• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.557-564
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• 2009

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of various levels of full-fat sunflower seeds (FFSS) on broiler performance and carcass characteristics. In the first experiment, FFSS was included in a basal diet at 70, 140, and 210 g/kg and the $AME_n$ values of the experimental diets were determined. The linear regression equation of $AME_n$ values on rate of inclusion was calculated. Extrapolation value for the $AME_n$ of FFSS at 100% inclusion was 14.22 MJ/kg. In the second experiment, diets containing various levels (0, 70, 140, and 210 g/kg) of FFSS were given to broilers (Ross strain) from 0 to 49 d. At 28 days of age, blood parameters and digestive enzyme activities were determined and carcass parameters were evaluated at 49 days of age. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved (p<0.05) when broilers were fed various levels of FFSS in the starter and finisher diets. Breast, thigh, gastrointestinal tract and gizzard weight percentages were not affected by dietary treatments; however, liver weight percentage was decreased significantly (p<0.05) and weight of abdominal fat decreased but this effect was not significant. The activities of digestive enzyme (protease and ${\alpha}$-amylase) were not influenced by the treatments. Activity of alkaline phosphatase, concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, glucose, triglyceride, protein, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were not affected by incorporation of FFSS in the broiler diet. Although concentration of HDL increased and LDL decreased, these effects were not significant. The results of this study indicate that FFSS can be used at up to 21% in broiler diets without adverse effects on performance or other parameters of chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.246-249
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• 2011

The present study was carried out on broilers to study the effect of oral administration of vitamin E and selenium (E-care Se) on growth performance, haematological and biochemical parameters for a period of 42 days (6 weeks). A total of 90 oneday-old broiler chicks were divided into three equal groups: $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$. Group T1 was maintained as control and was fed only with the basal diet throughout the experimental period. Two experimental diets, $T_2$ and $T_3$, were formulated to contain an additional 100 g (150 IU vitamin E/kg+0.5 mg Se/kg) and 200 g (300 IU vitamin E/kg+1.0 mg Se/kg) of E-care Se which was the source of vitamin E and selenium. Body weight was significantly (p<0.05) higher in antioxidant-treated groups compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in feed conversion ratio (FCR). Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein for haematological (TEC, Hb, PCV and ESR) and biochemical (GOT and GPT) study. Body weight was increased significantly in both treated groups compared with the control group and highest body weights were recorded in group $T_2$. TEC, PCV and Hb content increased significantly (p<0.01) in the treated groups as compared to the control group, but ESR, GOT and GPT values decreased significantly (p<0.01) in both treated groups as compared to the control group. The result reveals that use of antioxidants (vitamin E and selenium) is an effective way of getting the best result in terms of body weight gain and haemato-biochemical profiles in broiler birds at high altitude.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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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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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1007-1013
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• 2004

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of cadmium levels on weight gain, nutrient digestibility and the retention of iron, copper and zinc in tissues of growing pigs. A total of one hundred and ninety-two crossbred pigs (barrows, Duroc$\times$Landrace$\times$Yorkshine, 27.67$\pm$1.33 kg of average initial body weight) were randomly allotted to four treatments. Each treatment had three replicates with 16 pigs per pen. The corn-soybean basal diets were supplemented with 0, 0.5, 5.0, 10.0 mg/kg cadmium respectively, and the feeding experiment lasted for eight-three days. Cadmium chloride was used as cadmium source. The results showed that pigs fed the diet containing 10.0 mg/kg cadmium had lower ADG and FCR than any other treatments (p<0.05). Apparent digestibility of protein in 10.0 mg/kg cadmium-treated group was lower than that of other groups (p<0.05). There was lower iron retention in some tissues of 5.0 mg/kg and 10.0 mg/kg cadmium treatments (p<0.05). However, pigs fed the diet 10.0 mg/kg cadmium had higher copper content in most tissues than that of any other groups (p<0.05). There was a significantly increase of zinc retention in kidney of 10.0 mg/kg cadmium additional group (p<0.05) and zinc concentrations in lymphaden, pancreas and heart of 10.0 mg/kg cadmium treatment were lower than those of the control (p<0.05). This study indicated that relatively high cadmium level (10.0 mg/kg) could decrease pig growth performance and change the retention of iron, copper and zinc in most tissues during extended cadmium exposure period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.258-262
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• 2001

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chromium picolinate (CrP) on growth, carcass characteristics and serum metabolites in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 96 Landrace$\times$Yorkshire$\times$Duroc hybrid pigs, initial live weight about $38.12{\pm}00kg$, were randomly assigned to 2 groups (16 pigs per pen, 3 pens per group), each group had 48 pigs with an equal number of barrows and gilts. The pigs were fed the diet with or without $200{\mu}g/kg$ Cr from CrP. The results indicated that the addition of $200{\mu}g/kg$ CrP increased ADG by 3.58% and decreased feed conversion rate (FCR) by 3.00% compared to the control group. Pigs fed CrP had 7.58% (p<0.05) higher carcass lean percentage, 15.55% (p<0.05) larger longissimus muscle area (LMA) and 10.90% (p<0.05) lower back fat thickness, 15.17% (p<0.05) lower carcass fat percentage. In addition, the IGF-I level in serum was elevated by 79.20% (p<0.05), the Insulin and cortisol level decreased by 27.35% (p<0.05) and 34.58% (p<0.05) respectively with supplementation of CrP. Analysis of subcutaneous fat (10th rib) showed that the activity of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) increased by 79.58% (p<0.05) and the activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase (ISD) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) decreased significantly by 15.06% (p<0.05) and 54.53% (p<0.05) respectively in the $200{\mu}g/kg$ CrP group. The concentration of RNA, RNA/DNA in LMA increased by 31.89% (p<0.05) and 5.41% (p<0.05) respectively with the addition of CrP. These results suggest that CrP reduced fat deposits by decreasing lipogenic enzyme activities and increasing HSL activity and may have promoted muscle anabolic metabolism through elevated IGF-I levels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 2008

Four hundred and forty 1-day-old Arbor Acre broilers were fed commercial starter diets with 0, 250, 750 and 2,250 mg/kg of an alpha-amylase preparation from 1 to 21 days of age to investigate the effects of an exogenous enzyme on growth performance, activities of digestive enzymes in the pancreas and anterior intestinal contents and pancreatic amylase mRNA expression. Body weight gain (BWG) and average daily gain (ADG) increased linearly (p<0.01) with increasing levels of supplementary amylase but feed conversion ratio (FCR) was not affected. There was a negative quadratic change of protease and amylase in the small intestinal contents with the increase of supplementary amylase level. The activity of intestinal trypsin was also increased (p<0.05). Lipase was unaffected by amylase supplementation (p>0.05). The pancreatic protease, trypsin, and lipase were not affected by exogenous amylase levels. Consistent with the tendency for a linear depression of amylase activity, pancreatic ${\alpha}$-amylase mRNA was down-regulated by dietary amylase supplementation. The present study suggested that oral administration of exogenous amylase affected activities of intestinal enzymes and the production of pancreatic digestive enzymes in a dose-dependent manner.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1348-1354
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• 2008

Two inorganic (zinc sulfate and zinc oxide) and three organic (zinc acetate, zinc-methionine, and zinc-lysine) zinc sources were evaluated for their effects on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. The birds were randomly assigned to one control (non-supplemented) and 15 treatment (supplemented) groups consisting of four replicates of 10 chicks each in a $5{\times}3$ factorial arrangement of treatments (five zinc sources and three supplemental zinc levels). Birds were kept in floor pens in a temperature-controlled room from 1 to 42 d of age and fed a non-supplemented basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with 40, 80 or 120 mg/kg of Zn as mentioned sources. Dietary zinc source had considerable effect on feed intake in all experimental periods. Increasing Zn level from 80 to 120 mg/kg decreased the average feed intake in the growth stage (p<0.01) and also in the entire experimental period (p<0.001). Similarly, the average daily gain during the entire trial period was affected by the type of Zn source (p<0.001) and supplemental level (p<0.01). One degree of freedom contrast comparisons showed that the inclusion of organic zinc sources into the diets caused significant increases in feed intake and body gain when compared with inorganic counterparts. Except in wk 1, dietary supplementation with organic sources improved (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio; FCR values were not affected by dietary Zn source or supplementation level. Breast meat yield increased with supplemental levels of organic Zn sources; however, other carcass parameters were not affected by dietary Zn source. On the other hand, organic versus inorganic zinc supplementation caused a significant increase in liver, breast and carcass weight percentages. The present findings suggest that supplemental levels of organic Zn compounds had beneficial effects on broiler performance, and Zn requirements can be reduced using these feed supplements in poultry rations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.394-400
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• 2013

A total of 192 broiler chicks were used to evaluate the influence of dietary ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid (ALA) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of broiler chickens with the purpose of developing a strategy to prevent the occurrence of pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) meat and to improve the meat quality of broilers. At 22 d of age, birds were allocated to 4 ALA treatments (0, 400, 800, and 1200 ppm). The results showed that dietary ALA significantly decreased average feed intake (AFI), average daily gain (ADG), final live body weight (BW) and carcass weight (p<0.05), while no difference in feed conversion ratio (FCR) was detected among chickens fed with and without ALA. Abdominal fat weight significantly decreased (p<0.05) for broilers fed 800 and 1200 ppm ALA. However when calculated as the percentage of carcass weight there was no significant difference between control and ALA treatments. Meat quality measurements showed that dietary ALA regulated postmortem glycolysis and improved meat quality as evidenced by increased muscle pH and decreased drip loss of meat (p<0.05). Although ALA did not change the tenderness of meat as indicated by meat shear force, dietary ALA decreased collagen content and mRNA expression of COL3A1 gene (p<0.05). In conclusion, the results indicate that dietary ALA may contribute to the improvement of meat quality in broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.386-393
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• 2013

This experiment was conducted to evaluate anti-Salmonella enteritidis (anti-SE) bacteriophage as feed additives to prevent Salmonella enteritidis in broilers. The experimental diets were formulated for 2 phases feeding trial, and 3 different levels (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2%) of anti-SE bacteriophage were supplemented in basal diet. The basal diet was regarded as the control treatment. A total of 320 1-d-old male broilers (Ross 308) were allotted by randomized complete block (RCB) design in 8 replicates with 10 chicks per pen. All birds were raised on rice hull bedding in ambient controlled environment and free access to feed and water. There were no significant differences in body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at terminal period among treatments (p>0.05). Relative weights of liver, spleen, abdominal fat and tissue muscle of breast obtained from each anti-SE bacteriophage treatment were similar to control, with a slightly higher value in anti-SE bacteriophage 0.2%. In addition, a numerical difference of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and LDL cholesterol level was observed in the 0.2% anti-SE bacteriophage application even though blood profiles were not significantly affected by supplemented levels of anti-SE bacteriophage (p>0.05). In the result of a 14 d record after Salmonella enteritidis challenge of 160 birds from 4 previous treatments, mortality was linearly decreased with increasing anti-SE bacteriophage level (p<0.05), and Salmonella enteritidis concentration in the cecum was decreased with increasing levels of anti-SE bacteriophage (p<0.05). Based on the results of this study, it is considered that supplementation of 0.2% anti-SE bacteriophage may not cause any negative effect on growth, meat production, and it reduces mortality after Salmonella enteritidis challenge. These results imply to a possible use of anti-SE bacteriophage as an alternative feed additive instead of antibiotics in broilers diet.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.449-454
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• 2014

The effects of food deprivation and feeding ratio on the growth, feed utilization and body composition of juvenile olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus were investigated in 810 juvenile fish averaging 6.4 g in weight randomly distributed in 27 400-L flow-through tanks. A 3 [food deprivation: 8-week feeding without food deprivation (8W), 7-week feeding after 1-week food deprivation (7W) and 6-week feeding after 2-week food deprivation (6W)]${\time}3$ (feeding ratio: 100%, 95% and 90% of satiation, hereafter denoted by 100, 95 and 90, respectively) factorial design was applied. The weight gain of the fish was significantly affected by both food deprivation and feeding ratio. The weight gain of the fish under the 8W-100 treatment was higher than that of those under the 7W-95, 7W-90, 6W-100, 6W-95 and 6W-90 treatments, but did not differ from those of fish under the 8W-95, 8W-90 and 7W-100 treatments. The specific growth rate (SGR) and the feed intake of the fish were affected by both food deprivation and feeding ratio. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was unaffected by both food deprivation and feeding ratio. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) was affected by the feeding ratio, but not by food deprivation. The protein retention (PR) was affected by food deprivation, but not by feeding ratio. Juvenile olive flounder subjected to 1-week food deprivation at 100% satiation (7W-100 treatment) achieved full compensatory growth.