• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제11권6호
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• pp.697-701
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• 1998

In order to improve silage quality and utilization of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) by goats, the grass was ensiled with molasses (MOL) and/or defatted rice bran (DRB). Napier grass was harvested at the growing stage in July and cut into 3 cm length. The grass was mixed with 4% MOL and/or 15% DRB, ensiled 15 kg each into plastic bags and stored for 9 months. Dry matter content of the silage ensiled with MOL (MOL-silage) was 13.4%, but increased to 20% with DRB addition. The addition of MOL decreased pH value and ammonia nitrogen content, but increased lactic acid content. MOL-silage contained about 6% spoilage, but addition of DRB decreased spoilage to less than 1%. Goats were fed the silage at a level of 2.25% (DM basis) of their body weight. Goats fed DRB- or MOL/DRB-silages maintained nitrogen retention, but goats fed MOL-silage did not. The rumen fluid of goats fed DRB-silage tended to be higher in acetic acid and lower in propionic acid than those fed the other silages. Ammonia in the rumen fluids, urea nitrogen in the blood and the urinary nitrogen excretion were the lowest in goats fed MOL/DRB-silage. As the result, the ratio of retained nitrogen to nitrogen intake was the highest in goats fed MOL/DRB-silage. In conclusion, addition of DRB to napier grass increased DM of silage and decreased the volume of spoilage. The combination of MOL and DRB can improve the fermentation quality and thus enhance the utilization of the silage by goats, more than the MOL or DRB being as a single treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권8호
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• pp.1158-1164
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• 2003

In two feeding experiments male and mixed-sex broiler chicks were offered diets based on sorghum and a wheatsorghum blend with two tiers of nutrient specifications, without and with microbial phytase (600 and 800 FTU/kg), from 7-25 and 1-42 days post-hatch, respectively. The nutrient specifications for protein, amino acids, energy density and phosphorus (P) of standard diets were reduced to formulate the modified diets on a least-cost basis. Calculated differences in nutrient specifications between standard and modified diets ranged from 14.3 to 17.1 g/kg crude protein, 0.24 to 0.40 MJ/kg apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and 1.06 to 1.20 g/kg available P. In both experiments, reduced nutrient specifications had a negative impact on growth rates and feed efficiency and phytase supplementation had a positive influence on growth performance and protein efficiency ratios (PER). Phytase addition to the less expensive, modified diets either partially or entirely compensated for reduced growth performance and, consequently, feed costs per kg of live weight gain were reduced. In Experiment 1, phytase increased (p<0.001) nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn) from 15.39 to 15.89 MJ/kg dry matter. For nitrogen (N) retention there was an interaction (p<0.05) between diet type and phytase as the effects of phytase on N retention were more pronounced in the modified diets, with an increase from 0.512 to 0.561. These results demonstrate the positive effects of phytase on protein and energy utilisation, in addition to its established liberation of phytate-bound P and illustrate the feasibility of assigning nutrient replacement values to the feed enzyme for consideration in least-cost ration formulations. Further work is, however, required to define the most appropriate reductions in nutrient specifications in association with phytase supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.509-516
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• 2013

This study estimated the fermentation characteristics and nutrient value of corn-lablab bean mixture silages relative to corn silages. The effects of feeding corn-lablab bean mixture silages on nutrient apparent digestibility and milk production of dairy cows in northern China were also investigated. Three ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were used to determine the ruminal digestion kinetics and ruminal nutrient degradability of corn silage and corn-lablab bean mixture silages. Sixty lactating Holstein cows were randomly divided into two groups of 30 cows each. Two diets were formulated with a 59:41 forage: concentrate ratio. Corn silage and corn-lablab bean mixture silages constituted 39.3% of the forage in each diet, with Chinese wildrye hay constituting the remaining 60.7%. Corn-lablab bean mixture silages had higher lactic acid, acetic acid, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ash, Ca, ether extract concentrations and ruminal nutrient degradability than monoculture corn silage (p<0.05). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations of corn-lablab bean mixture silages were lower than those of corn silage (p<0.05). The digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, and ADF for cows fed corn-lablab bean mixture silages was higher than for those fed corn silage (p<0.05). Feeding corn-lablab bean mixture silages increased milk yield and milk protein of dairy cows when compared with feeding corn silage (p<0.05). The economic benefit for cow fed corn-lablab bean mixture silages was 8.43 yuan/day/cow higher than that for that fed corn silage. In conclusion, corn-lablab bean mixture improved the fermentation characteristics and nutrient value of silage compared with monoculture corn. In this study, feeding corn-lablab bean mixture silages increased milk yield, milk protein and nutrient apparent digestibility of dairy cows compared with corn silage in northern China.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.683-690
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• 2013

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of resveratrol and essential oils from medicinal plants on the growth performance, immunity, digestibility, and fecal microbial shedding of weaned piglets. A total of 48 weaned piglets (8 kg initial weight, 28-d-old) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with 3 replications of 4 piglets each. The dietary treatments were NC (negative control; basal diet), PC (positive control; basal diet+0.002% apramycin), T1 (basal diet+0.2% resveratrol), and T2 (basal diet+0.0125% essential oil blend). All piglets were orally challenged with 5 ml culture fluid containing $2.3{\times}10^8$ cfu/ml of Escherichia coli KCTC 2571 and $5.9{\times}10^8$ cfu/ml Salmonella enterica serover Typhimurium. The PC group (p<0.05) showed the highest average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) throughout the experimental period, although feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved in the T1 group (p>0.05). Serum IgG level was increased in the T1 group, whereas TNF-${\alpha}$ levels was reduced in the supplemented groups compared to control (p<0.05). The PC diet improved the dry matter (DM) digestibility, whereas PC and T2 diets improved nitrogen (N) digestibility compared to NC and T1 diets (p<0.05). Fecal Salmonella and E. coli counts were reduced in all treatment groups compared to control (p<0.05). Fecal Lactobacillus spp. count was increased in the T2 group compared to others (p<0.05). Dietary treatments had no significant effect on fecal Bacillus spp. count throughout the entire experimental period. Based on these results, resveratrol showed strong potential as antibiotic alternatives for reversing the adverse effects of weaning stress on growth performance, immunity and microbial environment in E. coli and Salmonella-challenged piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1601-1607
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine the effect of lysozyme addition on in vitro rumen fermentation and to identify the lysozyme inclusion rate for abating methane ($CH_4$) production. An in vitro ruminal fermentation technique was done using a commercial concentrate to rice straw ratio of 8:2 as substrate. The following treatments were applied wherein lysozyme was added into 1 mg dry matter substrate at different levels of inclusion: Without lysozyme, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 U lysozyme. Results revealed that, lysozyme addition had a significant effect on pH after 24 h of incubation, with the highest pH (p<0.01) observed in 8,000 U lysozyme, followed by the 4,000 U, 2,000 U, and without lysozyme. The highest amounts of acetic acid, propionic acid (p<0.01) and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) (p<0.05) were found in 8,000 U after 24 h of incubation. The $CH_4$ concentration was the lowest in the 8,000 U and the highest in the without lysozyme addition after 24 h of incubation. There was no significant differences in general bacteria, methanogen, or protozoan DNA copy number. So far, addition of lysozyme increased the acetate, propionate, TVFA, and decreased $CH_4$ concentration. These results suggest that lysozyme supplementation may improve in vitro rumen fermentation and reduce $CH_4$ emission.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권9호
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• pp.1491-1499
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• 2018

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of an Aspergillus sulphureus xylanase expressed in Pichia pastoris on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut microbes in weanling pigs. Methods: A total of 180 weanling pigs (initial body weights were $8.47{\pm}1.40kg$) were assigned randomly to 5 dietary treatments. Each treatment had 6 replicates with 6 pigs per replicate. The experimental diets were wheat based with supplementation of 0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 U xylanase/kg. The experiment lasted 28 days (early phase, d 0 to 14; late phase, d 15 to 28). Results: In the early phase, compared to the control, average daily gain (ADG) was higher for pigs fed diets supplemented with xylanase and there was a quadratic response in ADG (p<0.05). In the entire phase, ADG was higher for the pigs fed 1,000 or 2,000 U/kg xylanase compared to the control (p<0.05). The gain to feed ratio was higher for pigs fed diets supplemented with 1,000 or 2,000 U/kg xylanase compared to the control (p<0.05). Increasing the amount of xylanase improved the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, calcium, and phosphorus during both periods (p<0.05). Xylanase supplementation (2,000 U/kg) decreased the proportion of Lachnospiraceae (by 50%) in Firmicutes, but increased Prevotellaceae (by 175%) in Bacteroidetes and almost diminished Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia-Shigella) in Proteobacteria. Conclusion: Xylanase supplementation increased growth performance and nutrient digestibility up to 2,000 U/kg. Supplementation of xylanase (2,000 U/kg) decreased the richness of gut bacteria but diminished the growth of harmful pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia-Shigella, in the colon.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권12호
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• pp.1657-1662
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• 2004

The forage potential of mulberry (Morus alba) was evaluated under Malaysian conditions. The yield and nutrient composition of plant fractions of mulberry (whole plant, leaf and stem fractions) were determined at four harvest stages, namely, 3 (W3), 5 (W5), 7 (W7) and 9 (W9) weeks in a randomized block design. The study was conducted over a 9-month period to assess the persistence of the crop to repeated harvests. Fresh and dry matter (DM) yields of all plant fractions increased significantly (p<0.01) with increasing intervals between harvests, with highest DM yields at W9. The leaf to stem ratio declined significantly (p<0.01) from 5.2 (W3) to 0.9 (W9), indicating predominance of the stem fraction with advancing maturity. The nutritional composition of plant fractions was also significantly influenced (p<0.01) by advancing plant maturity at harvest. Crude protein (CP), ash and the metabolisable energy content of plant fractions declined significantly (p<0.01) from W3 to W9, while there was a corresponding significant increase (p<0.01) in the acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin. From this study it was concluded that the optimum stage to harvest the whole plant is 5 weeks, which is a compromise between yield, nutrient composition (CP and fibre components), and the annual number of cuts, with good crop persistence to repeated harvests. Fresh mulberry whole plant can provide a valuable supplemental source of nutrients to poor quality basal diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.665-670
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• 2002

The expediency of replacing cost prohibitive and often inaccessible traditional protein supplements prompted the monitoring of hematological parameters was carried out in female goats at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days post feeding. Rumen environment was (3), respectively fed supplements containing either a leaf meal mixture (LMTM) of Leucaena leucocephala-Morus alba-Tectona grandis (2:1:1) or traditional protein supplements groundnut cake (GNC) or soybean meal (SBM) and wheat straw as basal diet. The periodic monitoring of hematological parameters was carried out in female goats at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days post feeding. Rumen environment was studied in bucks in a $3{\times}3$ switch over design. Rumen liquor was collected at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post feeding after 4 weeks of feeding. The goats fed on LMTM or GNC had similar dry matter intake (g/kg $W^{0.75}$), which was significantly (p<0.05) higher than SBM. Except for packed cell volume (PCV), none of the blood biochemical constituents (Hemoglobin, serum glucose, total protein, serum albumin (A) and globulin(G), A:G ratio, alkaline phosphatase, transaminases) varied significantly due to replacement of 50% dietary protein by LMTM throughout the experiment. GNC group had significantly higher level of PCV than other treatments. However, the level of serum total protein (p<0.01) tended to increase from 60th day onwards irrespective of dietary treatments. The average rumen pH was significantly higher (p<0.001) on SBM followed by LMTM and GNC, respectively. Total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) production was comparable in goats given LMTM or GNC supplements, the corresponding values were significantly different (p<0.001) when compared with SBM. The ammonical-N, total-N and TCA-precipitable-N (mg/100 ml SRL) did not differ significantly among dietary treatments. It may be concluded that supplementing wheat straw with LMTM based concentrate had no adverse effect on voluntary intake, blood biochemical profile and rumen fermentation pattern of the goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.45-51
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• 1993

With the purpose to utilize cage layer manure (CLM), whole crop corn forage was ensiled with 30% CLM (MS silage) and without CLM (CS silage). MS silage was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in pH value, total VFA, propionic and butyric acids, and the ratio of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen, but lower (p < 0.05) in lactic acid and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents than CS silage. Digestibility was evaluated using Shiba strain Japanese goats. Urea was supplemented to CS silage at feeding to adjust nitrogen intake to MS silage (US silage). There were no differences in digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and energy among the three silages. However, US silage showed higher (p < 0.05) digestibility of crude protein, but digestibilities of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose were higher (p < 0.05) in MS silage. Nitrogen retention was positive in US and MS silages, but it was negative in CS silage. Voluntary feed intake of goats was 11.02, 12.03 and 13.34 g of DM per metabolic body weight ($kg^{0.75}$) for 10 minutes, for CS, US and MS silages, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.818-823
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• 2008

The interaction of fibre degrading microbes and methanogens was studied using two forages, lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay and maize (Zea mays) hay, as substrate and 2-bromoethanesulphonic acid (BES) as an additive in an in vitro gas production test. Gas and methane production (ml/g dry matter) were significantly higher (p<0.05) on lucerne as compared to maize hay. Inclusion of BES in the incubation medium significantly suppressed methane emission irrespective of substrate. The population density of total bacteria, fungi, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Fibrobacter succinogenes was higher, whereas that of methanogens was lower with maize hay as compared to lucerne as substrate. BES suppressed methanogen population by 7 fold on lucerene and by 8.5 fold on maize at 24 h incubation as estimated by real time-PCR. This suppression was accompanied by almost complete (>98% of control) inhibition of methanogenesis. The proportion of acetate decreased, whereas that of propionate increased significantly by inclusion of BES, resulting in narrowing of acetate to propionate ratio. In vitro true digestibility (IVTD) of lucerne was significantly higher as compared to maize but BES inclusion did not affect IVTD.