated according to NRC (2001) and consisted of 20% alfalfa, 20% corn silage and 60% concentrate. Milk yield was similar between diets (p>0.05), but dry matter intake (DMI) was lower (p<0.05) in cows fed FO diet compared to other diets. Milk fat percentage and daily yield decreased (p<0.01) with the supplementation of fish and canola oil. The daily yield and percentage of milk protein, lactose and solids-not-fat (SNF) were not affected by diets (p>0.05). The proportion (g/100 g fatty acids) of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) decreased and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increased (p<0.05) in milk of all cows fed diets supplemented with oil. The proportions of 6:0, 8:0, 10:0 12:0 and 14:0 fatty acids in milk fat decreased (p<0.01) for all diets supplemented with oil, but the proportions of 14:1, 16:0 and 16:1 fatty acids were not affected by diets (p>0.05). The proportion of trans(t)-18:1 increased (p<0.01) in milk fat of cows fed FO and FOCO diets, but CO diet had the highest proportion of cis(c)-11 18:1 (p<0.01). The concentration of t-10, c-12 18:2, c-9 t-11 18:2, 18:3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6) increased (p<0.05) in FO and FOCO diets in comparison with the other two diets. These data indicate that including fish oil in combination with canola oil significantly modifies the fatty acid composition of milk.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1632-1638
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• 2016

A study was conducted to compare the endogenous basal losses of phosphorus (EBLP) in pigs fed diets containing gelatin (GEL) or spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) as protein sources and to determine the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of phosphorus (P) in SDPP. The trial was carried out at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil. Twelve castrated pigs with an initial body weight of 55 kg were individually allotted in metabolic crates during two 12-day periods, each with 7 days of adaptation and 5 days of total fecal collection. The beginning and the end of the collecting periods were determined according to the marker-to-marker approach, using ferric oxide as an indigestible marker. Pigs were submitted to four semi-purified diets, one being a P-free diet with 30% of GEL as the protein source and three were diets with 10%, 20%, and 30% inclusion of SDPP respectively. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and the model included the effects of period, animal and treatments; the results of the three diets with increased levels of SDPP were subjected to linear regression analysis. The intercept of the relation of between ingested P and absorbed P represented the EBLP, while the slope indicated the STTD of P in SDPP. The EBLP means obtained by P-free diet and regression method were compared with the Student t test. The EBLP were 128.95 mg/kg dry matter intake (DMI) and 153.63 mg/kg DMI (standard error = 77.0; p<0.06) using the P-free diet with GEL as the protein source and the regression method, obtained with diets containing increased levels of SDPP, respectively. The apparent digestibility of P was 87.9%, 94.2%, and 92.9% for the treatments containing 10%, 20%, and 30% inclusion of SDPP, respectively. The estimated STTD of P obtained with the linear regression was 97.4%. When the EBLP estimated by the P-free diet was used to corrected the apparent digestibility of P in diets containing SDPP, the STTD of P in SDPP was 96.9%, 98.8%, and 95.9% for 10%, 20%, and 30% SDPP, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that SDPP can replace GEL to estimate the endogenous losses of P. In addition, the STTD of P in SDPP estimated with the P-free diet was 97.2% and it was 97.4% by the regression method, utilizing SDPP.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.1299-1303
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• 2001

For the Exp. 1, a total of fifty four crossbred [(Duroc Yorkshire)${\times}$Landrace] pigs ($77.67{\pm}1.42kg$ average initial BW) were used in a 41-d growth assay to determine the effects of yucca extract supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum characteristics of finishing pigs. Dietary treatments included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) YE60 (basal diet+60 ppm yucca extract), 3) YE120 (basal diet+120 ppm yucca extract). Average daily gain was not improved by yucca extract supplementation during the whole experimental perid (d 0 to 41). Pigs fed control diet showed the best average daily gain. Pigs fed control and YE120 diets tended to increase average daily feed intake compared with pigs fed YE60 diet (quadratic effect, p<0.0001). Gain/feed with control treatment was significantly better than the YE groups (linear effect, p<0.071). However, there was no significant difference among levels of yucca extract (p>0.10). Apparent digestibility of dry matter in pigs fed yucca extract were greater than for pigs fed control diets (linear effect, p<0.017). Pigs fed YE120 tended to have higher digestibility of nitrogen than pigs fed the control diets (linear effect, p<0.019). There were no significant differences in Total-, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol concentrations of serum, and the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations in serum was not influenced by the yucca extract supplementation (p>0.10). For the Exp. 2, fifteen [(Duroc${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Landrace] pigs ($25.00{\pm}0.50kg$ average initial BW) were used in a 30-d metabolism experiment to determine the effects of yucca extract supplementation on fecal ammonia gas production. Treatments were : 1) Control (basal diet); 2) YE (basal diet+150 ppm yucca extract); 3) BD (basal diet+100 ppm Bio-Dr; yucca extract+far infrared emitted materials). Fecal ammonia gas production differences between d 0 and d 30 were significantly reduced (p<0.05) by feeding BD compared to control and YE. Also, when pigs were fed the diet with YE tended to be decreased ammonia gas production compared to pigs fed the control diet without significant differences (p>0.05). There were no differences for DM and N digestibility among pigs fed the treatment diets. In conclusion, yucca and (or) far infrared radiological materials can be used to make environment-friendly diets for growing-finishing pigs without negative effects on growth performance and nutrient digestibility.